View source for Legio II Augusta

{{short description|Roman legion}}
{{hatnote|Not to be confused with the various other [[Legio II (disambiguation)|Legiones II]] of the Roman Army.}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Second Legion ''Augusta''
|native_name=Legio II Augusta<br />Legio Secunda Augusta
|image=Roman Empire 125.png
|image_size=300px
|caption=Map of the [[Roman Empire]] in AD 125, under emperor [[Hadrian]], showing the Legio II Augusta, stationed at [[Isca Silurum]] (Caerleon, Wales), in [[Roman Britain|Britannia]] province, from AD 74 to at least 269
|dates= 43 BC to sometime in the 4th century AD
|country= [[Roman Republic]] and [[Roman Empire]]
|type= [[Roman legion]] ([[Marian reforms|Marian]])
|role= Infantry assault (some cavalry support)
|size= Varied over unit lifetime. Approx. 3,500 fighting men + support at the time of creation.
|garrison= {{plainlist|
*[[Hispania Tarraconensis]] (25 BC - AD 9)
*[[Germania]] (9 - 17)
*[[Argentoratum]] (17-43)
*[[Roman Britain|Britannia]] (43-269)
*[[Glevum]] (66-74)
*[[Isca Augusta]] (Caerleon) (74 - c. 208)
*[[Carpow]] (''c.'' 208-''c.'' 235)
*Isca Augusta (235 - after 255)}}
|ceremonial_chief=
|nickname= {{plainlist|
*''Augusta'', "Augustan" under Augustus
*''Antonina'', "Antoninian" under Caracalla or Elagabalus}}
|patron=[[Augustus]]
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=[[Capricornus]], in its sea-goat form the astrological sign of II Augusta's patron, [[Augustus]]
|battles={{plainlist|
*[[Battle of Philippi|Philippi]] (42 BC)
*[[Battle of Perugia|Perugia]] (41 BC-40 BC)
*[[Cantabrian Wars]] (25 BC-19 BC)
*[[Roman invasion of Britain|Invasion of Britain]] (43-66)
*[[Septimius Severus|Severus]] Scottish campaign (208)}}
|notable_commanders={{plainlist|
*[[Vespasian]] (commander)
*[[Septimius Severus]] (campaign)
*[[Tiberius Claudius Paulinus]]}}
|anniversaries=
}}
'''Legio II Augusta''' ({{lit}} Second Legion "Augustus'") was a [[Roman legion|legion]] of the [[Imperial Roman army]] that was founded during the late [[Roman Republic]]. Its emblems were the [[Capricornus]],<ref>Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000
 By L. J. F. Keppie page 128</ref> [[Pegasus]],<ref>Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000
 By L. J. F. Keppie page 129</ref> and [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]. It may have taken the name "''Augusta''" from a victory or reorganization that occurred during the reign of [[Augustus]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Legio II Augusta|url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Legio_II_Augusta/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=[[World History Encyclopedia]]}}</ref>

[[File:Caerleon plaque2.JPG|thumb|One of the emblems used was the [[Capricornus]]]]

==In Republican service==
The Legio II, Sabina was a Roman military unit of the late Republican era, which may have been formed by Julius Caesar in the year of the consulate of 48 BC and coincide, in this case, with the Legio II. Enlisted to fight against Pompey, they took part in the subsequent [[Battle of Munda]] of 45 BC.

Alternatively it could be the Legio II, formed by the consul, [[Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus|Gaius Vibius Pansa]] in 43 BC and recruited in Sabina, hence its nickname.<ref>{{cite book|author1=L.Keppie|title=The making of the roman army|pages=199 and 203}}</ref> If this theory is true, then it probably participated in the subsequent [[battle of Philippi]] of 42 BC on the side of the triumvirate, [[Augustus|Octavian]] and [[Mark Antony|Marc Antony]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=E.Ritterling|title=voice Legio, in Realencyclopädie of Klassischen Altertumswissenschaft|date=1924–1925|orig-year=1483–1484}}</ref>

After the defeat of the Republicans, Legio II swore allegiance to Octavian<ref name="Historia del las legiones romanas">{{cite book|author1=JRGonzalez|title=Historia del las legiones romanas|page=106}}</ref> and with the same remained until the [[Battle of Actium]] of 31 BC,<ref>{{cite book|author1=L.Keppie|title=The making of the roman army|page=201}}</ref> after which it seems to have been dissolved in the years between 30 and 14 BC (sent on leave were between 105,000 and 120,000 veterans)<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Augustus|title=Res Gestae Divi Augusti|volume=III|pages=15 and 16}}</ref> and some of its soldiers may have been integrated into the new Legio II Augusta.<ref name="Historia del las legiones romanas"/>

