Legio IV Scythica

Fourth Legion Scythica
Legio IV Scythica Legio IIII Scythica Legio Quarta Scythica
Map of the Roman empire in AD 125, under emperor Hadrian, showing the Fourth Legion Scythica, stationed on the river Euphrates at Zeugma (near modern Gaziantep, Turkey), in the province of Syria, from AD 68 until possibly the 4th century
Active	42 BCE until AD 219 (confirmed)
Country	Roman Republic (closing years) and Roman Empire
Type	Roman legion

Coin issued by Philip the Arab for his wife Otacilia Severa. On the reverse in the exergue, a capricorn, in reference to IIII Scythica, beneath a tetrastyle temple; mint of Zeugma, Roman Syria, a legionary camp. BMC 34.

Legio IV Scythica ("Scythian Fourth Legion"), also written as Legio IIII Scythica,^[1] was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded c. 42 BC by the general Mark Antony, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence its other cognomen, Parthica. The legion was still active in Syria in the early 5th century.

Origins and service during the Republic[]

The Legion was founded by Mark Antony after 42 BC.^[1] It is unknown where the Legion was first stationed, although Syria is a possibility.^[1] If that is the case the legion most likely took part in Mark Antony's campaign against the Parthians.^[1] The name Scythica implies that it fought the Scythians.^[1] The Scythians were a group of nomadic tribes located near a Roman city named Olbia.^[1] The Scythians also occasionally tried to cross the Danube.^[1] This makes it very likely the Legion defeated one of the Scythian tribes in a battle.^[1]

Under the Empire[]

After the battle of Actium and Antony's suicide, Octavian transferred IV Scythica to the Danube province of Moesia. The legion is reported to have taken part in civilian tasks, such as the building and keeping of roads. In his youth, future emperor Vespasian served in this legion. The legion's base was probably at Viminacium.

Tiberius's war against Illyria[]

Between 6 and 9 CE, the IV Scythica took part in Tiberius' wars against the Illyrians and Pannonians. The legion also constructed roads and other works of engineering in the Danube area. Among those who served in the legion was a young man named Titus Flavius Vespasianus, who is better known as the emperor Vespasian.^{[citation needed]}

Roman–Parthian War of 58–63[]

King Vologases I of Parthia invaded Armenia, a client kingdom of Rome, in 58, beginning the Roman–Parthian War of 58–63. Nero ordered Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, the new legate of Cappadocia, to manage the matter. Corbulo brought IIII Scythica from Moesia, and with III Gallica and VI Ferrata defeated the Parthians, restoring Tigranes VI on Armenian throne. In 62, IIII Scythica and XII Fulminata, commanded by the new legate of Cappadocia, Lucius Caesennius Paetus, were defeated by the Parthians at the Battle of Rhandeia and forced to surrender. The legions were covered with shame and removed from the war theatre to Zeugma. This city would be the base camp of IIII Scythica for the next century.^[1]

Year of the Four Emperors[]

In the Year of the Four Emperors, in 69, the legion, like the rest of the Eastern army, sided with Vespasian immediately. Despite the demonstrated loyalty, IV Scythica was not involved in actual fighting because it was not considered a high quality legion. This was a consequence of an earlier defeat in the Jewish rebellion.^[1] In 70 AD the legion was used to stop a pogrom in Antioch. The legion would also build a canal in Selucia Pieria.

Roman Parthian Wars and Roman Sassanid wars[]

The IV Scythia took part in Trajan's Parthian Campaign, As well as the war against the Parthians between 161 and 166. Between AD 181 and 183 Septimius Severus acted as the commander of the Eastern legions, and he later relied on the power of said legions to become emperor. The Legion's former commander, now Emperor, Semptimus Severus would lead another campaign against the Parthians. This campaign also used the IV Scythia. The IV Scythica was most likely involved in the eastern campaign of Caracalla. In 219.^[1]

Revolt and disappearance[]

The legion disappears from the sources after 219, when their commander, Gellius Maximus, rebelled against Emperor Elagabalus and proclaimed himself emperor, but was defeated.^[1] However, according to Notitia Dignitatum (XXXIII), in the early 5th century, IIII Scythica was still in Syria, camped in Orese. It is possible this legion participated in the campaigns of Severus Alexander and Odaenathus against the Sassanids.

Attested members[]

Epigraphic testimonies[]

• Caio Sempronio Marci filio Galeria (tribu) Fido Calagorritano / tribuno militum legionis IIII Scythicae tribuno militum (...). ^[7]
• D(is) M(anibus) / Ael(ius) Verecundinus / (centurio) leg(ionis) IIII / Scy(thicae) hastatus (p)rior natus / in Dacia ad Vatabos mil(itavit) ann(os) XXI / primum exactus librarius / frum(entarius) speculator evocatus ^[8]

Unit Symbol[]

The legion's symbol was a capricorn.^[9]

In popular culture[]

The Legion appeared in Harry Sidebottom's historical fiction series Warrior Of Rome.

See also[]

• List of Roman legions
• Siege of Dura-Europos (256)

References[]

External links[]

• livius.org account of Legio IV Scythica