Legio X Gemina

• The Legio X Gemina was founded in 58 BCE by Julius Caesar as the Legio X Equestris, then was renamed as the Legio X Gemina by Augustus in 31 BCE.
• It was based in Vienna in Pannonia Superior between 114-c.400 CE.

Regimental Details

• Creation Date:
  • 58 BCE Levied by Julius Caesar as the Legio X Equestris.
• Reason for creation:
  • One of the Four Legions raised for the Gallic Wars along with the Legio VII Claudia, Legio VIII Augusta and the Legio IX Hispana.
• Dates:
  • 58 BCE-c.400 CE
• Fortress Bases:
  • Astorga Hispania Tarraconensis (.32 BCE-71 CE)
  • Noviomagus (Nijmegen), Germania Inferior (71-103 CE)
  • Aquincum (Budapest), Pannonia Superior (103-c.114 CE)
  • Vindobona (Vienna), Pannonia Superior (c.114-c.400 CE)
• Title:
  • Originally called Legio X Equestris meaning ‘The Tenth Mounted Legion’.
  • After 31 BCE The Title was changed by Augustus to ‘Legio X Gemina’ meaning ‘The Twinned Tenth Legion’.
  • 89 CE Awarded ‘Pia Fidelis Domitiana’ meaning ‘Faithful and Loyal to Domitian’ for suppressing the Revolt of the Governor of Germania Inferior.
  • 260-8 CE The Title ‘Pia VI Fedelis VI’ meaning ‘Six times Faithful and six times Loyal’, was awarded by Gallienus for its support against Postumus and his Gallic Empire.
• Emblems:
  • The Bull
• Notable Commanders:
  • Julius Caesar
• Veterans of the Legion:
  • Emerita Augusta founded in 25 BCE by Augustus for veterans of the Legion after the Cantabrian Wars.
• Structure of the Legion:
  • Roman Legion
  • Roman Army
  • Roman Weapons

Chronology

Early Campaigns as the Legio X Equestris:

• The Gallic Wars
  • Between 58-51 BCE the Legion fought in almost every Battle in Gaul under Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars, along with the Legio VII Claudia, Legio VIII Augusta and Legio IX Hispana.
    • 58 BCE Battle of the Arar
    • 58 BCE Battle of Bibracte
    • 58 BCE War against the Suebi
    • 57 BCE Battle of the Sabis, and annihilation of the Nervians
    • 55 BCE Caesar’s Invasion of Germania
    • 55 BCE Caesar’s First Invasion of Britannia one of the two Legions involved.
    • 54 BCE Caesar’s Second Invasion of Britannia one of the 5 Legions involved.
    • 53 BCE War against the Eburones
    • 52 BCE Battle of Noviodunum
    • 52 BCE Battle of Gergovia
    • 52 BCE Battle of Alesia
• Campaigned against Pompey in the Great Roman Civil War (49-46 BCE)
  • • 49 BCE The Battle of Ilerda
    • 48 BCE The Battle of Dyrrhachium
    • 48 BCE The Battle of Pharsalus
    • 45 BCE The Battle of Munda
• 45 BCE The Legion was Disbanded.
• 42 BCE The Legion was reconstituted.
• Against the Optimates:
  • 42 BCE The Battle of Philippi
• Fought under Mark Anthony
  • Against the Parthian Empire:
    • 36-34 BCE The Invasion of Armenia.
  • Against Octavian at:
    • 31 BCE The Battle of Actium

Subsequent History as the Legio X Gemina

• c.32 BCE The Legion was renamed the Legio X Gemina by Octavian, after a brief Rebellion, and then sent to Hispania.

Posting Hispania Tarraconensis (c.32 BCE-70 CE)

• c.32 BCE-70 CE The Legion was based in Astorga.
• 25-16 BCE It campaigned during the Cantabrian Wars.
• Veterans were retired into the towns of Zaragoza (Caesar Augusta) and Merida (Emerita Augusta).

Posting in Germania Inferior (70-103 CE)

• 70 CE Sent to suppress the Batavian Revolt.
• 71-103 CE Based in Noviomagus (Nijmegen)
• 89 CE Awarded the Title of ‘Pia Fidelis Domitiana’ meaning ‘Faithful and Loyal to Domitian’ for suppressing the Revolt of the Governor of Germania Inferior, L. Antonius Saturninus.
• 101-2 CE Campaigned in Trajan’s Dacian Wars and fought in the second Battle of Tapae.

Posting in Pannonia Superior (103-c.400 CE)

• 103-c.114 CE Based at Aquincum (Budapest), Pannonia Superior.
• c.114-c.400 CE Based at Vindobona (Vienna).
• 132-135 CE Sent to Suppress Bar Kokhba's Revolt.
• 162 CE Campaigned against the Parthian Empire under Lucius Verus.
• 166-180 CE Campaigned in the Marcomannic Wars.
• 193 CE During Year of the Six Emperors, after the assassination of Pertinax, the Legion supported the Governor of Pannonia Superior, Septimius Severus as Emperor, and some of its Units joined the Praetorian Guard.
• 260-8 CE The Legion supported Gallienus against Postumus and his Gallic Empire and was awarded the Title ‘Pia VI Fedelis VI’ meaning ‘Six times Faithful and six times Loyal’

Conclusion

• The Notitia Dignitatum (c.400 CE) records the Legion as being divided into a Unit still based at Vienna (Vindobona), and a mobile Unit of the Comitatenses. After this the Legion’s Fate is unknown.

Vindobona, Vienna