Legio VIII Augusta

Legio VIII Augusta ("Augustus' Eighth Legion") was one of the oldest legions of the Imperial Roman army.[1]

Map of the Roman empire in AD 125, under emperor Hadrian, showing the Legio VIII Augusta, stationed on the river Rhine at Argentorate (Strasbourg, France), in Germania Superior province, from AD 75 to at least 371
Coin showing Claudius and Aquila of the V and VIII legions
Aureus struck in 193 by Septimius Severus to celebrate VIII Augusta, one of the legions supporting his fight for purple.

In republican service

They were ordered to Cisalpine Gaul around 58 BC by Julius Caesar and marched with him throughout the entirety of the Gallic Wars, especially during the battles of Gergovie and Alesia. During the war the legion won the title "Gallica." It also earned a reputation for courage.[2]

They stood with him at the Battle of Pharsalus. The legion was also present in Egypt, when Caesar captured Egypt for Cleopatra. In 46 BC, it took part in the Battle of Thapsus near what is now Bakalta, Tunisia shortly before their disbandment.

In 44 BC, Augustus reconstituted the legion that had helped him attain the control of the Roman Empire. In 43 BC it took part in the siege of the Battle of Mutina (current Modena) by Marc Antony, defended by the troops of Decimus Brutus, which earned Legio VIII Gallica the nickname "Mutinensis".[3]

In imperial service
Tombstone of Publius Farfinias Severus from the VIII Augusta from Novae legionary camp (Archaeological Museum of Sofia). He was a soldier and musician of the legion and an Italian from Fanum Fortunae

In or before 9 AD the legion was transferred to Poetovium (modern Ptuj). The legion must have won a victory around this time that earned them the cognomen Augusta. At least a detachment also stayed in Burnum, Illyricum where their stamped tiles have been found.[4]

Around 45 under Nero, the VIII Augusta took part in the suppression of the Thracian uprising,[5] and founded its castrum at Novae where the Danube has its most southern bend and from where the legion controlled a long section of the river.[6]

The legion received the title "BIS AUGUSTA" (twice August) for their actions in Thrace. After Nero's death in 69 it gave up this title and in the confusion of the Year of the Four Emperors, the legion voted for Otho and sent a detachment of 2000 men to Italy (as did the 7th and the 3rd legions).[7] Soon after Otho's death, the Danube legions voted for Vespasian and went with him to Mirebeau-sur-Bèze in Gaul.[8] Where it built its new base in 70 CE to oppose the revolts of the Treveri and especially the Ubii and Lingones against Rome.[9][10]

After restoration of Rome`s rule in the North in or before 86, the legion moved to its new headquarters at Argentoratum in Germania Superior (now Strasbourg), where the main part of the unit was stationed until the 5th century.

The legion also fought the Parthian Empire with Septimius Severus, who ruled from 193 until 211, and with his successors.

Records indicate that they were still active during the first years of the fourth century at the Rhine frontier. This means that the history of the legion covers more than 400 years of almost continuous service. In 371 it was again stationed in Argentoratum, according to an inscription. Later, the Roman general Stilicho, was compelled to move the German legions back to Italy to defend it against the Visigothic invasion.

According to Notitia Dignitatum, around 420 an Octaviani unit was under the Magister Peditum of Italia; it is possible that this unit was the old VIII Augusta, which was originally a comitatensis unit but had been promoted to palatina status.

Attested members
Name Position Year Location Reference
Numisius Lupus legatus legionis 69 Germania Tacitus, Histories, III.10
Lucius Antistius Rusticus legatus legionis 79/81 Germania
Marcus Acilius Priscus Egrilius Plarianus legatus legionis c. 120 Germania CIL XIV, 155,CIL XIV, 4444
Lucius Varus Ambibulus[11] legatus legionis c. 162 Germania CIL X, 3872
Marcus Juventius Caesianus[12] legatus legionis c. 186 Germania
Publius Aelianus Coeranus[12] legatus legionis 221/223? Germania CIL XIV, 03586
Aulus Egnatius Proculus[12] legatus legionis 190/235 Germania CIL XII, 03163
Gnaeus Petronius Probatus Junior Justus[12] legatus legionis c. 234 Germania CIL X, 1254
Quintus Petronius Melior legatus legionis 3rd century Germania CIL XI, 3367
Lucius Coiedius Candidus tribunus laticlavius before 55 Germania CIL XI, 6163
Sextus Sentius Caecilianus tribunus laticlavius c. 65 Germania CIL IX, 4194 = ILS 8969
Lucius Aemilius Carus tribunus laticlavius c. 125 Germania CIL VI, 1333
Lucius Neratius Proculus tribunus laticlavius c. 128 Germania CIL IX, 2457 = ILS 1076
Lucius Cestius Gallus tribunus laticlavius between 150 and 175 Germania CIL X, 3722
Titus Vettius Deciminus[13] veteranus legionis early 3rd century CIL XIII, 1903

Epigraphic inscriptions

- ri[…] G̣allorum tribunus militum legionis VIII Augustae. Cohort of Gauls, military [tribune] of the Eighth Legion Augusta. Brougham (Brocavum). CIL VII 300 = RIB 782.

See also

References
  1. "Legio VIII Augusta - Livius".
  2. De bello gallico: VIII: +8+, Aulus Hirtius
  3. Nigel Pollard et Joanne Berry, The complete Roman Legions, Thames&Hudson, 2012, p 72
  4. "Legio VIII Augusta - Livius". www.livius.org.
  5. J. KOLENDO, Claude et l’annexion de la Thrace, in: Claude de Lyon empereur romain. Actes du Colloque Paris-Nancy-Lyon. Novembre 1992, Paris 1998.
  6. Dyczek, Piotr. Amphorae from the barracks of Legio VIII Augusta and Legio I Italica in Novae.
  7. "Argentoratum - Strasbourg". www.argentoratum.com.
  8. "Roman Legionary Fortresses". www.legionaryfortresses.info.
  9. Le camp légionnaire de Mirebeau (Goguey, Reddé, 1995)
  10. Légionnaires romains chez les Lingons: la VIIIème Avgvsta à Mirebeau (Côte-d’Or), René Goguey p. 227-251, Revue archéologique de l’Est Tome 57, 2008: n°179
  11. Géza Alföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter der Antoninen (Bonn: Rudolf Habelt Verlag 1977), p. 300
  12. Paul M. M. Leunissen, Konsuln und Konsulare in der Zeit von Commodus bis Severus Alexander (1989), p. 341
  13. Dean, Lindley Richard (May 1, 1916). "A study of the cognomina of soldiers in the Roman legions". Princeton, N.J. p. 167 – via Internet Archive.
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