- The Legio XXII Deiotariana was founded in 48 BCE by King Deiotarus in Asia Minor, a Roman Ally who had earlier agreed to provide an army of 14,000 under a Treaty made in 63 BCE.
- It was based in Alexandria in Egypt between 8-69 CE but disappears from the record after 69 CE. Its Fate is unknown.
Regimental Details
- Creation Date:
- c. 48 BCE Levied by a Roman Ally, Deiotarus, King of the Tolistobogii, a Galatian Tribe in Asia Minor (Turkey).
- In 63 BC Pompey had made Deiotarus an ally, and probably helped model this army on Roman lines.
- c. 25 BCE It was Officially integrated into the Roman Army by Augustus, and named the Legio XXII Deiotariana.
- Reason for creation
- In 63 BCE Pompey conferred the Title ‘King of all the Galatians’ upon King Deiotarus, who agreed to supply the equivalent of 3 Legions under one command (estimated at 30 Cohorts, consisting of 12,000 legionaries and 2,000 cavalry).
- Dates:
- c. 48 BCE-c.145 CE.
- Fortress Bases:
- By 8 BCE-c.145 CE Nicopolis, Alexandria, Egypt
- Title:
- ‘Deiotariana’ meaning ‘The Twenty Second Legion of Deiotarus, King of the Galatians’
- Emblems:
- Unknown.
- Notable Commanders:
- Structure of the Legion:
Chronology
Early Campaigns:
- 2 August 47 BCE Successfully campaigned under Julius Caesar at the Battle of Zela against King Pharnaces II of Pontus, who was defeated.
Posting in Egypt (c.8 BCE-69 CE)
- By c. 8 BCE The Legion Shared the Double Fortress of Nicopolis, Alexandria, with the Legio III Cyrenaica.
- 26-5 BCE The Roman Prefect of Egypt, Aelius Gallus, possibly took the Legion for his campaign against Arabia Felix (The Yemen). During his absence, the Nubians attacked Upper Egypt.
- 24 BCE Gallus sent the Egyptian Legions to attack Nubia. Under the General Gaius Petronius, they followed the Nile and reached the Nubian Capital, Napata. After this, Nubia did not attack again.
- 63 CE A unit campaigned in Parthia under Corbulo.
- 66-70 CE A Unit of the Twentieth numbering 1,000 legionaries is known to have taken part in the siege of Jerusalum in 69-70 CE.
- 69 CE During the Year of the Four Emperors, the Twentieth, along with the Legio III Cyrenaica, supported Vespasian to become Roman Emperor.
- 132-5 CE Bar Kokhba's Revolt. It is possible the Legion was destroyed in this conflict, but there is no record of its presence during the Revolt or afterwards.
Conclusion
- Either Lost during Bar Kokhba's Revolt or disbanded afterwards. It is not present in the official List of Legions in 145 CE, and its fate remains a mystery.
Nicopolis, Alexandria, Egypt