==In Imperial service==

=== Hispania ===
At the beginning of Augustus' rule, in 26 BC,<ref name=":1" /> this legion was relocated to a place north of [[Hispania Tarraconensis]], to fight in the [[Cantabrian Wars]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Legio II Augusta - Livius|url=https://www.livius.org/articles/legion/legio-ii-augusta/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=www.livius.org}}</ref> This war would definitively establish Roman power in Hispania. While the legion was in Hispania, they along with the Legio I Germanica helped build the Colonia [[Acci]].<ref name=":0" /> They also constructed the city of [[Cartennae|Cartenna]].<ref name=":1" />

=== Germania and Gaul ===
With the annihilation of several legions at the [[Battle of the Teutoburg Forest]], the Legio II ''Augusta''  moved to [[Germania]], possibly in the area of [[Moguntiacum]]. While in Germania, during the 15 AD the legion would participate in the campaigns of [[Germanicus]] against the [[List of ancient Germanic peoples|Germanic tribes]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> After Germanicus was recalled the legion was stationed at [[Argentoratum]].<ref name=":0" /> On its way back from Germania, the legion was drenched in heavy rain and harassed by heavy storms.<ref name=":1" /> After [[Julius Sacrovir]] and Julius Florus revolted against the Roman Empire in Gaul, the Legio II ''Augusta,'' under the command of Gaius Silius would help put down the revolt.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

===Britain===
====Invasion of Britannia and Boudica's revolt====
The legion was one of the four legions used during [[Claudius|Claudius's]] [[Roman conquest of Britain|invasion]] of [[Roman Britain|Britannia]].<ref name=":0" /> The commander of the Legion at the time was [[Vespasian]]. He led the campaign against the [[Durotriges]] and [[Dumnonii]] tribes. During the campaign the Legion marched across the south of Britain, fighting many battles against the local tribes.<ref name=":1" />

The Legion was first stationed at [[Alchester]] and in 49 AD it was probably moved to the Fort at Lake Farm, and then Bradford Abbas. Small forts were established at [[Hod Hill]] till AD 50 then [[Waddon Hill]] until AD 60.<ref name=":0" /> From 55 it was based at [[Exeter]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.exeter.gov.uk/remains-of-roman-defences-discovered-under-exeter-s-bus-station-site/|title=Remains of Roman defences discovered under Exeter's Bus Station site|publisher=Exeter City Council|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-date=10 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610062407/https://news.exeter.gov.uk/remains-of-roman-defences-discovered-under-exeter-s-bus-station-site/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and from 66 it was possibly at [[Glevum]].<ref>G Webster, Rome against Caractacus, p 45, {{ISBN|0713472545}}</ref>

During the uprising of queen [[Boudica]], its ''[[Praefectus castrorum|praefectus castrorum]]'' [[Poenius Postumus]], who was then its acting commander (possibly because its [[legatus]] and tribunes were with the governor [[Suetonius Paulinus]]), contravened Suetonius' orders to join him and so later committed suicide.<ref name=":0" />

==== Year of the Four Emperors ====

In 69 CE, during the [[Year of the Four Emperors]],  a [[vexillatio]]n of the Legio II Augusta sided with emperor Otho.<ref name=":1" />  After Otho was defeated the vexillation switched sides and served Vitellius.<ref name=":0" /> This vexillation possibly took part in Vetellius's march on Rome, and fought in the [[Battle of Bedriacum|Battle at Cremona]] against the legions of [[Otho]].<ref name=":0" /> Later these soldiers were defeated by those of Vespasian and returned to Britain in 70. It is possible that the main body of the legion had always been loyal towards Vespasian.<ref name=":0" />

==== Continued service in Britain ====
[[Julius Frontinus]], the governor of Britain from 74 to 78 ordered several campaigns against the [[Silures]] tribe<ref name=":1" /> and during the war the fortress of [[Caerleon]] in [[Wales]] was constructed where from 75 the legion was based.<ref name=":0" />  The legion remained there, even during [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola|Agricola's]] term as governor of Britain although several vexillations of the Legio II ''Augusta'' fought in the [[Battle of Mons Graupius]].<ref name=":1" />

