Legio II Traiana Fortis
Encyclopedia
Legio secunda Traiana Fortis, (Second Valliant Trajanic Legion), was a Roman legion
levied by emperor Trajan
in 105, along with XXX Ulpia Victrix
, for the campaigns in Dacia
. There are still records of the II Traiana Fortis in Egypt
in the middle of the 5th century. The legion's emblem was the demi-god Hercules
.
In 115, II Traiana Fortis was incorporated in the large army used for Trajan's Parthian Campaign. In 117, the legion was allocated in Iudaea, to insure peace after the rebellion that was just ending. In 125 they were sent to Aegyptus for the first time, to share camp in Nicopolis
(next Alexandria
, Aegyptus) with XXII Deiotariana
. Between 132-136 they were again in Iudaea to deal with another revolt.
The legion was in its base in Nicopolis
when a revolt against roman rule started in south Egypt. The rebels besieged Alexandria
for months. Plague and famine recked the city. But the defenders remained calm. Rescue for the Traiana and the Deiotariana was when Avidius Cassius
came with the legions of Syria. The legion was awarded the "Fortis" title for the valiant defense of "Rome's Bread Basket" Fortis meaning Valiant. Cassius was ruler of the east for a time, while Marcus Aurelius was busy in his Marcomanii Wars. When Cassius got the blessing of Aurelius' wife, Cassius declared himself emperor, thinking his emperor dead, but he was still breathing, the legion learned the legions of the Danube were being led by none other than Aurelius himself to fight the rebels. The legion, with the others, cut off Cassius' head, and sent it to Aurelius, who interestingly, let the legions be, just sending them back to their proper posts to watch the Parthian Empire
.
The history of II Traiana Fortis gives an example of the political role of the legions. In 194, Pescennius Niger
, governor of the province of Syria
, rebelled with the support of, among others, II Traiana Fortis. His rival was Septimius Severus
who would become emperor. In the days before the final battle, the legion changed sides and vowed fidelity to Severus. This would prove to be decisive for Pescennius' defeat.
In the beginnings of the 3rd century, the legion is involved in Caracalla
's campaign against Germanic tribes and receives the cognomen Germanica.
According to Notitia Dignitatum
(a c. 400 document), in early 5th century II Traiana Fortis was moved to Apollonopolis Magna
, in southern part of Aegyptus, and later it served, at least with some vexillatio
nes, under the Comes limitis Aegypti.
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 Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
in 105, along with XXX Ulpia Victrix
Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix
Legio trigesima Ulpia Victrix was a Roman legion levied by the Emperor Trajan in 100 for the Dacian Wars. The legion was active until disbandment of the Rhine frontier in the beginning of the 5th century. Their emblems were the gods Neptune and Jupiter and the Capricorn...
, for the campaigns in Dacia
Dacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
. There are still records of the II Traiana Fortis in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in the middle of the 5th century. The legion's emblem was the demi-god Hercules
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
.
In 115, II Traiana Fortis was incorporated in the large army used for Trajan's Parthian Campaign. In 117, the legion was allocated in Iudaea, to insure peace after the rebellion that was just ending. In 125 they were sent to Aegyptus for the first time, to share camp in Nicopolis
Nicopolis
Nicopolis — or Actia Nicopolis — was an ancient city of Epirus, founded 31 BC by Octavian in memory of his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium the previous year. It was later the capital of Epirus Vetus...
(next Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Aegyptus) with XXII Deiotariana
Legio XXII Deiotariana
Legio vigesima secunda Deiotariana was a Roman legion, levied approximately in 48 BC and disbanded during the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132–135...
. Between 132-136 they were again in Iudaea to deal with another revolt.
The legion was in its base in Nicopolis
Nicopolis
Nicopolis — or Actia Nicopolis — was an ancient city of Epirus, founded 31 BC by Octavian in memory of his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium the previous year. It was later the capital of Epirus Vetus...
when a revolt against roman rule started in south Egypt. The rebels besieged Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
for months. Plague and famine recked the city. But the defenders remained calm. Rescue for the Traiana and the Deiotariana was when Avidius Cassius
Avidius Cassius
Gaius Avidius Cassius was a Roman general and usurper who briefly ruled Egypt and Syria in 175.-Origins:He was the son of Gaius Avidius Heliodorus, a noted orator who was Prefect of Egypt from 137 to 142 under Hadrian, and wife Junia Cassia Alexandra...
came with the legions of Syria. The legion was awarded the "Fortis" title for the valiant defense of "Rome's Bread Basket" Fortis meaning Valiant. Cassius was ruler of the east for a time, while Marcus Aurelius was busy in his Marcomanii Wars. When Cassius got the blessing of Aurelius' wife, Cassius declared himself emperor, thinking his emperor dead, but he was still breathing, the legion learned the legions of the Danube were being led by none other than Aurelius himself to fight the rebels. The legion, with the others, cut off Cassius' head, and sent it to Aurelius, who interestingly, let the legions be, just sending them back to their proper posts to watch 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...
.
The history of II Traiana Fortis gives an example of the political role of the legions. In 194, Pescennius Niger
Pescennius Niger
Pescennius Niger was a Roman usurper from 193 to 194 during the Year of the Five Emperors. He claimed the imperial throne in response to the murder of Pertinax and the elevation of Didius Julianus, but was defeated by a rival claimant, Septimius Severus and killed while attempting to flee from...
, governor of the province of Syria
Syria (Roman province)
Syria was a Roman province, annexed in 64 BC by Pompey, as a consequence of his military presence after pursuing victory in the Third Mithridatic War. It remained under Roman, and subsequently Byzantine, rule for seven centuries, until 637 when it fell to the Islamic conquests.- Principate :The...
, rebelled with the support of, among others, II Traiana Fortis. His rival was 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...
who would become emperor. In the days before the final battle, the legion changed sides and vowed fidelity to Severus. This would prove to be decisive for Pescennius' defeat.
In the beginnings of the 3rd century, the legion is involved in 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...
's campaign against Germanic tribes and receives the cognomen Germanica.
According to 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...
(a c. 400 document), in early 5th century II Traiana Fortis was moved to Apollonopolis Magna
Edfu
Edfu is an Egyptian city, located on the west bank of the Nile River between Esna and Aswan, with a population of approximately sixty thousand people. For the ancient history of the city, see below...
, in southern part of Aegyptus, and later it served, at least with some vexillatio
Vexillatio
A vexillatio was a detachment of a Roman legion formed as a temporary task force created by the Roman Army of the Principate. It was named from the standards carried by legionary detachments, vexillum , which bore the emblem and name of the parent legion...
nes, under the Comes limitis Aegypti.
External links
- livius.org account of Legio II Traiana Fortis
- LEGIO II TRAIANA FORTIS, Nevada (USA) re-enactement group]