Legio III Gallica
| Third Legion Gallica | |
|---|---|
| Legio III Gallica Legio Tertia Gallica | |
 | |
| Active | 49 or 48 BCE until the 4th century |
| Country | Roman Republic (closing years) and Roman Empire |
| Type | Roman legion |
 |
| Part of a series on the |
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Legio III Gallica (lit. Third Legion "Gallic") was a
Gaius Julius Caesar, a supposition supported by its emblem, a bull, a symbol associated with Caesar.[1] The legion was based for most of its existence at Raphanea, Roman Syria, and was still active in Egypt
in the early 4th century.
Under the Republic
The legion was founded in either 49 or 48 BC by Julius Caesar to help in Caesar's war against Pompey. The soldiers of the legion were exclusively from
Perugia, in the winter of 41 BC.[2]
Under the Empire
Service under Herod and service in Antony's campaign against the Parthians
The legion served in
Syria.[2]
Campaigning under Corbulo and transferring to the Danube
After Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo had been appointed to campaign against the Parthians over the control of Armenia, he withdrew III Gallica along with Legio VI Ferrata to form the core of his army.[3] The campaign lasted from 58-68 AD. Corbulo's successes triggered the emperor Nero's resentment and eventually the general was forced to commit suicide. In 68 AD, III Gallica was transferred to the province of Moesia on the Danube.[4]
Year of the Four Emperors
In the
Mucianus arrived from the east. As one of his actions to secure control of Rome, Mucianus dispersed the units loyal to Primus, sending the legion back to Syria.[5]
In Syria
Nahr al Kalb inscriptions
On returning to Syria, the legion made its base at
Gaius Avidius Cassius.[8]
During the
Commemorative stelae of Nahr el-Kalb.[2]
The legion played a central role in the early reign of
Alexander Severus, reconstituted the legion and redeployed them back in Syria. Valerius Comazon entered in Elagabalus court, becoming prefect of the Praetorian Guard and consul in 220. The legion partook in Alexander's campaign against the Sassanids.[2]
Its subsequent history is obscure.
Attested members
| Name | Rank | Time frame | Province | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucius Artorius Castus | centurio | between 150 and 250 | Syria
|
CIL III, 1919 |
| Titus Aurelius Fulvus | legatus legionis
|
65-69 | Moesia | CIL III, 6741 = ILS 232; Tacitus, Histories, i.79 |
| Gaius Dillius Aponianus | legatus legionis | 69-70 | Moesia | Tacitus, Histories, iii.10,11 |
| Lucius Aurelius Gallus | legatus legionis | 121-123 | Syria | CIL VI, 1356 = ILS 1109 |
| Gaius Javolenus Calvinus[9] | legatus legionis | c. 138 | Syria | CIL XIV, 2499 |
| Marcus Servilius Fabianus Maximus[9] | legatus legionis | c. 150–c. 153 | Syria | CIL VI, 1517 |
| Avidius Cassius[9] | legatus legionis | c. 162–c.166 | Syria | |
| Verus | legatus legionis | c. 218 - 219 | Syria | Dio Cassius, 80.7; Herodian , 5
|
| Arrius Varus | primipilus
|
69 | Moesia | Tacitus, Histories, iii.16, iv.19 |
| Marcus Statius Priscus | tribunus angusticlavius | 130s | Syria | CIL VI, 1523 = ILS 1092 |
Sextus Appius Sex. f. Severus
|
tribunus laticlavius | between 68 and 76 | Syria | CIL VI, 1348 = ILS 1003 |
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus
|
tribunus laticlavius | 80s | Syria | CIL V, 5262 |
| Gaius Bruttius Praesens | tribunus laticlavius | c. 136 | Syria | CIL X, 408 = ILS 1117 |
| Marcus Messius Rusticianus[10] | tribunus laticlavius | c. 135-140 | Syria | |
| Lucius Pullaienus Gargilius Antiquus | tribunus laticlavius | c. 145 | Syria | CIL III, 7394 |
See also
References
- ^ H.M.D. Parker, The Roman Legions (1957), pp.264f
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Legio III Gallica - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ Parker, Roman Legions, p. 134
- ^ Parker, Roman Legions, p. 139
- ^ Gwyn Morgan, 69 A.D. The Year of Four Emperors (Oxford: University Press, 2006), p. 257
- ^ Parker, Roman Legions, p. 159
- ^ CIL VI, 3492 = ILS 2288
- ^ Anthony Birley, Marcus Aurelius, revised edition (London: Routledge, 1987), p. 130
- ^ a b c Géza Alföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter der Antoninen (Bonn: Rudolf Habelt Verlag, 1977), p. 298
- ^ Bernard Rémy, Les carrières sénatoriales dans les provinces romaines d'Anatolie au Haut-Empire (31 av. J.-C. - 284 ap. J.-C.) (Istanbul: Institut Français d'Études Anatoliennes-Georges Dumézil, 1989), p. 266
External links
- livius.org account of Legio III Gallica Archived 2015-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
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