In 139 the Legion helped build the short lived [[Antonine Wall]].<ref name=":0" /> During the years 155 and 158 a revolt spread across Britain, the Legio II Augusta was one of those that fought against the revolt.<ref name=":0" /> The legions in Britain suffered greatly, causing reinforcements from the Germanic provinces to be brought over.<ref name=":0" />

In 196 [[Clodius Albinus|Decimus Clodius Albinus]], governor of Britain, declared himself emperor and the Legio II Augusta supported his claim.<ref name=":0" /> The legions were defeated by the current emperor, [[Septimius Severus|Septimus Severus.]] However, while the legions were absent from Britain, the province was overrun with [[Picts|Pictish tribes]].<ref name=":0" /> Emperor Severus attempted to conquer Scotland in order to stop the tribes, while Severus was fighting the Picts, Legio II Augusta was stationed at a fort near [[Carpow]].<ref name=":0" /> It is unknown when, but the II Augusta received the surname ''Antonina'', which meant that the soldiers were particularly dear to the emperor. This happened either under [[Caracalla]] or [[Elagabalus|Heliogabalus]],<ref name=":0" />

During [[Severus Alexander]]s reign as emperor of Rome, the conquests in Scotland were given up and the Second Legion returned to Caerleon.<ref name=":0" /> The legion was still there in 255.<ref name=":0" /> The last known mention of the Legion was the [[Notitia Dignitatum]] which places the legion at [[Richborough]], suggesting Caerleon was abandoned.<ref name=":1" />{{multiple image |align=center |total_width=550
 |image1=Romanwallinscotl00macduoft raw 0377CarleithNo7.png|caption1=RIB 2203. Distance Slab of the Second Legion found near [[Duntocher]].<ref>{{cite web|title=RIB 2203. Distance Slab of the Second Legion
|url=https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/2203|website=Roman Inscriptions of Britain|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> George MacDonald calls in no. 12 in the 2nd edition of his book ''The Roman Wall in Scotland''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Macdonald|first1=Sir George|title=The Roman wall in Scotland, by Sir George Macdonald|date=1934|publisher=The Clarendon press|location=Oxford|pages=386–387|edition=2d ed., rev., enl., and in great part rewritten|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3760345;view=2up;seq=544;size=200|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref> It has been scanned and a video produced.<ref>{{cite web|title=Distance Slab of the Second Legion, Duntocher|date=9 June 2017 |url=https://vimeo.com/220970107|access-date=14 November 2017}}</ref>
 |image2=Romanwallinscotl00macduoft raw 0371Cochno2.png|caption2=RIB 2204. Distance Slab of the Second Legion<ref>{{cite web|title=RIB 2204. Distance Slab of the Second Legion
|url=https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/2204|website=Roman Inscriptions of Britain|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> George MacDonald calls in no. 14 in the 2nd edition of his book ''The Roman Wall in Scotland''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Macdonald|first1=Sir George|title=The Roman wall in Scotland, by Sir George Macdonald|date=1934|publisher=The Clarendon press|location=Oxford|pages=387–388|edition=2d ed., rev., enl., and in great part rewritten|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3760345;view=2up;seq=548;size=200|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>
It has been scanned and a video produced.<ref>{{cite web|title=Distance slab of the 2nd Legion, Caerleith Farm, Duntocher|date=30 March 2017 |url=https://vimeo.com/210769129|access-date=14 November 2017}}</ref>
 |image3=Stèle-Legio II Augusta-Strasbourg.jpg|caption3=Funerary stele of [[Caius Largennius]] a soldier from [[Lucca]], [[Roman Italy|Etruria]] found in [[Strasbourg]]<br />([[Musée archéologique (Strasbourg)|Musée archéologique de Strasbourg]])}}
{{clear}}

