Roman Legion - Legio VI Victrix
Legio VI Victrix (the Sixth Victorious Legion) was a Roman legion formed by Octavian Augustus to counter Legio VI Ferrata, which was part of Mark Antony's army.
Date of creation: 41 BCE – early 5th century CE
Symbol: Bull
Title: Victrix Hispanensis Pia Fidelis Constans Britannica (Victorious; Spanish; Loyal and Faithful; British; Constantinian).
Battle Path
- Legio VI Victrix was created by Octavian Augustus in 41 BCE to counter Legio VI Ferrata, which was part of Mark Anthony.
- There is also a version that initially, upon its creation, Legio VI Victrix was called Legio VI Macedonica, but later, under Emperor Nero, it was finally named Legio VI Victrix.
- The first combat experience for Legio VI Victrix was the siege of Perugia (modern Perugia, Italy) in 41 BCE. Sling stones found around Perugia indicate that this legion participated in its siege.
- Next, Legio VI Victrix was involved in the fight against Sextus Pompeius in Sicily and in the naval battle of Actium in 31 BCE.
- In 30 BCE, Legio VI Victrix was transferred to Tarraconian Spain, where it participated in Emperor Augustus's war against the Cantabrians, known as the Cantabrian Wars, which lasted from 25 to 13 BCE.
- Legio VI Victrix remained in Spain for almost 100 years, earning the cognomen Hispania and the suffix Hispaniensis (Spanish). Veterans of Legio VI Victrix and Legio X Gemina were among the first settlers of Cordoba, Merida, and Zaragoza.
- Under Emperor Nero, Legio VI Victrix received another cognomen, Victrix (Victorious).
- Legio VI Victrix did not participate in the Civil War of 68-69 CE, as it remained in Spain.
- In 70 CE, Emperor Vespasian sent Legio VI Victrix north to Germany as part of a large Roman army. In Germany, Legio VI Victrix participated in suppressing the Batavian revolt, distinguishing itself in the battle of Castra Vetera (modern Xanten, Germany) under its legate, Sextus Caelius Tusca. Scholars found an inscription on a stone highlighting the legion's, its legate's, and Emperor Vespasian's merits.
Tombstone of a priestess and an officer of Legio VI Victrix. Date: 1st century CE. Museum of Nîmes, France.
Dedication to Romanian mothers by a scout of Legio VI Victrix. Bonn Museum, Germany. Date: 70-121 CE.
Tombstone of Tavonius from Legio VI Victrix. Merida Museum, Spain. Date: circa 30 BCE – circa 70 CE.
- After suppressing the Batavian revolt, Legio VI Victrix remained in Germany and camped in Novae (modern Neuss, Germany), the former base of Legio XVI Gallica.
- In 89 CE, Legio VI Victrix, along with other Roman forces of Lower Germany, participated in suppressing the revolt of Upper Germany's governor, Lucius Antonius Saturninus, against Emperor Domitian. For this, Emperor Domitian awarded Legio VI Victrix the title Pia Fidelis Domitiana ("Loyal and Faithful Legion of Domitian"), but after Domitian's assassination in 96 CE, the title Domitiana ceased to be used.
- At the end of the 1st century CE, Legio VI Victrix was moved from Novae to Xanten. Vexillations of Legio VI Victrix participated in wars against the Dacians on the Danube.
- In 122 CE, Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and took Legio VI Victrix with him as part of his retinue. In Britain, Legio VI Victrix was stationed at Eboracum (modern York, England). In Britain, legionaries of Legio VI Victrix also participated in constructing Hadrian's Wall. The legionaries of Legio VI Victrix built a section of the wall from Newcastle to Carlisle and a bridge over the River Tyne near Newcastle.
An altar mentioning Legio VI Victrix. Brohl Museum, Germany. Date: 1st century CE.
Tombstone of a soldier of Legio VI Victrix named Agricola. Museum of London, England. Date: circa 197 – circa 300 CE.
Tile with the stamp of Legio VI Victrix. Date: circa 70-121 CE. Bonn Museum, Germany.
