Roman Legion - Legio I Minervia

The First Legion of Minerva (Latin: Legio I Minervia) was a Roman legion of the imperial era,formed in 82 AD by order of Emperor Domitian for the German campaign. Later,the legion encamped on the Rhine border,where it remained for several centuries. Date of creation: 82 or 87 AD The Legion lasted until the beginning of the 5th century Symbol: Minerva,Aries or Capricorn

Battle Path

• There are two versions of the origin of Legio I Minervia. According to the Roman historian Dio Cassius,the First Legion of Minerva was formed by order of the Emperor Domitian. The exact year and month of its founding are unknown,but the most likely version is 82,since the following spring Domitian launched a full-scale war against the German Hutt tribe,during which the First Legion of Minerva showed itself for the first time in real battle. According to the second theory,the division was founded in 87. The Legion was stationed in Bonn in the province of Lower Germany,just two days south of the provincial capital of Colonia Agrippina. Most likely,its primary name was "The First Flavian Legion of Minerva". Minerva is supposed to have been Domitian's favorite patron god. - In 89,the governor of Upper Germany,Lucius Antonius Saturninus,raised a revolt,after which four legions (Legio I Minervia,Legio VI Victrix,Legio X Gemina,Legio XXII Primigenia) marched south and defeated the rebel. Each legion was awarded the honorary nickname "Loyal and devoted to Domitian" (lat. Pia Fidelis Domitiana). After the emperor's death in 96,the title was shortened to Legio I Minervia Pia Fidelis.

• During the reign of the Emperor Trajan 's Legion of Minerva participated in the Dacian war as part of the army along with Legions VI Victrix and X Gemina. The legion's camp in Bonn was temporarily occupied by Vexillation XXII Primigenia. During the Dacian campaign,the unit was led by the future emperor Adrian. The Dacian campaign can be seen on Trajan's column. After the campaign,the legion returned to Bonn after completing the campaign (the legate of the legion was in Lower Germany in 112). - It is noteworthy that the legionnaires of the First Legion of Minerva in peacetime mainly worked in stone quarries. It is also known that they were also involved in the construction of infrastructure-the legionnaires built a lime kiln in the Eifel Mountains. In general,First Legion soldiers were often used as skilled labor. The Legion also had specially trained human venators,whose duties included catching animals to play in the amphitheatres. In particular,Centurion Quintus Tarquitius Restitutus mentioned in his inscription that he captured 50 bears in six months.

• The First Legion's bills of exchange were also sent to other provinces. They probably served in Britain and Mauretania. The First Legion of Minerva,together with the Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix units,took part in the Parthian campaign of Lucius Verus under the leadership of Marcus Claudius Fronto. One of the vexillations fought in the Caucasus region and in Albania near the Caspian Sea. In 173 AD,the unit fought the Hawks during a campaign launched against them by the governor of Belgica,Didius Julian. - The First Legion of Minerva participated in the Marcomannic campaign of Marcus Aurelius. - Under Commodus,the Legion may have participated in military operations in the Kerken area on the lower Rhine. - In 193,the I Legion of Minerva sided with Septimius Severus against Clodius Albinus and Pescennius Niger. - Around 196 AD,the unit received the honorary nickname "Antonin" (Latin: Antoniniana). - In 197 AD,the vexillationes of the First Legion of Minerva,together with Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix,Legio VIII Bis Augusta,and XXII Primigenia at Lugdunum,and in 197/198 AD,under the leadership of Claudius Gallus,took part in the Parthian campaign of Septimius Severus. - Gaius Julius Septimius Castinus in 207/208 led the vexillation of the 4 legions involved in Septimius Severus ' Parthian campaign to fight the rebellion in Gaul and Spain. - After the murder of Heliogabalus,the legion was stripped of the honorary nickname "Antoninov". During the reign of Alexander Severus,he was awarded the honorary nicknames "Severus" (Latin: Severus),"Antoninus","Loyal and faithful",for the fact that in 231,under the leadership of his legate Titius Rufinus,he defeated an alliance of German tribes on the right bank of the Rhine. In honor of this,an altar was erected on the battlefield.

• The Legion supported Maximin the Thracian during his ascension to the throne,for which it received the honorary nickname "Maximinov". After the assassination of Maximinus in 238,the unit lost this nickname. - Under Gordianus,the III Legion received the honorary nickname "Gordianov" (Lat. Gordiana). On the coins of Gallienus,he is referred to with his nickname "Loyal and Faithful". - Around 260,the Legion's vexillation was stationed in Sirmium. Most likely,the legion was loyal to the Gallic Empire. - The vexillation of the I Legion of Minerva was used in Maximian's campaign against the Bagaudi and the British usurper Carausius in 285-290 AD. On the coins of Carausius there are references to the legion. - By 295,the legion was classified as Limitanei,which is confirmed by inscriptions from Bonn. - On the triumphal arch of Constantine there is an image where Constantine I the Great transferred part of the legion to his comitatus. Most likely it was a Minervian unit,mentioned later in the Eastern Empire Army. - In 353,Bonn was destroyed by the Franks,and after that,there is no information about the units of the First Legion of Minerva stationed in Germany. At the same time,there is no information about the disbanding of the legion. According to one version,it should be identified with the Primani legion mentioned by Ammianus Marcellinus and fought in the Battle of Argentorata. Emperor Julian II retook Bonn and probably rebuilt the camp. However,it is not known whether Minerva's First Legion was there or not. - According to the Notitia Dignitatum,around 400 AD the Minervian Legion was under the leadership of the military master Illyricus.

Related topics

List of Roman Legions,Legion,Legionary,Roman Empire,Late Roman Empire,Legio VI Victrix,Legio X Gemina,Legio XXII Primigenia,Constantine I the Great

Literature

• Dion Cassius. Roman History. LV. 24. 4. - Maxfield,1981,p. 133,199. - Marc Lodewijckx (Hrsg.). Belgian Archaeology in a European Setting. Volume 1. — Leuven University Press,2001. — 42—43 p. - Notitia Dignitatum. In partibus Orientis. IX. - R. Kanya. A brief history of the various legions. Legio. 2001.