Legio X Gemina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Legio X Gemina |
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| Active | Before 58 BC to sometime in the 5th century |
| Country | Roman Republic and Roman Empire |
| Type | Roman legion (Marian) |
| Role | Infantry assault (some cavalry support) |
| Size | Varied over unit lifetime. Approx. 3,500 fighting men + support at the time of creation. Expanded and given the cognomen Gemina in 31 BC. |
| Garrison/HQ | Hispania Tarraconensis (31 BC – c. 71) Nijmegen (71–103) Vienna (103–5th century) |
| Nickname(s) | Equestris, "Of the knights" under Caesar Gemina, "The twin" (since 31 BC) Pia Fidelis, "faithful and loyal" (since 89) Domitiana, Antoniniana, Gordiana, Deciana, Floriana, Cariniana (short-lived) Pia VI Fidelis VI (after 260) |
| Mascot(s) | Bull |
| Engagements | Gallic Wars (58–51 BC) Battle against the Nervians (57 BC) Battle of Gergovia (52 BC) Battle of Ilerda (49 BC) Battle of Dyrrhachium (48 BC) Battle of Pharsalus (48 BC) Battle of Munda (45 BC) Battle of Philippi (42 BC) Battle of Actium (31 BC) Batavian rebellion (70) Second Battle of Tapae (101) Bar Kokhba's revolt (132–135) Marcomannic Wars in Moravia(168–180) Naissus (268) Vexillationes of the 10th participated in many other campaigns. |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Julius Caesar, Mark Antony |
Legio X Gemina ("The Twins' Tenth Legion") was a famous Roman legion. It was part of the powerful Imperial Roman army. This legion was one of the four that Julius Caesar used in 58 BC. He needed them for his big invasion of Gaul (modern-day France).
Records show that Legio X Gemina was still active in Vienna, Austria, in the early 5th century. The symbol for this legion was a bull. Early in its history, the legion was known as X Equestris (meaning "mounted" or "of the knights"). This was because Caesar once used his soldiers from this legion as cavalry (soldiers on horseback).
Contents
The Legion in the Roman Republic
Caesar's Gallic Wars
- See also Legio X Equestris
During the Gallic Wars, Legio X Equestris was very important to Caesar's military wins. Because of their loyalty and success, some say it was his favorite legion. These soldiers fought in many key battles, including the Battle of the Sabis. They also took part in Caesar's invasions of Britain. Another major battle they were in was the Battle of Gergovia.
The legion stayed loyal to Caesar during the Roman civil war against Pompey. They fought bravely in the battles of Pharsalus (49 BC) and Munda (45 BC). In 45 BC, Caesar officially ended the legion. He gave the veteran soldiers farmland near Narbonne in Gaul and in Hispania (modern Spain).
Under Emperor Augustus
The legion was brought back together in 42 BC. This time, they fought for Augustus (who was then known as Octavian), Lepidus, and Mark Antony. They battled against Caesar's killers in the Battle of Philippi. After this, the legion followed Mark Antony in his campaign against Parthia. They were defeated with him at the Battle of Actium.
Augustus then took control of the legion. He settled the veteran soldiers in Patras, Greece. However, the legion rebelled against Augustus. As a punishment, they lost their special name, cognomen Equestris. New soldiers from other legions were added to their ranks. The Tenth Legion was then renamed Gemina, which means "The Twin."
The Legion in the Roman Empire
Around 30 BC, the newly formed Legio X Gemina moved to Petavonium in Hispania Tarraconensis. Augustus was getting ready for a campaign against the Cantabrians there. Many of their veteran soldiers were among the first people to live in modern Zaragoza and Emerita Augusta (today's Mérida).
The legion was sent to Carnuntum in Pannonia around 63 AD. This happened after Legio XV Apollinaris left for the east. During the short rule of Galba (68-69 AD), Legio X Gemina was sent back to Hispania.
Under the Flavian Emperors
Their time in Hispania was very short. In 70 AD, the Batavian rebellion was put down by the new emperor, Vespasian. Legio X Gemina was then sent to Batavia in Germania Inferior. Their job was to keep order and stop new revolts. From 71 AD to 103 AD, the legion was based at a camp built by II Adiutrix. This camp was at Oppidum Batavorum, which is now the Dutch city of Nijmegen.
As part of the army in Germania Inferior, Legio X Gemina fought against a rebellion. This rebellion was led by Lucius Antonius Saturninus, the governor of Germania Superior. He rebelled against Emperor Domitian. Because of their loyalty, the Tenth Legion, along with other legions, received the title Pia Fidelis Domitiana. This meant "faithful and loyal to Domitian." However, the part about Domitian was removed after his death.
The 2nd Century Campaigns
During Emperor Trajan's first campaign in Dacia (101–102 AD), Legio X Gemina took part in the Second Battle of Tapae. They fought against the army of the Dacians, led by King Decebalus.
In 103 AD, the legion moved to Aquincum and later to Vindobona (modern Vienna). This city in Pannonia Superior became the legion's home until the 5th century.
Smaller groups of soldiers, called Vexillationes, from Legio X Gemina fought in other conflicts. They helped put down the rebellion led by Simon bar Kokhba in 132-135 AD in Iudaea. Other groups joined the Parthian campaign of Lucius Verus in 162 AD.
Another important campaign was against the Quadi, Marcomanni, and Lombards. This war, known as the Marcomannic Wars, took place in Moravia (in the Dyje-Svratka Vale). Emperor Marcus Aurelius led this campaign from 168-180 AD. A small group of Legio X GPF soldiers was found at a Roman fort in Moravia (Mušov).
Legio X Gemina supported its governor, Septimius Severus, when he tried to become emperor. Many soldiers from the legion went to Rome to join the Praetorian Guard of the new Emperor.
The 3rd Century and Beyond
Throughout the 3rd century, the legion fought for several different emperors. These emperors gave the legion special titles to show their loyalty and the favor they had earned. Titles like Antoniniana (from Caracalla or Elagabalus), Gordiana (from Gordian III), Deciana (from Decius), Floriana (from Florianus), and Cariniana (from Carinus) were used for a short time. They were dropped after the emperor who gave them died.
For supporting Emperor Gallienus against Postumus, Legio X Gemina received the important title Pia VI Fidelis VI. This meant "six times faithful, six times loyal."
By the late 4th century, when the Notitia Dignitatum (a list of Roman officials and military units) was written, the Legio X Gemina had split. One part was a mobile unit called a comitatensis, serving under the Magister Militum per Orientem (Master of Soldiers for the East). The other part of the legion was still based in Vindobona, under the command of the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis (Duke of Pannonia Prima and Noricum Ripensis).
See also
In Spanish: Legio X Gemina para niños
- List of Roman legions
- Roman legion
- Asturica Augusta
