- The Legio XVIII was founded by Octavian in c.41 BCE.
- The Legion was destroyed at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE.
Regimental Details
- Creation:
- c. 41 BCE Levied by Octavian.
- Dates:
- c. 41 BCE-9 CE.
- Fortress Bases:
- Probably Castra Vetera, Xanten (c.15 BCE-9 CE)
- Title:
- No known Cognomen
- Emblems:
- Notable Commanders:
- Structure of the Legion:
Chronology
Early Campaigns:
- Probably taken to Sicily to fight in the Civil Wars after Assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE.
- Probably fought in 31 BCE at the Battle of Actium against Mark Anthony.
- c. 30 BCE Possibly stationed in Gaul.
- c. 15 BCE moved to Germania Inferior, possibly Castra Vetera (Xanten).
Posting in Germania Inferior (15 BCE-9 CE)
- 15-13 BCE Drusus campaigned against the Germanic Tribes.
- 8 BCE Tiberius campaigned against King Maroboduus of the Marcomanni in Czechia.
- 4-5 CE Tiberius campaigned against the Germanic Tribes and completed the conquest of Germania as far as the Elbe.
- 5 CE Publius Quintilius Varus became Governor of the newly conquered Germania.
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (9CE)
- 9 CE Arminius, leader of the Cherusci, who had been a loyal ally to Rome, plotted against Varus and led him into a trap at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. All three Legions, the XVII, XVIII and XIX, were destroyed in this Battle.
- 16-18 CE Germanicus sent an expedition to the battlefield who successfully recovered the Standards of the Legions.
Conclusion
- Very little is known about the Legio XVIII as there is very little written record or inscriptions remaining today.
- The Legion was lost in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest along with the Legio XVII and Legio XIX. The Numbers XVII, XVIII and XIX were never used again.
- In 69-70 CE Nero did however resurrect the Legio XVIII and sent 4 cohorts to quell the revolt in Judaea and 6 cohorts to Germania, to quell the Batavian Revolt. Vespasian then disbanded them in 70 CE.
Castra Vetera, Xanten, Germany