Roman Legion - Legio XXII Primigenia

Багерман А.Я., Евсеенков А.С.

Legio XXII Primigenia (Legion XXII Primordial) — Roman legion of the imperial era,formed by the Emperor Caligula. Date of existence: 39 AD-IV century AD Symbol: Hercules and Capricorn. Several tiles show a lion with an amphora and something resembling a snake. Nicknames: Primigenia Pia VI Fidelis VI Domitiana Antoniniana Alexandriana (Primordial,6 times faithful and 6 times devoted,Domitian,Antoninov,Alexandrian)

Battle Path

• Legio XXII Primigenia was created by the Emperor Caligula (reigned 37-41) for the German campaign,although R. Cania in his article "Legion" from the dictionary "Le Dictionnaire des Antiquités Grecques et Romaines de Daremberg et Saglio" claims that Legio XXII Primigenia was created for the emperors by Claudius (reigned 41-54) to replace the translated ones On his orders,the legions are sent to Britain. - Legio XXII Primigenia receives a baptism of fire in the campaign of Emperor Caligula to the Rhine River. In the area of Wiesbaden,the baptism of fire of Legio XXII Primigenia takes place. Legio XXII Primigenia then encamps in Xanten (present-day Xanten,Germany),which it shares with Legio XXI Rapax. - In 40-41,Legio XXII Primigenia participated in the military campaigns of Aulus Gabinius Secundus (governor of Lower Germany,regained one of the legion eagles lost in the Teutoburg Battle) and Servius Sulpicius Galba (campaign against the Hutts)on the Rhine. At the end of the campaigns,Legio XXII Primigenia sets up camp in Monguntiak (present-day Mainz,Germany),where it shares it with Legio IIII Macedonica. The two legions also shared a common tile and ceramic production center at Rheinzabern in the Palatinate. - In 69 AD,the Legio XXII Primigenia supported the governor of Lower Germany,Aulus Wittelius,in his bid to take the imperial throne in Rome and sent a large vexillation with him,which took part in the Battle of Cremona (2nd Battle of Bedriaca in October 69),but lost along with Vitellius,to Vespasian. - During the Batavian revolt of 69-70,the Legio XXII Primigenia under the command of Gaius Dilius Vaucula,together with the Legio I Germanica and Legio XVI Gallica,were sent by Emperor Vespasian to rescue the besieged Legio V Alaude and Legio XV Primigenia at Xanten Roman Legion - Legio V Alaudae Roman Legion - Legio XXII Primigenia,but did not make it. In March 70 AD,Legio V Alaude and Legio XV Primigenia surrendered to the rebellious Batavians and were killed,and soon Legio I Germanica and Legio XVI Gallica also surrendered to the Batavians,but Legio XXII Primigenia defended Monguntiac (modern Mainz,Germany) for a long time,but was forced to leave it and retreat. - Later,when the new viceroy of Emperor Vespasian (reigned 69-79),Quintus Petilius Cerialis,arrived in Germany in the summer of 70,Legio XXII Primigenia was part of his army,which led the Batavian revolt. - After the Batavian revolt was suppressed,the Legio XXII Primigenia camped briefly in Vindobon (modern Vienna,Austria) in the autumn of 70 AD.

• Later,Legio XXII Primigenia was transferred to Xanten (present-day Xanten,Germany),where they built a new base to replace the one destroyed by the Batavians. In the towns surrounding Xanten and Xanten itself,remains of ceramics with the brand Legio XXII Primigenia are found. - In 89,the governor of Upper Germany,Lucius Antonius Saturnini,tried to overthrow the legitimate emperor Domitian,Legio XXII Primigenia took part in suppressing this action,for which he received from the emperor the title Pia Fidelis Domitiana ("Loyal and devoted to Domitian"). When this emperor was assassinated in 96,this titut ceased to be used. - Since the year 90,Legio XXII Primigenia has been camping for a long time in Monguntiak (modern Mainz,Germany). Among the officers who served in the Legio XXII Primigenia at various times were future emperors,for example,Emperor Hadrian (reigned 117-138); Didius Julian (emperor 193,reigned 66 days) and Lelianus (Gallic emperor 269),etc. - The Legio XXII Primigenia bills of exchange were sent to different parts of the Roman Empire. So one of the vexillatii vexillatii Legio XXII Primigenia participated in the wars with the Dacians of the emperor Trajan (reigned 98-117). Another vexillation Legio XXII Primigenia participated in Britain in the construction of the first wall (rampart) Hadrian (119 AD),and then the wall (rampart) Antonina (139-142). Another vexillation of the Legio XXII Primigenia was involved in the construction of fortifications on the eastern bank of the Rhine.

