Legio V Macedonica

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Brick marked with LVM in Potaissa

The Legio V Macedonica was a legion of the Roman army that formed in 43 BC. BC by Octavian , the later Augustus , and the consul Gaius Vibius Panza Caetronianus and continued as a legion in the Roman province of Moesia ( Moesia ) until the 5th century . She received the Cognomen Macedonica because she was temporarily stationed in the Roman province of Macedonia . Legion symbols were the bull and the eagle .

Legion history

republic

There are no records about the first decades of the Legion. Three other Fifth Legions are known: the V Gallica , the V Urbana and the Legio V Alaudae . It is possible that these names were early names of the V Macedonica . The Legio V took 31 BC. BC probably participated in the battle of Actium . It is also documented that the Legio V Gallica in 17 or 16 BC BC lost its legionary eagle against the Germanic tribes from the Rhineland.

Julian-Claudian dynasty

The Legio V was one of the twenty-eight legions taken over by Augustus after the Civil War. She was moved to the Roman province of Macedonia, where she received her cognomen. Possibly the Legion fought in the years 29-27 BC. BC under the supreme command of Marcus Licinius Crassus on the Danube against the Scythians and was temporarily named Legio V Scythica . Veterans of Legions V Macedonica and VIII Augusta were born around 15 BC. BC in the Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus ( Beirut ) in the Roman province of Syria Phoenice , which triggered a clear Romanization of the region. In 6 AD it was moved to Oescus in the province of Moesia .

The legions IIII Scythica and V Macedonica often operated together and belonged to the occupying power in the province of Moesia around 23 AD . In his youth, the future emperor Vespasian served as a military tribune in one of these legions around AD 27 and possibly participated in the suppression of an uprising in Thrace. The Legion's activities also included the construction and maintenance of roads for the development of the region. In 33/34 IIII Scythica and V Macedonica built a road along the Danube in Moesia superior .

In 62 AD, a vexillation of the Fifth under Lucius Junius Caesennius Paetus fought against the Parthians in Armenia . After the battle of Rhandeia , the entire V Macedonica , together with the legions Legio III Gallica , Legio VI Ferrata , and Legio X Fretensis , were sent to the east under the command of Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo to fight the Parthians.

Gravestone of an Optio of LEG V MAC from Emmaus, Israel

In 66 the Legio V Macedonica was stationed together with the Legio X Fretensis in Antioch on the Orontes . Then the Legions X Fretensis under their legate Marcus Ulpius Traianus , later governor of Syria and father of the Emperor Trajan , and the Legio V Macedonica in AD 66/67 were relocated to the coastal city of Caesarea Maritima . In 67 AD the city of Sepphoris in Galilee surrendered to the Roman army. Shortly thereafter, the V Macedonica conquered Mount Gerizim , the main sanctuary of the Samaritans . In 68 AD the Legion lay idle at Emmaus . Some surviving inscriptions from soldiers of the V Macedonica attest to the stationing.

Four imperial year and Flavian dynasty

In 69, the year of the Four Emperors, the Judean legions were among the first to recognize Vespasian as emperor. In AD 70 the insurrection was suppressed in all of Iudaea except Jerusalem and some fortresses such as Masada . Under the command of Titus , the Legio XII Fulminata moved out of Caesarea and was used together with the V Macedonica , X Fretensis and XV Apollinaris in the siege of Jerusalem. The siege of Jerusalem lasted five months and the besieged population went hungry. Eventually, the combined attacks by the legions resulted in the capture of the city of Jerusalem . The V Macedonica left Iudaea and returned to Oescus in AD 71.

Locations of the Roman legions in 80 AD, the V Macedonica was stationed in Oescus (number 14).

Domitian (81-96) settled veterans of the legions I Italica , III Augusta , IV Macedonica , V Macedonica , V Alaudae , IIII Flavia and VII Claudia in the newly founded city of Scupi ( Skopje ) at the beginning of his rule . In 88 the legion belonged to the army of the Roman general Lucius Tettius Iulianus, who invaded Dacian territory and was victorious in the battle of Tapae . In 96 AD, the future emperor Hadrian served in the Legion as tribunus militum .

Adoptive Emperor and Antonine Dynasty

In AD 101 the Legio V was in Dacia to fight under its Legatus Quintus Pompeius Falco in Trajan's first war against the Dacians . The Legion was involved in the construction of the Trajan's Bridge at Drobeta Turnu Severin .

After the end of the war in 106 AD, the legion of Oescus was moved to the province of Moesia inferior (Lower Moesia ) to Troesmis , (today Turcoaia in the Tulcea district in Romania ), where it stayed until 163. The place was southwest of the Danube Delta. Legion brick stamps were found in the nearby Dinogetia fort in the north . A vexillation took part in Trajan's Parthian War from 115 to 117.

During the reign of Hadrian , there was a great revolt of the Jews living there in AD 132 in the province of Judaea (now Israel ). A vexillation of the Legio V Macedonica was posted to the province of Judaea and participated in the fighting against the insurgents under the leadership of Simon bar Kochbas . Presumably the V Macedonica and XI Claudia took part in the siege of the Betar fortress , the capture of which ended the war. After the suppression of the uprising, around 135 Legion veterans were resettled in Aelia Capitolina ( Jerusalem ).

