Legio II Augusta
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- Duration: 2:14
- Published: 2007-08-24
- Uploaded: 2010-08-27
- Author: Tinahelg
Trailer for a documentary on Roman Re-enactment by Imaginos Films (www.imaginosfilms.com)
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| Unit name | Legio II Augusta |
|---|---|
| Caption | Map of the Roman empire in AD 125, under emperor Hadrian, showing the LEGIO II AUGUSTA, stationed at Isca Silurum (Caerleon, Wales), in 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) |
| Role | Infantry assault (some cavalry support) |
| Size | Varied over unit lifetime. Approx. 3,500 fighting men + support at the time of creation. |
| Garrison | Hispania Tarraconensis (25 BC - AD 9) Germania (9 - 17) Argentoratum (17-43) Britannia (43-66) Glevum (66-74) Isca Augusta (Caerleon) (74 - c. 208) Carpow (c. 208-c. 235) Isca Augusta (235 - after 255) |
| Nickname | Augusta, "Augustan" under Augustus Antonina, "Antoninian" under Caracalla or Elagabalus |
| Patron | Augustus |
| Mascot | Capricornus |
| Battles | Philippi (42 BC) Perugia (41-40 BC) Cantabrian Wars (25-19 BC) Invasion of Britain (43-66) Severus Scottish campaign (208) |
| Notable commanders | Vespasian (commander) Septimius Severus (campaign) Tiberius Claudius Paulinus |
After the defeat of Boudica, the legion was dispersed over several bases; from 66 to around 74 it was stationed at Glevum (modern Gloucester), and then moved to Isca Augusta (modern Caerleon), building a stone fortress that the soldiers occupied until the end of the 3rd century. The legion also had connections with the camp at Alchester in Oxfordshire; stamped tiles record it in the second century at Abonae (Sea Mills, Bristol) on the tidal shore of the Avon (Princeton Encyclopedia).
In 196, II Augusta supported the claim for the purple of the governor of Britannia, Clodius Albinus, who was defeated by Septimius Severus. In occasion of the Scottish campaign of Severus, the Second moved to Carpow, to return to Caerleon under Alexander Severus.
of legionnaire Caius Largennius of the Legio II Augusta, found in Strasbourg (district of Kœnigshoffen)
(Musée archéologique de Strasbourg)]]
Lindsey Davis' character Marcus Didius Falco and his sidekick Petronius Longus both served in the legion during the Boudicca uprising in 60/61, while they were little more than boys (probably 19/20 years old). Marcus or Petronius have only referred to their service in asides, due to the bad memories of the uprising 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. Novels that most directly refer to their service in Britain are The Silver Pigs, 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 in during the first five books of the Eagle 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 Boudica's Rebellion and the subsequent suicide of its acting commander features in "Imperial Governor", George Shipway's 1968 novel about Gaius Suetonius Paulinus.
02 Augusta Category:43 BC establishments Category:4th-century disestablishments Category:History of Monmouthshire Category:History of Newport 2
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