- Between 139 and 142 CE, legionaries of Legio VI Victrix participated in constructing the Antonine Wall between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- Between 155 and 158 CE, Legio VI Victrix helped suppress a rebellion in Northern Britain.
- In 165-166 CE, one of the officers serving in Legio VI Victrix was the future Emperor Publius Helvius Pertinax (emperor from January to March 193 CE).
- In the civil war of 196 CE (Year of the Five Emperors) Legio VI Victrix sided with the governor of Britain, Clodius Albinus, but lost the battle of Lugdunum (modern Lyon) to Lucius Septimius Severus and was sent back to Britain.
- Upon returning to Britain, Legio VI Victrix had to reclaim Northern Britain, which had been taken by barbarians, back under Roman control.
- The legionaries of Legio VI Victrix rebuilt Eboracum (York) and restored part of Hadrian's Wall. For this, Legio VI Victrix received the title Fidelis Constans ("Faithful and Steadfast").
- In 208 CE, Emperor Septimius Severus arrived in Britain to conquer Scotland. Legio VI Victrix participated in this military campaign. The legion moved north, establishing its base at the fortress of Carpow (east of modern Perth, Scotland) on the River Tay. In this fortress, besides Legio VI Victrix, was also Legio II Augusta.
Victory monument mentioning Legio VI Victrix. Date: circa 73 CE. Bonn Museum, Germany.
Roof tile with the stamp of Legio VI Victrix. Date: 1st century CE. Chester, England.
- Roof tile with the stamp of Legio VI Victrix. Date: 1st century CE. Chester, England. For successes in this war, Legio VI Victrix received the title Britannica (British). The legion's full name was now Legio VI Victrix Pia Fidelis Britannica.
- During the crisis of the 3rd century , the legion did not conduct any conquests.
- In the 3rd and 4th centuries, Legio VI Victrix was still stationed in Britain, at its camp in Eboracum (York), performing police and punitive functions.
- From 260-274 and 286-297 CE, Legio VI Victrix was part of the Gallic Empire, then independent Britain, then part of the forces of the usurpers Carausius and Allectus, and then back under the Roman Empire when Britain was re-subjugated by Rome in 297 CE.
- In 306 CE, legionaries of Legio VI Victrix proclaimed the son of the late Constantius I Chlorus, Constantine the Great, as emperor in Eboracum.
- Despite the tense situation in Britain, Legio VI Victrix still existed by the end of the 4th century.
- It is possible that in 402 CE, Legio VI Victrix was recalled from Britain to Rome by the general of Emperor Honorius (reigned 395-423 CE), Stilicho, who was the supreme commander of the Roman forces in the Western Roman Empire and its de facto ruler until his death in 408 CE.
- Nothing is known about the subsequent fate of Legio VI Victrix after 402 CE.
Related topics
List of Roman Legions, Legion, Legionnaire, Octavian Augustus, Mark Antony, Legio VI Ferrata, Legio XVI Gallica, Year of the Four Emperors, Year of the Five Emperors, The crisis of the 3rd century in the Roman Empire
Literature
1. R. Cagnat. A Brief History of Various Legions.
2. Stephen Dando-Collins. "Legions of Rome: The Complete History of Every Imperial Roman Legion". M. Publishing House "Tsentrpoligraf". 2017.
3. M. Hassall, "Pre-Hadrianic Deployment of Legions in Britain", in: Richard J. Brewer (ed.), "Roman Fortresses and Their Legions. Papers in Honour of George Boon" (2000).
4. M. Hassall, "Legionary Fortresses in Britain", in: Yann Le Bohec, Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000, Lyon) 441–457. L. Keppie, "British Legions. Legions II Augusta, VI Victrix, IX Hispana, XX Valeria Victrix", in: Yann Le Bohec, Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 25-37.
5. A. Morillo Cerdán and V. García Marcos, "New Evidence on Legions VI Victrix and X Gemina in the Northern Region of the Iberian Peninsula", in: Yann Le
6. Bohec, Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000, Lyon) 589-607.
