Legio II (Pompey)

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The Legio II was a legion of the Roman army led by Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus during his second consulate in 55 BC. Was set up in Italy.

Presumably the Legion was founded around 52 BC. Moved to northern Spain and was subordinate to Pompey's legate Marcus Terentius Varro . At the beginning of the civil war it was destroyed in 49 BC. Defeated in the battle of Ilerda and incorporated into the army of Gaius Iulius Caesar .

The Spanish legions, with the exception of the newly established Legio V, were supposed to be under the propaetor (governor) Quintus Cassius Longinus in 48 BC. Moved to Mauretania to fight against the rebellious Numid king Juba I. When Legio II mutinied, Legions XXX , XXI and V came to the aid of their governor in Cordoba. After the instigators were punished, the Legio II was relocated to Gibraltar, but the unrest flared up again. A battle broke out on the Guadalquivir . Cassius withdrew with his legions to Ulia (near Cordoba), where he finally had to surrender with honor.

The Legion was probably founded after the Battle of Munda in the spring of 45 BC. Withdrew from Spain and stationed in Macedonia to take part in Caesar's planned campaign against the Parthians , to which a total of 16 legions were called up. In 44 BC The Legio II was moved to Italy with three other legions and placed under Marcus Antonius . The Legio II was defeated in the Battle of Forum Gallorum on April 14 or 15, 43 BC. Destroyed.

The only member of the Legion known by name was the Centurio Numerius Granonius.

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Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Emil Ritterling : Legio (II (Pompeius)). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XII, 2, Stuttgart 1925, column 1437.
  2. ^ [Caesar]: De Bello Alexandrino 51-63.
  3. ↑ For the planned Parthian War see Jürgen Malitz : Caesars Partherkrieg . In: Historia 33, 1984, pp. 21-59.
  4. ↑ CIL 3, 6541 a.