Roman Legion - Legio I Macriana Liberatrix

Багерман А.Я.

Legio I Macriana Liberatrix (First Legion of Macer the Liberator) - a Roman legion formed by Lucius Clodius Macer in North Africa in 68 AD to revolt against Emperor Nero.

Name: Legio I Macriana Liberatrix (First Legion of Macer the Liberator)

Dates of existence: 68-69 AD

Emblem: unknown

Military History

• Legio I Macriana Liberatrix was created in 68 AD by the legate of the Third Augustan Legion, Lucius Clodius Macer, in North Africa when he raised a rebellion against Emperor Nero and declared himself the ruler of an independent kingdom. Just like the generals of the Roman Republic, who disregarded the official numbering of legions and gave them their own names and numbers, Lucius named the new legion Legio I Macriana Liberatrix.

• By the time Emperor Galba (ruled from June 68 to January 69 AD) came to power after Nero's suicide, the new legion was still in training and did not participate in any military actions. Galba, fearing Lucius Macer's ambition to become the new Roman emperor himself, ordered the procurator of Africa, Trebonius Garutianus, to kill Lucius Macer, who commanded two legions. Trebonius, following the order, killed Lucius Macer, and the newly formed legion was disbanded before it saw any combat.

• It is speculated that Galba's successor, Emperor Vitellius (ruled from April to December 69 AD), urgently needing troops in Africa to fight Vespasian, the new contender for the imperial throne, called former soldiers of Legio I Macriana Liberatrix back into service and merged them with his other forces in Africa.

Related topics

List of Roman Legions, Legionnaire, Legion, Roman Empire, Legio I Adiutrix, Legio I Italica, Legio I Germanica, Legio I Minervia, Legio I Parthica

Literature

• A. Chausa, "Legion I Macriana," in Yann Le Bohec, Les legions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000, Lyon), pp. 369-371.

• R. Cagnat, "Legion." A brief description of the history of various Roman legions.