Roman Legion - Legio V Macedonica

Багерман А.Я.

Legio V Macedonica

Legio V Macedonica (Fifth Macedonian Legion) — Roman Legion (Fifth Macedonian Legion) formed by Octavian Augustus.

Period of service: Formed in 43 BC. e. The Legion lasted until 476, later joined the army of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Symbols: Bull and Eagle.

Nicknames: Macedonica(Macedonian), Pia Constans (Loyal and Reliable) or Pia Fidelis (Pious and Devoted), Pia III Fidelis III (Thrice Pious and Devoted)

Service history

• The Legio V Macedonica was formed in 43 BC by order of Octavian Augustus. For the first decade, nothing is known about the Legion's actions.

• The Legion took part as boarding parties in the naval battle between Octavian's forces and Mark Antony at Cape Actium in 31 BC.

• From 30 BC to 6 AD, Legio V Macedonica had its own military camp in Macedonia, from which it received its cognomen "Macedonian".

• From 6 to 61 AD, the Legio V Macedonica was moved to Moesia (the area between the Lower Danube and the Balkan Mountains, today part of Bulgaria, part of Serbia, Romania and Ukraine), to the site of Esk (modern city of Gigen, Bulgaria) to protect the empire's border along the Lower Danube from Dacian attacks. Here, the presence of the legion is indicated by the tiles found with its brands.

• In 62 AD, the legion was moved east to Pontus (northeastern Asia Minor) to fight the Parthians. The Legion was then commanded by the son-in-law of the governor of Syria, Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, Annius Vinicianus.

• Legio V Macedonica also took part in the outbreak of the 1st Jewish War (Revolt). At that time, it was commanded by the future Emperor Vespasian. Vespasian commanded the legion in 66-67 AD. During this time, the legionaries of the Fifth Legion distinguished themselves in Galilee during the liberation of the city of Sepphoris (the historical capital of Galilee, located 6 km northwest of Nazareth) in 67, the legionaries of Legio V Macedonica distinguished themselves during the storming of the main shrine of the Samaritans, Mount Gerizim (now a mountain in the center of Samaria, south of Nazareth). outskirts of the city of Shechem, Israel).

• In 68-69 AD, the legion is located in the camp at Emmaus (a settlement 30 km away). near Jerusalem, today it is the ruins of a settlement at the site of Latrun, the crossroads of the road from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv) in Judea as its former legate, declared emperor, enters the struggle for the imperial throne vacated by the death of Nero in 68 as a result of the events of the year of the four emperors.

• The son of the new emperor Vespasian, Titus uses the legion to besiege and storm Jerusalem in 70 AD. After that, Legio V Macedonica accompanied Titus to Alexandria and in 71 was returned to his old base in Moesia, in the city of Esk (Oez).

• In mid-86, Emperor Domitian reformed the provinces, as the Dacians attacked the province of Moesia and defeated the local troops. In the course of Domitian's reform, the Legio V Macedonica was now stationed in Lower Moesia (the Province of Moesia was divided into upper and lower).

• In 88, Legio V Macedonica took part in a campaign against the Dacians and participated in the Battle of Tappae. But in 89, the campaign ended due to internal problems in Empires.

• During the reign of the Emperor Trajan’s Legio V Macedonica was used by him in his military campaigns against the Dacians in 101-106 AD. At this time, one of the legion's officers was the future Roman Emperor Hadrian.

• At the end of the Dacian campaign, the legion was transferred in 107 to the north-east of Moesia to Troezmis (modern Iglica, Romania) near the Danube Delta to protect the borders of Rome from attacks by the Roxolani tribes. Legio V Macedonica also took part in the Parthian Campaign of Emperor Trajan in 115-117 AD.After it, it was again returned to Moesia. Here, together with other legions located in Moesia, he alternately sent part of his units (vexillations) to protect and defend the Crimea.

• During the reign of Emperor Hadrian, the legion was involved in the suppression of the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-136 AD). For this purpose, it was again transferred to the East, to Judea. After the suppression of the rebellion, the legion was again returned to Moesia.

• In the 2nd century AD, during the reign of Lucius Verus, the Legio V Macedonica was again sent east to participate in the war with Parthia in 161-166 AD. After this, the legion was again returned to Dacia, but was encamped in Potaissa (modern city of Turda, Romania). Today, the city of Turda has organized a museum on the site of the Legio V Macedonica military camp, where you can get acquainted with the living conditions, everyday life and service of legionaries of this legion.

• In A.D. 185 or 187, the Legio V Macedonica engages in battles with a mercenary army hired by rebellious gold mine workers in the province of Dacia. After defeating this army, the legion receives the nickname Pia Constans (Loyal and Reliable) or Pia Fidelis (Pious and Loyal) from Emperor Komoda.

• In the Year of the Five Emperors (193), the Legio V Macedonica supported the candidacy of the future emperor Lucius Septimius Severus.

• For most of the 3rd century, the Legion was based in its camp at Potais. At this time, the legion managed to make war with the Carp tribe from the Carpathians and together with Legio XIII Gemina Pia Fidelis defeated them in 244-245 AD.

• Emperor Valerian, in the 250s, gave the legion the title Pia III Fidelis III (Thrice Pious and loyal), for which the legion was awarded the title pious and Loyal for the second time.

• During the reign of Emperor Valerian's son, Emperor Gallienus (reigned 260-268 AD), Legio V Macedonica received the titles Pia VII Fidelis VII, probably for supporting the emperor in his struggle against the usurpers Ingenuus and Regalian (260 AD) in Moesia. It was then that the legion used against them an innovation for those years - mobile cavalry.

• In 274, the Emperor Aurelian (reigned 270-275) left Dacia, and the legion was transferred for the third time to the city of Oez (Esc) in Moesia. The cavalry unit established by Gallienus was separated from the legion by the emperor By Diocletian (reigned 284-305) and in 293 was sent to Egypt, where it remained until the beginning of the fifth century.

• In Moesia, the Legion's infantry units remained until the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476.

• The last mention of the legion dates back to 635 AD, when it was already part of the army of the Eastern Roman Empire and took part in strengthening the walls of the city of Heliopolis (modern Baalbek, Lebanon).

Related topics

Legion, Legionary, Octavian Augustus, Mark Antony, Year of the Four Emperors, Year of the Five Emperors, Marcus Ulpius Nerva Trajan, Diocletian, Legio XIII Gemina Pia Fidelis

Literature and sources

• Dando Collins " The Complete History of the Roman Legions”

• Legion on livius.org

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

• Roman Glory. Ancient military art