Legio XIV Gemina
| Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Vitrix | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 41 BC to early 5th century at least |
| Country | Roman Republic - 1st & 2nd raising under Caesar, 2nd Triumverate - Roman Empire - 3rd raising was a joining with another understrength legion under Octavian after the Battle of Actium |
| Type |
Roman legion (Marian) later a comitatensis unit |
| Role | Heavy Infantry (occasionally cavalry support when operating independently) |
| Size | Varied over unit lifetime. Approx. 3,500 fighting men + support at the time of creation, ~ 5,000 to 6,000 men when operating independently during Imperial period.] |
| Garrison/HQ |
Moguntiacum (9–43) Vindobona (92–106) Carnuntum (106–5th century) |
| Nickname(s) |
Gemina Martia Victrix, "Twinned Martial and Victorious" Martia Victrix, "martial and victorious" (added by Augustus) Pia VI Fidelis VI, "six times faithful, six times loyal" (added by Gallienus) |
| Mascot(s) | Capricorn |
| Engagements |
Gallic Wars (58-51 BC) Caesar's Civil War (49-45 BC) Post-Caesarian civil war (44 BC) Liberators' civil war (44–42 BC) Sicilian revolt (44–36 BC) Perusine War (41–40 BC) Final War of the Roman Republic (32–30 BC) Roman conquest of Britain (43) Year of the Four Emperors (69) revolt of Saturninus (89) Dacian Wars (101–106) Verus Parthian campaign (161–166) Marcus Aurelius Marcomannic campaign (168–180) Septimius Severus rise to power (193–194) Severus Parthian campaign (198) vexillationes of the 14th participated in many other campaigns. |
Legio quarta decima Gemina ("The Twinned Fourteenth Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army, levied by Julius Caesar in 57 B.C. The cognomen Gemina (Twinned) was added when the legion was combined with another understrength legion after the Battle of Actium. The cognomen Martia Victrix (martial & victorious) was added sequentially following their service in the Pannonian War c. A.D. 9 and the defeat of Boudicca in 61 AD. The emblem of the legion was the Capricorn, as with many of the legions levied by Caesar, their shield device displayed the thunderbolt of Jupiter with wings. It was the only legion to do so in the same manner as the Praetorian Guard.
The XIV G.M.V was 1st raised by Caesar in Cisalpine Gaul during his raids into, and conquest of, Gaul. Following its first destruction under Caesar it was immediately reconstituted. Their enlistment term was for 16 years, as per the other Republican legions (though Augustus raised that to 20). For years after the Massacre at Atuatuca carried out by the Eburones under Ambiorix together with Cativolcus they were viewed as an unlucky legion, but survived due to the efforts of their Aquilifer, Lucius Petrosidius. They were frequently left behind to guard the camp during battles and raids.
The XIV G.M.V fought under General Germanicus Caesar against the German rebel Hermann, better known as Arminius. A decade before this campaign, Hermann succeeded in wiping out three entire legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, one of the greatest disasters in Roman military history. They secured a victory for Germanicus, and earned him a triumph from his adopted father, Emperor Tiberius.
Stationed in Moguntiacum, Germania Superior, since AD 9, XIV Gemina Martia Victrix was one of four legions used by Aulus Plautius and Claudius in the Roman invasion of Britain in 43, and took part in the defeat of Boudicca in 60 or 61. At the stand at Watling Street the 14th defeated Boudicca's force of 230,000, according to Tacitus and Dio, with their meager force of 10,000 Legionaries and Auxiliaries. This act secured them as Nero's "most effective", and kept them garrisoned in Britain during the next few years to keep the uneasy tribes in check. After which, in 68 it was stationed in Gallia Narbonensis.
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