Vexillations of the V Macedonica in the Barbaricum in Chersonesus Taurica ( Bosporan Empire , Crimea ) were repeatedly sent to protect the Greek cities there, but also to carry out construction projects. When Emperor Lucius Verus began his campaign (161–166 AD) against the Parthians, the entire legion was again relocated to the east, but later returned to Dacia Porolissensis and set up their main camp in Potaissa (today's Turda). The northern border of the empire was subject to constant attacks; when Emperor Mark Aurel had to defend them in the Marcomann Wars against the Marcomanni , the Sarmatians and the Quadi , the V Macedonica was involved in these battles.

Lucius Artorius Castus , whom some identify with King Arthur , was Centurion around 170 and later also Primus Pilus of the Legio V Macedonica . Probably he fought under Marcus Aurelius with the Legio V Macedonica in 172 the Sarmatian Iazyans north of the Danube estuary. Around 182-184, at the beginning of the reign of Commodus , the V Macedonica and the XIII Gemina under Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus fought the Sarmatians again. In 185 or 187 AD, after defeating a mercenary army in Dacia, the Legion was awarded the title Pia Constans or Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal).

Second year of the four emperors and Severer

The fifth supported Septimius Severus (193-211) in his fight for the imperial purple. From Alexander Severus (222-235), the Legion was given the nickname Severiana and Severiana Alexandriana .

Soldier emperor

Æ of Philip Arab , struck 247/248.
IMP (erator) M (arcus) IVL (ius) PHILIPPVS AVG (ustus); PROVINCIA DACIA.
The personified Dacia holds the standards of the Legio V Macedonica and the Legio XIII Gemina. The heraldic animals of the legions, eagles and lions stand next to her.
Antoninian des Gallienus,
struck 261 GALLIENVS AVG (ustus); LEG (io) V MAC (edonica) VI P (ia) VI F (idelis)
Victoria, the goddess of victory, holds a wreath over the legion symbol, an eagle

In the years 243 to 244 the Legio V Macedonica took Gordiana under Gordian III. (238–244) participated in the Sassanid War. The Romans were victorious in the battle of Resaina in 243, but suffered a heavy defeat at Mesiche in early 244 .

In the years 247/248 the Legion V Philippianae Macedonica Pia Fidelis was deployed against the Germanic Carps in Dacia (Romania) under the leadership of Philippus Arabs and the senator and later Emperor Decius . You built there z. B. the city wall of Romula (Dobrosloveni). When Decius (249-251) 249 was proclaimed emperor by the Danube troops, including the Legio V Macedonica , Philippus Arabs moved the Legio XIII Gemina to Aquileia to protect northern Italy.

During the stationing in Potaissa, which lasted almost the entire 3rd century, the V Macedonia took part in various campaigns and acquired fame and honor on various occasions. In 256 the Legion interrupted its construction work on a temple and took part in a campaign by Gallienus (253-268) against invading Teutons in Dacia, for which it was awarded the title III Pia III Fidelis (three times loyal, three times loyal). The Legion was probably awarded the fourth, fifth and sixth title when it fought as a mobile cavalry unit against the usurpers Ingenuus (260?) And Regalianus (260) in Moesia in AD 260. A vexillatio fought against Victorinus (269–271). Gallienus awarded her the title VII Pia VII Fidelis (seven times loyal, seven times loyal).

A gradual withdrawal from Dacia began under Gallienus. In 271/272 Aurelian (270–275) was able to defeat the Goths who had invaded Dacia , but the province could not be held in the long run. When Aurelian finally gave up Dacia in 275 AD, the Legion was stationed in the newly formed province of Dacia ripensis in their "old" camp in Oescus .

Late antiquity

Painted shield of the Comitian Legio Quinta Macedonica in the early 5th century.

She protected the province in the following centuries and became a Legio Comitatenses under the Magister militum per Orientis. The cavalry unit founded by Gallienus was taken over by Diocletian (284-305) in the field army and 293 moved to Memphis . She fought against the Sassanid Empire in Mesopotamia and Armenia in AD 296/297 and then returned to Egypt.

In the early 5th century the Legio Quinta Macedonica was subordinate to the Dux Daciae ripensis as Limitanei (border army) and was divided into several vexillations , each stationed under the command of a Praefectus legionis in Variniana, Cebrus, Oescus and Sucidava (Celei). The Legio Quinta Macedonia in Memphis , Egypt , was under the command of the Comes limitis Aegypti . Another part of the Legion was as Comitatenses (field army) under the Magister militum per Orientem .

