The Legions
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 1999 10:52 pm
When I was reading "Imperial Governor" by George Shipway as a college student, I was entranced to note that the "legions" were not nameless or faceless.
For what it is worth, the Legions (Legiones) in Britain (Britannica) at the time of the famous revolt of the Iceni (ancient Celtic tribe) were: Legio XIV Gemina (later Gemina MArtia Vitrix) Legio II Augusta, Legio IX Hispana (Pretty clear where this Legion was originally raised) and Legio XX Valeria Virtix.
Each Legion was likely to have it's own shield pattern and each Legionary swore loyalty first to the Eagle of the Legion, which may explain why some Legiones as military formations survived from the time of Julius Caesar until the collapse of the Empire in the West. (Around 471 CE).
The Governor (Suetonius Paulinus) of Britain at the time of the of the Revolt (55 CE) had a tough political row to hoe. He had to keep Nero happy (not an easy task) finish Rome's conquest of what are now parts of Wales and tunr Britain into a money making province for the Empire.
Events would conspire against him. Apparently while he was on campaign in the West, the King of the Iceni (who had left his kingdom to the Empire and his two daughters) passed away. Nero's revenue agents were quickly on hand. They allegedly raped his wife and perhaps his daughters and made off with whatever they could load up.
Boudicia (many spellings) the "said" Wife took unkindly to this and the "Iceni flew to arms and stirred to revolt the Trinovantes and others who, not yet cowed by slavery, had agreed in secret conspiracy to reclaim their freedom" (Tacitus).
The tribes ran rampant in the East for a time, sacking Londinium (Lindum) (London) and killing the hastily raised militia there. Paulinus abandoned the City as he could not defend it.
With about one Legione and a half, he later anchored both his flanks with forests and cavalry and destroyed the rebels (numbering 50-75,000)who obligingly pressed themselves against the Roman front so tightly that it was hard for them to anything but fall.
JOHN T
Events
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For what it is worth, the Legions (Legiones) in Britain (Britannica) at the time of the famous revolt of the Iceni (ancient Celtic tribe) were: Legio XIV Gemina (later Gemina MArtia Vitrix) Legio II Augusta, Legio IX Hispana (Pretty clear where this Legion was originally raised) and Legio XX Valeria Virtix.
Each Legion was likely to have it's own shield pattern and each Legionary swore loyalty first to the Eagle of the Legion, which may explain why some Legiones as military formations survived from the time of Julius Caesar until the collapse of the Empire in the West. (Around 471 CE).
The Governor (Suetonius Paulinus) of Britain at the time of the of the Revolt (55 CE) had a tough political row to hoe. He had to keep Nero happy (not an easy task) finish Rome's conquest of what are now parts of Wales and tunr Britain into a money making province for the Empire.
Events would conspire against him. Apparently while he was on campaign in the West, the King of the Iceni (who had left his kingdom to the Empire and his two daughters) passed away. Nero's revenue agents were quickly on hand. They allegedly raped his wife and perhaps his daughters and made off with whatever they could load up.
Boudicia (many spellings) the "said" Wife took unkindly to this and the "Iceni flew to arms and stirred to revolt the Trinovantes and others who, not yet cowed by slavery, had agreed in secret conspiracy to reclaim their freedom" (Tacitus).
The tribes ran rampant in the East for a time, sacking Londinium (Lindum) (London) and killing the hastily raised militia there. Paulinus abandoned the City as he could not defend it.
With about one Legione and a half, he later anchored both his flanks with forests and cavalry and destroyed the rebels (numbering 50-75,000)who obligingly pressed themselves against the Roman front so tightly that it was hard for them to anything but fall.
JOHN T
Events
------------------