Legio XIV Gemina

• The Legio XIV Gemina was founded by Julius Caesar in 58 BCE.
• It was based at Carnuntum in Pannonia Superior between 106-430 CE.

Regimental Details

• Creation:
  • 58 BCE Levied by Julius Caesar.
• Dates:
  • 58 BCE-430 CE.
• Fortress Bases:
  • Mainz (Moguntiacum), Germania Superior (9 CE)
  • Wroxeter (Viroconium), Britannia (55-68 CE)
  • Mainz (Moguntiacum), Germania Superior (69-70 CE)
  • Vienna (Vindobona), Pannonia Superior (92 CE)
  • Carnuntum (Ruins Today), Pannonia Superior (106-430 CE)
• Title:
  • ‘Gemina’ meaning ‘Twinned’ (with another Legion, the Legio Martia).
  • Later ‘Victrix’ meaning ‘Victory’ was awarded by Augustus after 9 CE for success in the Great Illyrian Revolt.
• Emblems:
  • The Capricorn, and possibly the Eagle.
• Notable Commanders:
• Structure of the Legion:
  • Roman Legion
  • Roman Army
  • Roman Weapons

Chronology

Early Campaigns:

• Gallic Wars (58-51 CE)
  • 58-51 BCE Campaigned under Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars.
  • 54 BCE Campaigning in Gaul and were almost destroyed by Ambiorix, leader of the Eburones in Belgium.
  • 53 BCE The Legion was reconstituted and Julius Caesar set out to avenge their destruction; he defeated or forced into an alliance all the surrounding tribes, and entered Germany to dissuade those tribes from helping. He then surrounded and erased the Eburones completely as a Race. There was only one survivor, Ambiorix, who escaped to Germany.

• Germania Superior (9-43 CE)
  • 9 CE Based at Mainz (Moguntiacum).
  • 16-18 CE Successfully campaigned under Germanicus against Arminius, better known as Hermann, who had defeated Varus at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE.

Posting in Britannia (43-69 CE)

• 43 CE One of the 4 Legions employed in the invasion of Britannia :Legio II Augusta, Legio IX Hispana, Legio XIV Gemina, Legio XX Valeria Victrix.
• Based at Leicester then Lincoln.
• 50-55 CE Based at Wall (Letocetum).
• 58 CE Based at Wroxeter (Viroconium).

Battle of Watling Street

• 60-1 CE During Boudicca's Revolt, the Legion made a successful and historical Stand with the 10,000 men and Auxiliaries of the Legion at the Battle of Watling Street against Boudicca’s 230,000 men, according to Tacitus and Cassius Dio.
• 67 CE It was sent to Pannonia, as part of Nero‘s planned war against the Parthian Empire. However, when Nero committed suicide, the war was cancelled. The Legion then remained in Pannonia before being ordered back to Britannia.

Posting in Germania Superior (69-70 – 92 CE)

• 69-70 CE The Legion was ordered to leave Britannia and suppress the Batavian Revolt. It marched along the Via Belgica from Boulogne to Cologne and the Revolt was crushed.
• 69-70 CE It never returned to Britannia and instead, was moved to Mainz (Moguntiacum).
• 70-92 CE The Legion was involved in every German Campaign during this period.

Posting in Pannonia Superior (92 – c.430 CE)

• 92 CE Sent Vienna (Vindobona), to replace the Legio XXI Rapax which had been destroyed.
• 101-106 CE During the Dacian Wars the Legion fought under Trajan
• 106-c. 400 CE It was moved to Carnuntum.

Conclusion

• The Legion was still based at Carnuntum when the Frontier was overrun in 430 CE.

Carnuntum-Petronell, Austria (Ruins)