list of roman legions

This is a list of Roman legions. These are mainly legions of the Roman Empire; earlier legions were not permanent named organizations. Comments added include life span of the legion, cause of disappearance (if relevant) and the original commander, meaning, the man who levied the legion. Legio I

Legio I - referred to once as "I Germanica" (German) – 48 BC to 70 AD (Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar
Legio I Adiutrix (helper) - 68 AD to (at least) 444 AD, Galba?
Legio I Italica (Italian) - September 22 66 AD to (at least) 5th century, Nero
Legio I Macriana liberatrix (liberator of Macer) – 68 to 69 AD, Lucius Clodius Macer, governor of Africa
Legio I Minervia (protected by goddess Minerva) - 82 AD to (at least) 4th century, Domitian
Legio I Parthica (Parthian) - 197 to early 6th century, Septimius Severus

Legio II

Legio II Adiutrix Pia Fidelis (helper faithful and loyal) - 70 AD to (at least) 3rd century, Vespasian
Legio II Augusta (levied by Augustus) - before 9 AD to at least 3rd century

Legio II Gallica (from Gallia) – established Arausio, modern Orange, France, possibly another cognomen for the Legio II Augusta

Legio II Italica (Italian) - 165 to beginning of the 5th century, Marcus Aurelius
Legio II Parthica (Parthian) – 197 AD until, at least half of 4th century, Lucius Septimius Severus
Legio II Traiana fortis (Trajan strong legion) - 105 AD to (at least) 3rd century, Trajan

changed name in Legio II Germanica (German) - 3rd century to (at least) 5th century, Caracalla

Legio III

Legio III Augusta (levied by Augustus) – 43 BC to (at least) late 4th century, Augustus
Legio III Cyrenaica (from Cyrenaica) – probably around 36 BC to (at least) 5th century, Mark Antony
Legio III Gallica (from Gallia) – around 49 BC to at least early 4th century, Julius Caesar
Legio III Italica (Italian) - 165 AD to at least early 4th century, Marcus Aurelius
Legio III Parthica (Parthian) - around 197 AD to at least early 5th century, Lucius Septimius Severus

Legio IV

Legio IV Macedonica (Macedonian) - 48 BC to 70 AD (disbanded by Vespasian), Julius Caesar

reconstituted under the name of Legio IV Flavia Felix (lucky Flavian legion) - about 70 AD to before 400 AD, Vespasian

Legio IV Scythica (from Scythia) - around 42 BC to at least early 5th century, Mark Antony

Legio V

Legio V Alaudae (Larks) - 52 BC to 70 AD (destroyed in the Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar
Legio V Macedonica (Macedonian) - 43 BC to after 400 AD, consul Caius Vibius Pansa and Augustus

Legio V Urbana, probably early name of the V Macedonica
Legio V Gallica, probably early name of the V Macedonica

Legio VI

Legio VI Ferrata (Ironclad) - 53 BC to after 250 AD, Julius Caesar
Legio VI Victrix (Victorious) - 41 BC to late 4th century, Augustus

Legio VI Hispaniensis another name of the VI Victrix

Legio VII

Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) - 58 BC to end of 4th century AD, Julius Caesar
Legio VII Gemina (Twin) - October 68 AD to end of 4th century AD, Galba

Legio VIII

Legio VIII Augusta (devout to Augustus), 59 BC to after 371 AD - Julius Caesar

Legio IX

Legio IX Hispana (Spanish) - before 58 BC to before 160 AD, Julius Caesar

Legio X

Legio X Fretensis (Of the sea streits) - 41/40 BC to at least 260 AD, Augustus
Legio X Gemina (Twin) - 58 BC to early 5th century, Julius Caesar

Legio X Equestris (knight), early name of the Gemina

Legio XI

Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) - 58 BC to early 5th century, Julius Caesar

Legio XII

Legio XII Fulminata - 57 BC to (at least) 5th century, Julius Caesar

Legio XIII

Legio XIII Gemina (Twin) - 57 BC to (at least) 5th century, Julius Caesar

Legio XIV

Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix (Twin and Martial Victory) - Augustus

Legio XV

Legio XV Apollinaris (devoted to the god Apollo) - 41/40 BC to 5th century - Augustus
Legio XV Primigenia (devoted to the goddess Fortuna) - 39 to 70 AD (destroyed in the Batavian rebellion), Caligula

Legio XVI

Legio XVI Gallica (from Gallia) - 41/40 BC to 70 AD (Batavian rebellion) - Augustus

Legio XVI Flavia Firma (standfast Flavian legion) reconstitution of the XVI Gallica - 70 AD to 4th century - Vespasian

Legio XVII

Legio XVII - 41 BC to 9 AD (Battle of Teutoburg Forest), Augustus

Legio XVIII

Legio XVIII - 41 BC to 9 AD (Battle of Teutoburg Forest), Augustus

Legio XIX

Legio XIX - 41 BC to 9 AD (Battle of Teutoburg Forest), Augustus

Legio XX

Legio XX Valeria Victrix (Valorous and Victorious) - after 31 BC to late 3rd century, Augustus

Legio XXI

Legio XXI Rapax (Predator) - 31 BC to 92 AD (destroyed in Pannonia), Augustus

Legio XXII

Legio XXII Deiotariana (levied by Deiotarus) - 48 BC to about 133 (destroyed in the Jewish rebellion), Deiotarius
Legio XXII Primigenia (devoted to goddess Fortuna) - 39 to 3rd century, Caligula

Legio XXX

Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix (Victorious Ulpian legion) - 105 AD to early 5th century, Trajan

Later on, in the 4th century, the legions lose the role of backbone of the Roman armies in favour of the cavalry units; their new role is the one of static control of the borders of the empire, guarding the fortified garrisons in the zones most exposed to enemy invasion. Some of these new legions are known: