Legio III Italica

Legio III Italica

Legio III "Italica" was a Roman legion levied by Marcus Aurelius around 165, for his campaign against the Marcomanni tribe. The cognomen "Italica" suggests that recruits were originally from Italy. The legion was still active in Germania in the early 5th century (Notitia Dignitatum, dated ca. 420 AD for Western Roman Empire entries).

Together with legions II "Italica" and I "Adiutrix", III "Italica" legion was in the Danube provinces from its beginning, fighting the Marcomanni invasion of the Raetia and Noricum provinces. In 171 they built the camp "Castra Regina", present Regensburg, designed as a strongly defensive position like a castle.

In the civil war of 193, this legion supported Septimius Severus and helped him defeat his opponents first Pertinax and Didius Julianus, then Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus. Their loyalty was extended to Severus' successor, emperor Caracalla, for whom they fought in 213 a campaign against the Alamanni.

Since the cognomen "III Italica Gordiana" is recorded, vexellations (sub-units) the legion were involved in Emperor Gordian III's campaign against the Sassanid Empire in 243-244.

As part of the powerful Danubian army, III "Italica" took part in the frequent 3rd century internal power struggles. The legion fought for Gallienus against his rival Postumus, so it was awarded with the "VI Pia VI Fidelis" and "VII Pia VII Fidelis" (seven times faithful and loyal) cognomen. III "Italica" main camp was still Regensburg, but they were included in the 273 campaign commanded by emperor Aurelian against queen Zenobia. Vexellations of the legion, a "comitatensis" unit, are mentioned in Notitia Dignitatum as still being in Castra Regina and the Danubian provinces during the early 5th century.

ee also

*List of Roman legions

External links

* [http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/iii_italica.html livius.org account of Legio III Italica]
* [http://www.legion-regensburg.de/ LEGIO TERTIA ITALICA ANTONINIANA] , German re-enactment group.
* [http://www.legioiiiitalica.org/ Legio III Italica] , US re-enactment group.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Legio III Italica — Kaiser Mark Aurel (Kopie einer Reiterstatue in Tulln) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Legio III Italica — Monnaie de Gallien célébrant la légion III Italica. Au revers, on peut voir la cigogne, emblème de la légion et la légende leg(io) III Italica VI P(ia) VI F(idelis) La IIIe légion «Italique» (legio III Italica Gordiana Pia VII Fidelis VII) est… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Legio III Italica — Un antoniniano emitido por Galieno en el 260 para conmemorar la Legio III Italica. En el reverso se puede ver la cigüeña el símbolo de la legión. La Legio III Italica (Tercera legión «italiana») fue una legión romana, creada por Marco Aurelio… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Легион III «Италика» (Legio III Italica) — Легион III «Италика» legio III Italica Тип: Легион Страна: Древний Рим Сформирован: 165 или 166 Расформирован: начало V века Наг …   Википедия

  • Legio II Italica — Kaiser Mark Aurel (Kopie einer Reiterstatue in Tulln) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Legio III Italica — …   Википедия

  • Legio III Herculia — Schildbemalung der Tertia Herculea im frühen 5. Jahrhundert[1] Die Legio III Herculia („die dem Herkules geweihte 3. Legion“) war eine Legion der spätantiken römischen Armee, die von Diokletian (284–305) vermutlich zu Beginn seiner Herrschaft… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Legio I Italica — Die Legio I Italica war eine Legion der römischen Armee, die von 66/67 n. Chr. bis ins 5. Jahrhundert hinein bestand. Als Emblem verwendete die I Italica ein Wildschwein und manchmal auch einen Stier oder Steinbock.[1] Signum der Legio I Italica …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Legio IIII Italica — Die Legio IIII Italica war eine Legion der römischen Armee, die im 3. Jahrhundert aufgestellt wurde und bis ins 5. Jahrhundert bestand. Das Emblem der Legion ist nicht überliefert. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Geschichte der Legion 2 Einzelnachweise 3… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Legio II Italica — Moneda acuñada por el emperador Galieno. En el reverso puede leerse LEG II ITAL VII P VII F (Legio II Italica VII Pia VII Fidelis). cngcoins.com. La Legio II Italica (Segunda legión «italiana») fue una legión romana, creada en el año 165 por el… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”