Legio II Parthica
| Legio II Parthica | |
|---|---|
| Active | 197 to sometime in the 5th century |
| Country | Roman Empire |
| Type | Roman legion (Marian) |
| Role | Infantry assault (some cavalry support) |
| Size | Varied over unit lifetime. Approx. 5,500 fighting men + support at the time of creation. |
| Garrison/HQ |
Castra Albana, Italia (197 - 218) Apamea, Syria (218 - 234) Moguntiacum, Germania Superior (234 - 238) Castra Albana (238 - beginning 4th century) Bezabde, Mesopotamia (in 360) Cepha, Mesopotamia (c. 400) |
| Nickname(s) |
Parthica, "Parthian" (since 197) Pia Fidelis Felix Aeterna, "forever faithful, loyal and blest" (since 218) V Fidelis V Pia, "Five times loyal, five times faithful" (253/260) VI Fidelis VI Pia, "Six times loyal, six times faithful" (before 260) |
| Mascot(s) | Bull and centaur |
| Engagements |
Septimius Severus Parthian campaign (197) Severus Britannic campaign (208–211) Caracalla Alamannic campaign (213) Battle of Antioch (218) Alexander Severus Sassanid campaign (231) Siege of Bezabde (360) vexillationes participated in many other campaigns |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Septimius Severus (campaign) Caracalla (campaign) Alexander Severus (campaign) |
Legio secunda Parthica ("Parthian-conquering Second Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in AD 197 by the emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193-211), for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence the cognomen Parthica. The legion was still active in the beginning of the 5th century. The legion's symbol were a bull and centaur.
Together with its twin legions I Parthica and III Parthica, the Second Parthian legion was levied for the attack on the eastern frontier. The campaign was a success and Ctesiphon, the Parthian capital was taken and sacked. After this war, II Parthica returned to Italia, and was stationed near Rome, in Castra Albana (Albano Laziale) – it was the first legion stationed in Italia for several centuries. Since it was not garrisoning a Roman province, it functioned both as a reserve that could be used in afflicted parts of the Empire, as well as a security element against possible internal rebellions. Emperors in the 3rd century were very likely to have problems with usurpers, and Severus, by stationing the II Parthica near the capital, was aware of it.
Nevertheless, the legion served in the Severan campaign in Britain of 208–211 and afterwards, under Caracalla against the Germanic tribe of the Alamanni in 213. Next, the legion was again sent to Parthia and their commander Macrinus was responsible for Caracalla's murder in that region in 217. In the following year, however, the II Parthica, stationed in Apamea (Syria), abandoned Macrinus and sided with Elagabalus; the Second supported Elagabalus' rise to purple, defeating Macrinus in the Battle of Antioch. The new emperor awarded the legion with the cognomina Pia Fidelis Felix Aeterna (forever faithful, loyal and pious).
...
Wikipedia