== Attested members ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! Name
! Rank
! Time frame
! Province
! Soldier located in
! Veteran located in
! Source
|-
| [[Caius Largennius]]
| miles
|1st century
| Germania
| Argentoratum ?
| [[Argentoratum]]
| [[File:Koenigshoffen Stèle de Largennius.jpg|60px]]
|-
| [[Gaius Caetronius Miccio]]
| [[legatus legionis]]
| c. 34–36<ref>{{cite journal |last=Alföldy |year=1967 |first=Géza |title=Ein senatorischer Cursus honorum aus Bracara Augusta, CIL II 2423 |journal=Madrider Mitteilungen |volume=8 |pages=185–195 |issn=0418-9744 |url=https://publications.dainst.org/journals/index.php/mm/article/view/3433 |authorlink=Géza Alföldy |ref={{sfnref|Alföldy}} }}</ref>
| Germania Superior
| 
| 
| {{CIL|2|2423}}
|-
| [[Lucius Antistius Rusticus]]
| tribunus
| c. 69
| Britannia
| 
| 
| {{AE|1925|126}}
|-
| [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola]]
| tribunus
|58-61
| Britannia
| 
| 
| 
|-
| [[Gaius Fabius Agrippinus]]
| tribunus
| before 140
| Britannia
| 
| 
| {{AE|1955|174}}
|-
| [[Publius Septimius Geta (brother of Septimius Severus)|Publius Septimius Geta]]
| tribunus
| c. 170s
| Britannia
| 
| 
| 
|-
| Julius Marcellinus<ref name="plv">{{cite web | url=https://perlineamvalli.wordpress.com/2013/12/29/plv-inscriptions-birdoswald/ | title=PVL Inscriptions - Birdoswald | work=Per Lineam Valli | date=29 December 2013 | access-date=2014-02-16}}</ref>
| centurio<ref name="plv"/>
|122-300
| Britannia<ref name="plv"/>
| [[Banna (Birdoswald)|Banna]]<ref name="plv"/>
|
|
|-
| [[Poenius Postumus]]<ref name="livius">{{cite web | url=https://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/ii_augusta.html | title=Legio II Augusta | access-date=2014-02-19 | archive-date=2014-10-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007080310/http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/ii_augusta.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| praefectus castrorum<ref name="livius"/>
|AD 60–61
| Britannia<ref name="livius"/>
|[[Glevum]]
|Committed suicide out of shame following the [[battle of watling street]].
|[[Tacitus]] ''[[Annals (Tacitus)|The Annals]].'' 4.12; 14.37
|-
| [[Vespasian|Titus Flavius Vespasianus]]
| legatus legionis
| AD&nbsp;42-47
| Britannia
| Italy
| Rome
| Suetonius ''Vesp''. 4; Tacitus ''Hist''. III 44; Josephius ''Bell. Jud''. III 12
|-
| [[Aulus Larcius Priscus]]
| legatus legionis
| between 97 and 105
| Britannia
| 
|
| {{CIL|8|17881}}
|-
| [[Aulus Claudius Charax]]<ref name=Alföldy-298>Géza Alföldy, ''Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter der Antoninen'' (Bonn: Rudolf Habelt Verlag 1977), p. 298</ref>
| legatus legionis
| c. 141-c. 144
| Britannia
| 
| 
| {{AE|1961|320}}
|-
| [[Fronto Aemilianus Calpurnius Rufilanus]]<ref name=Alföldy-298/>
| legatus legionis
| 161/169 or 177/180
| Britannia
| 
| 
| {{CIL|7|98}} = {{RIB|320}}
|-
| [[Quintus Aurelius Polus Terentianus]]<ref>Anthony Birley, ''The Fasti of Roman Britain'' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981), pp.&nbsp;261f</ref>
| legatus legionis
| between 185 and 190
| Britannia
| 
| 
| {{AE|1965|240}}
|-
| [[Lucius Julius Julianus]]
| legatus legionis
| end 2nd century
| Britannia
| 
|
| {{CIL|11|4182}},{{CIL|7|480}}
|-
| [[Tiberius Claudius Paulinus]]
| legatus legionis
| early 3rd century
| Britannia
|
| 
| {{CIL|13|3162}}
|-
| Vitulasius Laetinianus
| legatus legionis
| between 253 and 259
| Britannia
| 
|
| {{CIL|7|107}}
|-
| Titus Flavius Postumius Varus
| legatus legionis
| 3rd century
| Britannia
| 
|
| {{CIL|7|95}}
|-
| Lucius Valerius Geminus
| 
| AD&nbsp;43-66
| Britannia
| 
| [[Alchester]]
| 
|-
| Flavius Quadratus
| aquilifer
| 1st century BCE
| Hispania
| [[Olisipo]]
|
| {{CIL|2|266}} = HEp 11, 2001
|-
| [[Titus Flavius Rufus]]
| centurio 
|2nd century
| [[Roman Italia|Italia]], [[Moesia]], [[Roman Dacia|Dacia]]
| 
| Dacia
| {{CIL|11|20}} = ILS 2082, {{CIL|03|00971}}
|}


