Legio VI Victrix ( Victorious): 41 BC – after 402, Octavian (emblem: bull).Legio VI Ferrata ( Ironclad): 52 BC – after 250, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, she-wolf and Romulus and Remus) twin legion of Legio VI Victrix.Legio V Alaudae ( Larks): 52 BC – AD 70 or 86 (destroyed either during the Batavian rebellion or by the Dacians in first Battle of Tapae), Julius Caesar (emblem: elephant).42 BC to at least early 5th century, Mark Antony (emblem: capricorn) Legio IV Macedonica ( Macedonian): 48 BC – AD 70 (renamed by Vespasian), Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, capricorn).

Legio III Gallica ( Gallic): around 49 BC to at least early 4th century, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull).36 BC to (at least) the 5th century, Mark Antony Legio III Cyrenaica ( from Cyrene): probably c.Legio I Germanica ( Germanic): 48 BC – AD 70 ( Revolt of the Batavi), Julius Caesar.Most of them were levied by Julius Caesar and later included into Octavian's army, some of them were levied by Marc Antony. The legions included in the following list had a long enough history to be somehow remarkable. By the time Augustus emerged as sole ruler of Rome in 31 BC, over 50 legions were in existence, many of which were disbanded. As civil wars were resolved, many of these 'private' units would be disbanded, only for more to be raised to fight the next civil war. In this context, the imperatores raised many legions that were not authorised by the Senate, sometimes having to use their own resources. These imperatores (lit: victorious generals, from the title imperator they were hailed with by their troops) frequently fell out with each other and started civil wars to seize control of the state, such as Sulla, Caesar, Pompey, Crassus, Mark Antony and Octavian (later Augustus, the first Emperor himself). Their command of standing legions in distant and arduous military campaigns resulted in the allegiance of those units transferring from the Roman state to themselves. In the last century of the Republic, proconsuls governing frontier provinces became increasingly powerful. The property requirements were abolished by Marius, so that the bulk of recruits were henceforth from the landless citizens, who would be most attracted to the paid employment and land offered after their service. Legionaries started large-scale recruiting of volunteer soldiers enlisted for a minimum term of six years and a fixed salary, although conscription was still practiced.

This became necessary to garrison the Republic's now far-flung territories. Gaius Marius' reforms transformed legions into standing units, which could remain in being for several years, or even decades. Usually they were authorized by the Roman Senate, and were later disbanded. Until the Marian reforms of 107 BC, the Republican legions were formed by compulsory levy of Roman citizens (who met a minimum property qualification) and raised whenever it was necessary.

2.1.1 Legion number and title (cognomen).

For example, in addition to the spellings 'IV', 'IX', 'XIV', 'XVIII' and 'XIX', the respective spellings 'IIII', 'VIIII', 'XIIII', 'XIIX' and 'XVIIII' were commonly used. The legions were identified by Roman numerals, though the spelling sometimes differed from the modern 'standard'. This was the result of the military reforms of Emperors Diocletian and Constantine I, and of further developments during the 4th century. What is clear is that late legions were radically different in size, structure, and tactical role from their predecessors, despite several retaining early period names. Augustus and his immediate successors transformed legions into permanent units, staffed by entirely career soldiers on standard 25-year terms.ĭuring the Dominate period (near the end of the Empire, 284–476), legions were also professional, but are little understood due to scarcity of evidence compared to the Principate. The remaining 28 legions became the core of the early Imperial army of the Principate (27 BC – AD 284), most lasting over three centuries.

When Augustus became sole ruler in 31 BC, he disbanded about half of the over 50 legions then in existence. Main articles: Roman army, Imperial Roman army, and Roman legion

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