• During the reign of the Emperor Antony Pius (reigned 138-161),the Legio XXII Primigenia vexillation took part in his military campaign against the Moors. - The Legio XXII Primigenia also participated in the Parthian War of the Emperor Lucius Verus (reigned 161-169). - Under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161-180),the Legio XXII Primigenia participated in his war against the Marcomanni. At this time,one of the officers of the Legio XXII Primigenia was Didius Julian. - In 193 AD,the Legio XXII Primigenia supported the pretender to the imperial purple,Lucius Septimius Severus. The Legio XXII Primigenia fought for it against Clodius Albinus in 194 and defended Trier. There is a version that Legio XXII Primigenia took part in the Battle of Lyons and the expedition of Septimius Severus to Scotland. - In 213,the Legio XXII Primigenia received the title Antoniniana ("Antonine") for participating in the military campaigns of Emperor Caracalla (reigned 211-217) in Germany and rebuilding the bridge over the Rhine in the Monguntiac area (modern Mainz,Germany) before this campaign. - In 233,Legio XXII Primigenia participated in the campaign of Emperor Alexander Severus (reigned 222-235) against the Sassanids,for which he received the title Alexandriana ("Alexandrian"). - In 235 AD,the Legio XXII Primigenia participated in the campaign of Emperor Alexander Severus (reigned 222-235) against the Alemanni. - In 260,during the struggle of the Emperor Gallienus (reigned 253-268) with Postumus,Legio XXII Primigenia supported the Emperor Gallienus,for which he received the title Pia VI Fidelis VI ("six times loyal and faithful"). - According to the inscription found on the northern shore of the Sea of Marmara,it can be assumed that Legio XXII Primigenia took part in one of the military campaigns of the Emperor Gallienus against the ancient German tribe of Visigoths. - In 268,Legio XXII Primigenia legate Lelianus declared Monguntiac (the modern city of Mainz,Germany) independent,but in 269 Postumus subjugated Monguntiac and Legio XXII Primigenia to the Gallic Empire. - From 269 to 274,the Legio XXII Primigenia was part of the Gallic Empire. With the return of Gaul under Roman rule in 274 by the Emperor Aurelian (reigned 270-275),the Legio XXII Primigenia also returned to the Roman army. - It is known that at the beginning of the fourth century,the Legio XXII Primigenia was still in its camp in Monguntiak (modern Mainz,Germany). Probably during the reign of the Emperor Under Constantine I the Great (reigned 306-337),the Legio XXII Primigenia was disbanded by him,as there is no longer any information about the Legio XXII Primigenia during the reign of Emperor Constantius II (reigned 337-361).

Related topics

List of Roman Legions,Legion,Legionary,Legio XXI Rapax,Legio I Germanica,Legio XVI Gallica,Legio V Alaude,Legio XV Primigenia,Constantine I the Great

Literature

1. T. Franke,"Legio XXII Primigenia",in: Yann Le Bohec,Les legions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 95-104 2. I. Piso,"Legions in the province of Dasi",in: Yann Le Bohec,Roman Legions in the Upper Empire (2000,Lyon) 205-225. 3. The Kanya River. A brief history of the various legions. 4. Dando-Collins. "The Legions of Rome. The complete history of all the legions of the Roman Empire. "M. Izd." Tsentrpoligraf”. 2017

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