Roman Legion - Legio XV Apollinaris
Legio XV Apollinaris (Fifteenth Legion of Apollo) was a Roman legion formed by Octavian Augustus during the Republic.
Date of existence: 41-40 BCE, existed until the early 5th century CE.
Symbol: Exact details about the legion's emblem are unknown, but it was likely an image of the sun god Apollo or one of the animals dedicated to this god, such as a griffin.
Nicknames: Apollinaris (of Apollo), Pia Fidelis (Loyal and Faithful)
Battle Path
- Initially, Legio XV was formed by Caesar during the Gallic War (58-50 BCE). In 53 BCE, it participated in the siege and battle at the siege of Alesia, then it was stationed in the city of Aquila in northern Italy. Later, the legion surrendered to the Senate and was transferred to Capua, and from there it was moved to Africa, where it was defeated in 48 BCE.
- Legio XV Apollinaris was specifically founded by Octavian Augustus in 41 or 40 BCE to combat Sextus Pompey, the son of Pompey the Great, who had seized Sicily. The legion's emblem likely became an image of the god Apollo, whom Emperor Octavian Augustus particularly revered.
- The legion participated in the Sicilian War against Sextus Pompey's forces from 43-36 BCE.
- After defeating Sextus Pompey's forces, Legio XV Apollinaris was stationed in Italy until 31 BCE, when it was transferred to Illyricum (the western part of the Balkan Peninsula).
- At the end of the 1st century BCE, Legio XV Apollinaris participated in the Cantabrian Wars, the final stage of the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
Tombstone of Plotidius Vitalis XV Apollinaris. Museum of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Museum Carnuntinum. Austria. Around 94-120 CE.
Stela of Titus Calidius XV Apollinaris. Carnuntum. Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Austria. Early 2nd century CE.
Stela of Quintus Fortesius of the XV Apollinaris Legion. Museum of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Museum Carnuntinum. Austria. 1st-2nd century CE.
- In 6 CE, the legion participated in suppressing the Pannonian uprising.
- In 9 CE, after the Teutoburg disaster, Legio XV Apollinaris camped at Carnuntum.
- In 62 or 63 CE, Legio XV Apollinaris was sent east to Syria to guard the borders, replacing forces involved in the eastern campaign of General Corbulo. Later, it was transferred to garrison duty in Alexandria, Egypt.
- In 66 CE, Legio XV Apollinaris participated in the First Jewish-Roman War, initially commanded by Titus, the future Roman emperor. During this war, the legion took part in the following battles: the siege and capture of Jotapata (67 CE), where they captured the future Jewish historian Josephus; Gamala; the siege and capture of Jerusalem (70 CE).
- After the Jewish War, the legion returned to Carnuntum (today the ruins near the village of Petronell-Carnuntum, near Vienna, Austria).
- During the reign of emperors Domitian and Trajan in 88-89 CE and 101-106 CE, Legio XV Apollinaris participated in the Dacian Wars.
- Under Emperor Trajan, Legio XV Apollinaris also took part in his Parthian campaign (115-117 CE).
Tombstone of Seius from the XV Apollinaris Legion. Museum Carnuntinum. Austria. Around 80-125 CE.
- Under Emperor Hadrian (117-138 CE), the legion's new base became the city of Satala (modern Sadak, Turkey) in northeastern Cappadocia, with detachments stationed in the cities of Trapezus (modern Trabzon, Turkey) and Ankara (now Ankara, Turkey).
- In 134 CE, Legio XV Apollinaris participated as part of the forces of the ruler of Cappadocia in a campaign against the Alans. In the 2nd century, the legion participated in Emperor Lucius Verus's Parthian campaign (162-166 CE). The legion was briefly stationed in Artaxata (a city in modern Armenia) before returning to Satala. In 175 CE, during the uprising of Avidius Cassius, who briefly seized power in Egypt and Syria, the legion remained loyal to Emperor Marcus Aurelius. For this, the legion received the title "Pia Fidelis" (Loyal and Faithful) from the emperor.
- In 194 and 197-198 CE, Legio XV Apollinaris likely participated in Emperor Septimius Severus's Parthian campaigns, which ended with the sacking of the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon.
- In the 3rd century, the legion participated in military campaigns against the new Sassanid Persian Empire under emperors Caracalla (211-217 CE); Alexander Severus (222-235 CE); Gordian III (238-244 CE); and Philip the Arab (244-249 CE). Legio XV Apollinaris probably continued to actively participate in the struggle against the Sassanids.
- In the early 5th century, Legio XV Apollinaris was still stationed at its base in Satala, but no longer in Trapezus, as it was replaced there by detachments of Legio I Parthica. It was likely disbanded afterward for unknown reasons.
Related topics
List of Roman Legions, Legion, Legionnaire, Gaius Julius Caesar, Octavian Augustus, Marcus Ulpius Nerva Trajan
Literature
1. Dandelot-Collins. Legions of Rome
2. R. Kanya. A brief history of the various Legions
3. M. Sazel Kos, " The Fifteenth Legion in Emon - some thoughts ", in Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 109 (1995), 227-244
4. E. Wheeler, "Legio XV Apollinaris: from Carnuntum to Satala-and beyond", in: Yann Le Boheck, "The Legion of Rome and the Empire of the Upper" (2000 Lyon) 259-308
