Legio III Parthica
Encyclopedia
Legio tertia Parthica was a Roman legion
levied by Emperor Septimius Severus
in 197, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire
, hence the cognomen Parthica. The legion was still active in the Eastern provinces in the early 5th century. The legion's symbol was probably a bull
.
and II Parthica
, the third Parthian legion was levied for the attack on the eastern frontier. The campaign was a success and Ctesiphon
, the Parthian capital, was taken and sacked. III Parthica remained in the region afterwards, garrisoning the new province of Mesopotamia
. Their main base camp was Rhesaena
, where they had the duty of securing the main roads and protect the province against the Sassanids.
A first indecisive campaign was led by Emperor Caracalla
in 217, during which he was assasinated.
In 230, the Sassanids invaded the Roman province, defeating the Third. The Emperor Alexander Severus
then organized a successful campaign to restore Roman rule over Mesopotamia.
Emperor Gordian III
organized another campaign in 243, and the Third won the Battle of Resaena
, but in the following year Gordian died during the campaign, and his successor Philip the Arab
, whose position had been confirmed by Shapur I
, retreated.
The Sassanids marked a major victory in 256, when they defeated the XV Apollinaris
and conquered its fortress, Satala
, sacking Trapezus in 258. Emperor Valerian
tried to recover the lost territories, but was defeated and taken prisoner (260). The Romans successfully challenged the Sassanid rule, first with Odaenathus
(261-267), leader of a secessionist Palmyrene Empire
, and later with Emperor Diocletian
(284-305), who signed a treaty of peace in 298 that marked the return of Northern Mesopotamia under Roman influence.
In the early 5th century, the legion was probably still active in the region under the Dux
Osrhoenae
, based in Apatna, modern Tell Fdyin, Iraq
(Notitia dignitatum
is corrupted, but shows that a legion is quartered in Apatna, and the III Parthica is not mentioned anywhere else).
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
levied by Emperor Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
in 197, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire
Parthian Empire
The Parthian Empire , also known as the Arsacid Empire , was a major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Persia...
, hence the cognomen Parthica. The legion was still active in the Eastern provinces in the early 5th century. The legion's symbol was probably a bull
Taurus (astrology)
Taurus is the second astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 30th and 59th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between April 21 to May 21 each year...
.
Foundation
Together with its sister legions I ParthicaLegio I Parthica
Legio prima Parthica was a Roman legion levied in 197 by the emperor Septimius Severus. The legion presence in the Middle East is recorded until the early 5th century....
and II Parthica
Legio II Parthica
Legio secunda Parthica was a Roman legion levied by Emperor Septimius Severus in 197, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence the cognomen Parthica. The legion was still active in the beginning of the 5th century...
, the third Parthian legion was levied for the attack on the eastern frontier. The campaign was a success and Ctesiphon
Ctesiphon
Ctesiphon, the imperial capital of the Parthian Arsacids and of the Persian Sassanids, was one of the great cities of ancient Mesopotamia.The ruins of the city are located on the east bank of the Tigris, across the river from the Hellenistic city of Seleucia...
, the Parthian capital, was taken and sacked. III Parthica remained in the region afterwards, garrisoning the new province of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
. Their main base camp was Rhesaena
Rhesaena
Rhesaena is a Catholic titular see. The original diocese was in Osrhoene, a suffragan of Edessa.Rhesaena was an important town at the northern extremity of Mesopotamia, near the sources of the Chaboras Rhesaena (Rhesaina) is a Catholic titular see. The original diocese was in Osrhoene, a...
, where they had the duty of securing the main roads and protect the province against the Sassanids.
Against the Sassanids
During the 3rd century, III Parthica took part in several other campaigns against the Sassanids; even if there are few direct proofs of its involvement, III Parthica was stationed in the region and was obviously employed in the wars between the two rival empires.A first indecisive campaign was led by Emperor Caracalla
Caracalla
Caracalla , was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. The eldest son of Septimius Severus, he ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta until he murdered the latter in 211...
in 217, during which he was assasinated.
