Roman Legion - Legio XXII Primigenia
Legio XXII Primigenia (22nd Legion "Primigenia") was a Roman legion of the imperial era, formed by Emperor Caligula.
Date of existence: 39 CE - 4th century CE
Symbol: Hercules and Capricorn. Some tiles depict a lion with an amphora and something resembling a snake.
Nicknames: Primigenia Pia VI Fidelis VI Domitiana Antoniniana Alexandriana (Primigenia, six times loyal and six times faithful, Domitian's, Antonine's, Alexandrian)
Military History
- Legio XXII Primigenia was created by Emperor Caligula (reigned 37-41 CE) for a campaign in Germany. However, R. Kanya in his article "Legion" from the dictionary "Le Dictionnaire des Antiquités Grecques et Romaines de Daremberg et Saglio" argues that Legio XXII Primigenia was formed by Emperor Claudius (reigned 41-54 CE) to replace legions he transferred to Britain.
- Legio XXII Primigenia first saw action in Caligula’s campaign on the Rhine River. Near Wiesbaden, the legion was baptized in battle. Afterward, Legio XXII Primigenia set up camp in Xanten (modern-day Xanten, Germany), sharing it with Legio XXI Rapax.
- In 40-41 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia participated in the military campaigns of Aulus Gabinius Secundus (Governor of Lower Germany, who retrieved one of the lost legionary eagles from the Battle of Teutoburg Forest) and Servius Sulpicius Galba (campaign against the Chatti) on the Rhine. After these campaigns, the legion set up camp in Mogontiacum (modern-day Mainz, Germany), sharing it with Legio IIII Macedonica. The two legions also operated a shared tile and pottery production center in Rheinzabern in the Palatinate.
- In 69 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia supported the Governor of Lower Germany, Aulus Vitellius, in his bid for the imperial throne in Rome and sent a large vexillation with him, which participated in the Battle of Cremona (the second Battle of Bedriacum in October 69 CE) but lost alongside Vitellius to Vespasian.
- During the Batavian rebellion of 69-70 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia, under the command of Gaius Dillius Vocula, along with Legio I Germanica and Legio XVI Gallica, was sent by Emperor Vespasian to rescue the besieged Legio V Alaudae and Legio XV Primigenia in Xanten, but they did not arrive in time. In March 70 CE, Legio V Alaudae and Legio XV Primigenia surrendered to the Batavians and were massacred. Soon after, Legio I Germanica and Legio XVI Gallica also surrendered to the Batavians, while Legio XXII Primigenia defended Mogontiacum but was eventually forced to retreat.
- Later, when the new governor of Germany, Quintus Petillius Cerialis, arrived in the summer of 70 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia joined his army in suppressing the Batavian rebellion.
- After the rebellion, in the autumn of 70 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia briefly set up camp in Vindobona (modern-day Vienna, Austria).
Tile stamped with the mark of Legio XXII Primigenia Pia Fidelis. City of Xanten (Germany). Date: 1st century.
Tile emblem of Legio XXII Primigenia (lion). Date: 1st century. Salzburg Museum. Austria.
Tombstone of G. Falconius Secundus, a soldier of Legio XXII Primigenia. Mainz, Germany. 1st century.
- Later, Legio XXII Primigenia was moved to Xanten, where they built a new base to replace the one destroyed by the Batavians. In the surrounding cities and Xanten itself, remnants of pottery stamped with Legio XXII Primigenia’s insignia have been found.
- In 89 CE, the governor of Upper Germany, Lucius Antonius Saturninus, attempted to overthrow the legitimate emperor, Domitian. Legio XXII Primigenia participated in suppressing this revolt and received the title Pia Fidelis Domitiana ("Faithful and Loyal to Domitian") from the emperor. However, this title was dropped after Domitian was killed in 96 CE.
- From 90 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia was stationed for a long period in Mogontiacum. Among the officers who served in Legio XXII Primigenia at various times were future emperors, including Hadrian (reigned 117-138 CE), Didius Julianus (emperor in 193 CE for 66 days), Laelianus (Gallic emperor in 269 CE), and others.
- Vexillations from Legio XXII Primigenia were dispatched to various parts of the Roman Empire. One vexillation participated in Emperor Trajan’s wars against the Dacians (reigned 98-117 CE). Another vexillation from Legio XXII Primigenia participated in Britain, first in the construction of Hadrian’s Wall (119 CE) and later in the construction of Antonine’s Wall (139-142 CE). Another vexillation participated in building fortifications on the eastern bank of the Rhine.
Ring of a soldier from Legio XXII Primigenia. 1st century. Mainz, Germany.
Tombstone of T. Julius Tuttius, a soldier from Legio XXII Primigenia. Cologne, Germany. 1st century.
Tile of Legio XXII Primigenia Pia Fidelis. Salzburg Museum, Austria. 1st century.
- During Emperor Antoninus Pius’s reign (reigned 138-161 CE), a vexillation from Legio XXII Primigenia participated in his military campaign against the Moors. Another vexillation participated in the Parthian War of Emperor Lucius Verus (reigned 161-169 CE).
- Under Emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161-180 CE), Legio XXII Primigenia participated in his war against the Marcomanni. At that time, one of the officers in Legio XXII Primigenia was Didius Julianus.
- In 193 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia supported the claimant to the imperial purple, Lucius Septimius Severus. Legio XXII Primigenia fought for him against Clodius Albinus in 194 CE and defended Trier. There is a theory that Legio XXII Primigenia participated in the Battle of Lyon and Severus’s expedition to Scotland.
- In 213 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia received the title Antoniniana ("Antonine") for participating in Emperor Caracalla’s campaigns in Germany and rebuilding the bridge over the Rhine near Mogontiacum.
- In 233 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia participated in Emperor Alexander Severus’s campaign against the Sassanids, for which it received the title Alexandriana ("Alexandrian").
- In 235 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia participated in Alexander Severus’s campaign against the Alemanni.
- In 260 CE, during Emperor Gallienus’s struggle (reigned 253-268 CE) with Postumus, Legio XXII Primigenia supported Emperor Gallienus and received the title Pia VI Fidelis VI ("six times faithful and loyal") from him.
- A discovered inscription on the northern shore of the Sea of Marmara suggests that Legio XXII Primigenia participated in one of Emperor Gallienus’s military campaigns against the Visigoths.
- In 268 CE, the legate of Legio XXII Primigenia, Laelianus, declared Mogontiacum independent, but in 269 CE, Postumus subdued Mogontiacum and Legio XXII Primigenia, bringing it under the Gallic Empire.
- From 269 to 274 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia was part of the Gallic Empire. When Emperor Aurelian (reigned 270-275 CE) returned Gaul to Roman control in 274 CE, Legio XXII Primigenia also rejoined the Roman army.
- It is known that at the beginning of the 4th century, Legio XXII Primigenia was still stationed in its camp at Mogontiacum. It is likely that Emperor Constantine I the Great (reigned 306-337 CE) disbanded Legio XXII Primigenia, as by the reign of Emperor Constantius II (reigned 337-361 CE), there is no further record of the legion.
Inscription mentioning Legio XXII Primigenia Pia Fidelis. Mainz, Germany. 1st century.Related topics
List of Roman Legions, Legion, Legionnaire, 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 Dacia", in: Yann Le Bohec, Roman Legions in the High Empire (2000, Lyon) 205–225.
3. R. Kanya. A Brief History of Various Legions.
4. Dando-Collins. The Legions of Rome: The Complete History of All the Legions of the Roman Empire. M. Centerpolygraph Publishing. 2017.
