- Legio IV Flavia Felix
Legio IIII "Flavia Felix" ("serene Flavian legion"), was a
Roman legion levied byVespasian in70 , from the ashes of the Legio IIII "Macedonica". The legion was active in Moesia Superior in the first half of the4th century . The legion symbol was a lion.During the
Batavian rebellion , the IIII "Macedonica" fought for Vespasian, but theemperor distrusted his men, probably because they had supportedVitellius two years before. Therefore IIII "Macedonica" was disbanded, and a new Fourth legion, called "Flavian Felix" was levied by the emperor, who gave the legio hisnomen , "Flavia ". Since the symbol of the legion is a lion, it was probably levied in July/August 70.IIII "Flavia Felix" was camped in "
Burnum ",Dalmatia (modernKistanje ), where it replaced XI "Claudia". After the Dacian invasion of86 ,Domitian moved the legion to Moesia Superior, in "Singidunum ", although there is some evidence of the presence of this legion, of one of its "vexillatio nes" in "Viminacium ", base of VII "Claudia". In88 the Fourth participated to the retaliation invasion of Dacia; it also participated in theDacian Wars ofTrajan , ending with the victory at theBattle of Tapae .Monuments of IIII Flavia Felix have been found at Aquincum (Budapest). This suggests that a subunit replaced II Adiutrix during its absence during the wars of Lucius Verus against the Parthian empire (162-166).
In the
Marcomannic Wars ( 166-180 AD ), the fourth fought on the Danube against the Germanic tribes.After the death of
Pertinax , the IIII "Flavia Felix" supportedSeptimius Severus against usurpersPescennius Niger andClodius Albinus .The legion may have fought in one of the several wars against the Sassanids, but stayed in Moesia Superior until the first half of the
4th century .This Roman Legion was featured in the beginning of
Gladiator whereMaximus Decimus Meridius was the Legion commander, leading the campaign in Germania against the Marcomani.ee also
*
List of Roman legions
*Roman legion
*Legio IIII "Macedonica"External links
* [http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/iiii_flavia_felix.html livius.org account of Legio IIII Flavia Felix]
* [http://www.romanarmy.com/legioiiiiff/ Reenactment Legion based in Southern Ontario, Canada portraying IIII Flavia Felix]
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