In 230, the Sassanids invaded the Roman province, defeating the Third. The Emperor Alexander Severus
Alexander Severus
Severus Alexander was Roman Emperor from 222 to 235. Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty. He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus upon the latter's assassination in 222, and was ultimately assassinated himself, marking the epoch event for the Crisis of the Third Century — nearly fifty...
then organized a successful campaign to restore Roman rule over Mesopotamia.
Emperor Gordian III
Gordian III
Gordian III , was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and an unnamed Roman Senator who died before 238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Very little is known on his early life before his acclamation...
organized another campaign in 243, and the Third won the Battle of Resaena
Battle of Resaena
The Battle of Resaena or Resaina, near Ceylanpinar, Turkey, was fought in 243 between the forces of the Roman Empire, led by Praetorian Prefect Timesitheus, and a Sassanid Empire army, led by King Shapur I. The Romans were victorious....
, but in the following year Gordian died during the campaign, and his successor Philip the Arab
Philip the Arab
Philip the Arab , also known as Philip or Philippus Arabs, was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249. He came from Syria, and rose to become a major figure in the Roman Empire. He achieved power after the death of Gordian III, quickly negotiating peace with the Sassanid Empire...
, whose position had been confirmed by Shapur I
Shapur I
Shapur I or also known as Shapur I the Great was the second Sassanid King of the Second Persian Empire. The dates of his reign are commonly given as 240/42 - 270/72, but it is likely that he also reigned as co-regent prior to his father's death in 242 .-Early years:Shapur was the son of Ardashir I...
, retreated.
The Sassanids marked a major victory in 256, when they defeated the XV Apollinaris
Legio XV Apollinaris
Legio quinta decima Apollinaris was a Roman legion. It was recruited by Octavian in 41/40 BC. The emblem of this legion was probably a picture of Apollo, or of one of his holy animals....
and conquered its fortress, Satala
Satala
Located in Turkey, the city of Satala , according to the ancient geographers, was situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, a little north of the Euphrates, where the road from Trapezus to Samosata crossed the boundary of the Roman Empire...
, sacking Trapezus in 258. Emperor Valerian
Valerian (emperor)
Valerian , also known as Valerian the Elder, was Roman Emperor from 253 to 260. He was taken captive by Persian king Shapur I after the Battle of Edessa, becoming the only Roman Emperor who was captured as a prisoner of war, resulting in wide-ranging instability across the Empire.-Origins and rise...
tried to recover the lost territories, but was defeated and taken prisoner (260). The Romans successfully challenged the Sassanid rule, first with Odaenathus
Odaenathus
Lucius Septimius Odaenathus, Odenathus or Odenatus , the Latinized form of the Syriac Odainath, was a ruler of Palmyra, Syria and later of the short lived Palmyrene Empire, in the second half of the 3rd century, who succeeded in recovering the Roman East from the Persians and restoring it to the...
(261-267), leader of a secessionist Palmyrene Empire
Palmyrene Empire
The Palmyrene Empire was a splinter empire, that broke off of the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century. It encompassed the Roman provinces of Syria Palaestina, Egypt and large parts of Asia Minor....
, and later with Emperor Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
(284-305), who signed a treaty of peace in 298 that marked the return of Northern Mesopotamia under Roman influence.
In the early 5th century, the legion was probably still active in the region under the Dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
Osrhoenae
Osroene
Osroene, also spelled Osrohene and Osrhoene and sometimes known by the name of its capital city, Edessa , was a historic Syriac kingdom located in Mesopotamia, which enjoyed semi-autonomy to complete independence from the years of 132 BC to AD 244.It was a Syriac-speaking kingdom.Osroene, or...
, based in Apatna, modern Tell Fdyin, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
(Notitia dignitatum
Notitia Dignitatum
The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. One of the very few surviving documents of Roman government, it details the administrative organisation of the eastern and western empires, listing several thousand offices from the imperial court down to the provincial...
is corrupted, but shows that a legion is quartered in Apatna, and the III Parthica is not mentioned anywhere else).