Legio VI Victrix

• The Legio VI Victrix was founded by Octavian in 41 BCE.
• It was based at York in Britannia between c.119-c.408 CE.

Regimental Details

• Creation:
  • 41 BCE by Octavian
• Dates:
  • 31 BCE-c.408 CE.
• Fortress Bases:
  • Leon, Hispania Tarraconensis (c. 29 BCE-70 CE)
    • Replaced by the Legio VII Gemina Felix (74 CE)
  • Novaesium (Neuss), Germania Inferior (70 CE)
  • Xanten, Castra Vetera, Germania Inferior (89 CE)
  • York (Eboracum), Britannia (c.119-408 CE)
• Title:
  • ‘Victrix’ meaning ‘The Victorious Sixth’.
• Emblems:
  • A Bull
• Notable Commanders:
• Structure of the Legion:
  • Roman Legion
  • Roman Army
  • Roman Weapons

Chronology

• Early Campaigns:
  • 41 BCE Battle of Perusia
  • 31 BCE Battle of Actium
  • 25-13 BCE Hispania Tarraconensis Campaigned against the Cantabrians.
  • 19 BCE Veterans were settled in Zaragoza (Colonia Caesarea Augusta)
  • 70 CE Sent to the Rhine to combat the Batavian Revolt.
  • 70 CE Based at Novaesium (Neuss)
  • 89 CE Based Castra Vetera, Xanten

Posting in Britannia (c.119-c.408 CE)

• c.119 CE Moved to York (Eboracum), Britannia by Hadrian to replace the Legio IX Hispana.

Construction of Hadrian's Wall (122-128 CE)

• 122-128 Built the entire eastern section of Hadrian's Wall including the Fort at South Shields, whilst the Legio II Augusta and the Legio XX Valeria Victrix jointly built the western section.
• 122-128 Built the Bridge over the Tyne at Pons Aelius Newcastle

Construction of the Antonine Wall (139-142 CE)

• 139-142 CE Later assisted with the construction of the Antonine Wall with the Legio II Augusta and the Legio XX Valeria Victrix.
• 142-155 CE The Legion manned the Antonine Wall.
• 155 CE The Revolt of the Brigantes caused a withdrawal back to Hadrian's Wall.

Revolt of Clodius Albinus (195 CE)

• 195 CE Clodius Albinus was proclaimed by all 3 Legions in Britannia as The Roman Emperor and taken to Gaul.
• He was defeated by Septimius Severus and all 3 Legions were returned to Britannia.

Septimius Severus' Caledonian Campaign (208-211 CE)

• 208-211 CE During Septimius Severus' Caledonian Campaign, the Legio II Augusta and the Legio VI Victrix were sent initially to bases at Carpow on the River Tay and possibly to Cramond near Edinburgh on the Forth Estuary, before campaigning in Scotland..

Carausian Revolt (287-293 CE)

• 287-290 CE Carausius proclaimed himself Roman Emperor of Britannia and Gaul.
• 290-293 CE He was replaced by Allectus
• 293 CE Constantius I Chlorus defeated Allectus by an invasion. The 3 Legions were returned to their Bases with the exception of Legio II Augusta which dismantled it’s Base and seems to have been disbanded.
• 293 CE The Legion proclaimed Constantius I Chlorus, ‘Britannicus Maximus’ at York for conquering Britain.
• 306 CE After Constantius I Chlorus died, the Legion proclaimed his son Constantine I as Emperor at York.

Conclusion

• In 407-8 CE, Constantine III declared himself Emperor and took the two British Legions,the Legio XX Valeria Victrix and the Legio VI Victrix, to Trier in order to campaign in Gaul against the Germanic invasions.
• When the Emperor Honorius had Constantine III executed in 411 CE, the Legions were never returned to Britannia.
• In 409 CE A unit still appears to be at York, and may have sent the request for help against continuing invasions to Honorius, producing the negative response known as the Rescript of Honorius.
• There is no further record after this date.

York