==In popular culture==
*In his fantasy novel ''[[Pendragon Cycle#Grail|Grail]]'', the author [[Stephen R. Lawhead]] states that the legion was ensnared by the black magic of the witch [[Morgan le Fay]], doomed to perpetually wander the mists of [[Lyonesse]].
*[[Lindsey Davis]]' character [[Marcus Didius Falco]] and his best friend [[Lucius Petronius Longus]] both served in the legion during [[Boadicea's Revolt]] in AD 60/61, while they were teenagers (probably 19–20 years old). Marcus and Lucius only refer to their service in asides, due to the bad memories of the Revolt and the boredom in a cold, unfriendly country. The scenes of carnage and destruction in [[Londinium]] left a deep impression on both of them, with neither keen to return to [[Roman Britain|Britannia]].  Their internal references also hint that their disgraced prefect, Postumius, did not commit suicide, but instead was executed by the legionaries for his refusal to march to Governor Suetonius's aid during the Revolt, but the legionaries swore an oath never to speak of this to outsiders.  Novels that most directly refer to their service in Britain are ''[[The Silver Pigs]]'', ''[[The Iron Hand of Mars]]'', ''[[A Body in the Bath House]]'' and ''[[The Jupiter Myth]]''.
*It is also the Legion in which ''[[Optio]]'' '''Quintus Licinius Cato''' and Centurion '''Lucius Cornelius Macro''' serve during the first five books of the [[Eagles of the Empire]] series by [[Simon Scarrow]]. The books also cover [[Vespasian]]'s career as commander of the legion and the invasion of Britain.
*The story of the legion's role in [[Boadicea's Revolt]] and the subsequent suicide of its acting commander features in ''Imperial Governor'', [[George Shipway]]'s 1968 novel about [[Gaius Suetonius Paulinus]].
*The II Legion features in [[Adrian Goldsworthy]]'s novel series, beginning with ''Vindolanda'', about a fictitious centurion of the legion.

==See also==
* [[List of Roman legions]]
* [[Roman legion]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/ii_augusta.html livius.org account] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007080310/http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/ii_augusta.html |date=2014-10-07 }}
*{{Cite book |title=Dorset and the Second Legion |first=N. |last=Field |year=1992 |location=Tiverton |publisher=Dorset Books |isbn=1-871164-11-7 }}
*{{cite book |first=Lawrence |last=Keppie |title=Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000 |location=Stuttgart |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |year=2000 |isbn=3-515-07744-8 |chapter=The Origins and Early History of the Second Augustan Legion |pages=123–147 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TLDvWqjSfP8C }}

==External links==
* [http://www.legiiavg.co.uk/ LEGIO SECVNDA AVGVSTA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721223212/http://www.legiiavg.co.uk/ |date=2016-07-21 }}, British 1st - 2nd century AD ~ Roman Living History Society
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/104551194492/ LEGIO SECVNDA AVGVSTA FACEBOOK PAGE], Facebook Page for British 1st - 2nd century AD ~ Roman Living History Society
* [http://legioiiavg.nl/ LEGIO SECVNDA AVGVSTA (NL)] Dutch 1st - 2nd century AD ~ Roman Living History Society 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050405164400/http://www.spqr.co.nz/ Second Legion Augusta (NZ)], New Zealand re-enactment group
* [http://icarus.umkc.edu/sandbox/perseus/pecs/page.9.a.php Richard Stillwell, ed. ''Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'', 1976:] "Abonae (Sea Mills, Bristol), England"
* [http://fathom.lib.uchicago.edu/1/777777122543/ ''Capricorn Rising: Astrology in Ancient Rome: Poetry, Prophecy and Power''], article by David Wray. assistant professor of classics, University of Chicago.

{{Roman Legion|}}

[[Category:Roman legions|02 Augusta]]
[[Category:40s BC establishments]]
[[Category:43 BC]]
[[Category:4th-century disestablishments in the Roman Empire]]
[[Category:History of Monmouthshire]]
[[Category:History of Newport, Wales]]
[[Category:Roman legions in Britain|2]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in the 1st century BC]]
[[Category:Augustus]]
[[Category:Vespasian]]