The Macedonets were mentioned for the last time in Antaiopolis (Qau el-Kebir, Egypt) in the 6th century . Later both parts of the legion went into the Byzantine army .

literature

Web links

Commons : Legio V Macedonica  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Jona Lendering: Legio V Macedonica . In: Livius.org (English).
  2. ↑ Alfred von Domaszewski : Abhandlungen zur Roman Religion , Leipzig 1909, reprint Olms, Hildesheim, New York 1977, p. 3.
  3. ^ Lesley Adkins: Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome , Sonlight Christian, 2004, ISBN 0-8160-5026-0 , pp. 57-59.
  4. ↑ Ronald Syme , Anthony Richard Birley : Anatolica: studies in Strabo , Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 978-0-19-814943-9 , p. 253
  5. ^ Nigel Pollard: Soldiers, cities, and civilians in Roman Syria , University of Michigan Press, 2000, ISBN 978-0-472-11155-8 , p. 61.
  6. ^ Emil Ritterling : Legio (IIII Scythica). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XII, 2, Stuttgart 1925, Sp. 1556-1564.
  7. ↑ CIL 3, 1698
  8. ↑ Flavius ​​Josephus , Jewish War 3.2, 4
  9. ↑ Flavius ​​Josephus , Jewish War 3,9, 1
  10. ↑ Flavius ​​Josephus , Jüdischer Krieg 3–4
  11. ↑ CIL 3, 6647 , CIL 3, 14155 , 11 and 12
  12. ↑ Barbara Levick , Kenneth Wellesley: The year of the four emperors , 3rd edition, (series: Roman Imperial Biographies), Routledge, London 2000, ISBN 0-203-46899-6 , p. 123.
  13. ↑ Flavius ​​Josephus, Jewish War 5:11, 4
  14. ↑ Flavius ​​Josephus , Jewish War 5–6
  15. ↑ M. Mirkovic: Native population and Roman cities in the province of Upper Moesia , in: Hildegard Temporini (Ed.): Rise and decline of the Roman world (ANRW), Part II, Volume 6, Political History (Provinces and marginal peoples: Latin Danube- Balkan area) . Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin & New York 1977, ISBN 978-3-11-006735-4 , p. 831.
  16. ^ Edward Togo Salmon: History of the Roman World from 30 BC to AD 138 , Routledge, 1968, ISBN 978-0-415-04504-9 , p. 290.
  17. ↑ CIL 10,6321 .
  18. ↑ a b Emilia-Dorutiu Boila:  Troesmis, Dobrogea, Romani . In: Richard Stillwell et al. a. (Ed.): The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 1976, ISBN 0-691-03542-3 .
  19. ^ Marietta Horster : Building inscriptions of Roman emperors , Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 978-3-515-07951-8 , p. 445.
  20. ↑ References: IScM-05,00261a, IScM-05, 00261b, IScM-05, 00262
  21. ↑ Peter Schäfer: The Bar Kokhba Uprising. Studies on the second Jewish war against Rome , Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen 1981, ISBN 978-3-16-144122-6 , p. 130.
  22. ↑ Claude Lepelley (Ed.): Rome and the Empire in the High Imperial Era, Vol. 2: The Regions of the Empire , de Gruyter, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-598-77449-4 , p. 441.
  23. ^ Franz Altheim : Decline of the Old World Volume 2: Imperium Romanum , Klostermann, 1952, ISBN 978-3-465-00012-9 , p. 45.
  24. ↑ Ioan Piso: On the Northern Frontier of the Roman Empire (Heidelberger Althistorische Contributions und Epigraphische Studien (HABES) Volume 41), Steiner, 2005, ISBN 978-3-515-08729-2 , p. 119
  25. ↑ CIL 3, 1919 , CIL 3, 12791 .
  26. ^ Cassius Dio 72.
  27. ↑ AE 1944, 99 c
  28. ↑ CIL 3, 1077
  29. ↑ AE 1971, 386
  30. ↑ ILD 00772
  31. ↑ AE 1957, 329 , CCID 00131
  32. ^ Christian Körner: Philippus Arabs , de Gruyter, 2002, ISBN 978-3-11-017205-8 , p. 91.
  33. ↑ CIL 3, 14207 , 17
  34. ^ Christian Körner: Philippus Arabs , de Gruyter, 2002, ISBN 978-3-11-017205-8 , p. 140.
  35. ^ Christian Körner: Philippus Arabs , de Gruyter, 2002, ISBN 978-3-11-017205-8 , p. 292.
  36. ↑ CIL 3, 857
  37. ^ Maria Radnoti-Alföldi : Gloria Romanorum. Schriften zur Spätantike Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-515-07918-1 (Historia. Einzelschriften, 153), p. 175.
  38. ↑ Alaric Watson: Aurelian and the third century , Routledge, London 2003, ISBN 978-0-415-30187-9 , p. 155.
  39. ↑ Peter Herz , Peter Schmid, and Oliver Stoll (eds.): Between Region and Empire: The Upper Danube Region in the Roman Empire , Frank & Timme, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-86596-313-0 , p. 16 .
  40. ↑ a b Notitia Dignitatum Or. VII.
  41. ↑ Notitia Dignitatum Or. XXLII.
  42. ↑ Notitia Dignitatum Or. XXVIII.
  43. ^ Robert Grosse: Roman military history from Gallienus to the beginning of the Byzantine thematic constitution , Weidmann, Berlin 1920, p. 91.