Legio XVII
Legio XVII ("Seventeenth Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. It was founded by Augustus around 41 BC. The legion was destroyed in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (September 9, 9). The legion's symbol and cognomen are unknown.
This legion was probably created to deal with
Rome's grain supply
.
Following the defeat of Antony and
provinces in the Rhine and was stationed in Castra Vetera (Xanten). In AD 5, the provinces were pacified and Publius Quinctilius Varus
was assigned governor and commander of the Germania army.
On September 9,
Cheruscii led by Arminius ambushed the governor's army. All three legions were destroyed in what is known as the battle of the Teutoburg Forest and their eagle standards
lost. The eagle standards were recovered by the Romans in later years.
After its destruction, the Romans never used this legion number again.
