Legio IV Macedonica

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Fourth Legion Macedonica
Legio IV Macedonica
Legio Quarta Macedonica
Rheinzabern Ziegelstempel Legio IV Macedonica.jpg
Brick stamp LEG IV MAC found in Rheinzabern
Active48 BCE until the 4th century
CountryRoman Republic (closing years) and Roman Empire
TypeRoman legion

Legio IV Macedonica ("Macedonian Fourth Legion"), was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in 48 BC by Gaius Julius Caesar (dictator of Rome 49–44 BC) with Italian legionaries. The legion was disbanded in AD 70 by Emperor Vespasian. The legion symbols were a bull (as with all of Caesar's legions) and a capricorn.[1]


History[]

Early history[]

This legion may have been founded in Italy in 48 BCE by Julius Caesar, who needed it in his war against Pompey.[2] It saw its first action at Dyrrhachium. After the civil war the legion was stationed in Macedonia. The unit was supposed to serve in Caesar's campaign against the Parthian Empire. Unfortunately, the expedition was canceled after Ceaser's death. However, the failure of this campaign would not stop the legion from fighting, as another civil war would soon break out. Before the conflict erupted, the legion was moved to Italy by Mark Antony, although this did not deter them from siding with Augustus[2]during the Battle of Mutina, where they fought against Antony and suffered heavy losses.[3][4] In 42 BC, the legion fought at the Battle of Philippi and returned to the Italy with Augustus.[5] The legion was nearly destroyed at the Battle of Phillipi, however it survived to be rebuilt. It is likely this is where the legion got the name Macedonica from.[5] They were subsequently present at the siege of Perugia in the winter of 41 BC, where Lucius Antonius, Mark Antony's brother, had taken refuge.[3] The legion was also present at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC.[3]

Cantabrian Wars[]

After Augustus became Emperor, in 30 BC it was moved to Hyspania Tarraconensis to fight the Cantabrian Wars. During the war the legion was stationed at Juliobriga.[5] After the war the soldiers continued to serve as civil servants in Hispania.[3]

Early Service in Germania[]

Most likely Roman emperor Claudius transferred the legion to Mainz in Germania Superior.[3][6]It is unknown when this happened although it was probably in 41 AD.It replaced XIV Gemina, which was now fighting in Britain. However. Some people think that the legion was transferred in 39 AD, when emperor Caligula waged war against the Germanic Chatti. While stationed in Germania the Fourth shared the fortress with the recently founded XXII Primigenia. The younger unit occupied the less honorable left-hand side, whereas IV Macedonica was living in the right-hand side.[3] After the Battle of Teutoberg Forest the Legio IV Macedonica

Year of Four Emperors[]

When the Year of Four Emperors occurred the Fourth legion and the Twenty-Second were the first to side with Vitellius. Many soldiers of the legion took part in Vitellius' march to Italy. It conquered the road through Switzerland, fought at Cremona and Bedriacum against the troops of the emperor Otho. Several soldiers were rewarded for their service and transferred to the imperial guard.[3] Later they were defeated by Vespasian.[5]

Later service in Germania[]

Meanwhile, in Germania Inferior, the Batavians revolted. A Roman expeditionary force, consisting of the remains of V Alaudae and XV Primigenia, was defeated near Nijmegen, and not much later, these two legions found themselves besieged at Xanten. Although I Germanica, XVI Gallica and the other legion from Mainz, XXII Primigenia, tried to rescue them, they failed and were forced to surrender. Not much later, I Germanica and XVI Gallica surrendered as well. It took several months before the new emperor Vespasian could send a Roman army to suppress the revolt. This army was commanded by his relative Quintus Petillius Cerialis.[3] During the revolt the IV Macedonica guarded Mainz against attacks by Germanic Chatti, Usipetes and Mattiaci. Although it had for some time been successful and fought bravely during Cerialis' campaign, it was regarded with some suspicion by the new emperor. Because of this it was punished as well: it was reconstituted under a new name, IV Flavia Felix.[3][7][8] The legion was given a new symbol, the lion. The reason for this is because the lion was related to Hercules, Vespasian's favorite deity.[5]

After Germania[]

The new Legio IV Flavia Felix was moved to Burnum, a Roman military camp in Dalmatia. The legion would remain there until 70 CE. In the year 85 CE, the legion was transferred to Singudunum, Moesia. The legion would also be transferred to Syria[9] by general Corbulo.[10]During the reign of Domitian, the legion fought against the Alemmani and Dacians. Later it fight in Trajan's Dacian Wars. The legion would remain in Singudunum for the next 200 years. Afterwards it disappears from history.[5]

Epigraphic inscriptions[]

  • - Caius Valerius Cai filius Voltinia (tribu) Donatus miles legionis IIII Macedonicae annorum XXXIX hic (...). Logrono, Spain. Hisp. Epi. 14626.

Attested Members[]

Name Rank Time Frame Source
Lucius Blattius Centurio Flavian Dynasty [11]
Lucius Martius Macer Legatus Unknown [12]

References[]

  1. ^ Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971–2000 By L. J. F. Keppie page 128
  2. ^ a b DuBois, Michael (2015-12-16). Legio. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-329-76783-6.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Legio IIII Macedonica – Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Dio, Cassius. Dio's Rome. III.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Dando-Collins, Stephen (2013-09-03). Legions of Rome. Quercus. ISBN 978-1-62365-201-2.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ Spooner, William Archibald (1891). Cornelii Taciti historiarum libri qui supersunt: The histories of Tacitus, with introduction, notes, and an index. New York: Macmillan and Company. p. 501.
  7. ^ Spawforth, Antony; Eidnow, Esther; Simon, Hornblower (2012). The Oxford Classical Dictionary. United Kingdom: OUP Oxford. p. 817. ISBN 978-019-954-556-8.
  8. ^ Bishop, M.C (2012). Handbook to Roman Legionary Fortresses. South Yorkshire. p. 129. ISBN 978-184-884-138-3.
  9. ^ Dio, Cassius. Dio's Rome. IV.
  10. ^ Tacticus, Cornelius. Annals.
  11. ^ D'amato, Raffaele; Summer, Graham (2009). Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier: From Marius to Commodus, 112 BC–AD 192. South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books. pp. 111, 227. ISBN 978-147-381-189-8.
  12. ^ Brewer, Richard J.; Wales, National Museums & Galleries of (2002). Birthday of the Eagle: The Second Augustan Legion and the Roman Military Machine. National Museum Wales. ISBN 978-0-7200-0514-1.

External links[]

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