Legio VI Ferrata

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Legio VI Ferrata

Legio VI Ferrata (6th Legion Ironclad), was a Roman Legion
Roman legion

The Roman Legion is a term that can apply both as a translation of legio to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly , to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire....
formed in 65 BC, and in existence up to at least 215 AD. It served under Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars
Gallic Wars

The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the Roman Republic proconsul Julius Caesar against several Gaul, lasting from 58 BC to 51 BC....
(58–51 BC), and in the various Civil Wars
Roman civil wars

List of civil wars involving Rome. There were several Roman civil wars, especially during the time of the late Roman Republic....
of the Roman Republic in the years before and after Caesar's assassination (49–30 BC). Sent to garrison the province of Judea, it remained there for the next two centuries.

The Legion was also known as Fidelas Constans, meaning "Loyal and Steady".

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Legio VI Ferrata (6th Legion Ironclad), was a Roman Legion
Roman legion

The Roman Legion is a term that can apply both as a translation of legio to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly , to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire....
formed in 65 BC, and in existence up to at least 215 AD. It served under Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars
Gallic Wars

The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the Roman Republic proconsul Julius Caesar against several Gaul, lasting from 58 BC to 51 BC....
(58–51 BC), and in the various Civil Wars
Roman civil wars

List of civil wars involving Rome. There were several Roman civil wars, especially during the time of the late Roman Republic....
of the Roman Republic in the years before and after Caesar's assassination (49–30 BC). Sent to garrison the province of Judea, it remained there for the next two centuries.

The Legion was also known as Fidelas Constans, meaning "Loyal and Steady". It is unclear when this title was given, but several sources indicate that it may have been in the 1st century AD. The symbol for Legio VI Ferrata was the bull. It also carried the symbolic she-wolf with Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus

Romulus and Remus are the traditional Founding Fathers of Rome, appearing in Roman mythology as the twin sons of the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia, fathered by the god of war, Mars ....
.

History

Under Caesar
The 6th, along with the 7th
Legio VII Claudia

[Image:Antoninianus-Gallienus-l7claudia-RIC 0348-j-v.jpg|thumb|300px|Gallienus coin, celebrating LEG VII CLA VI P VI F Legio septima Claudia was a Roman legion....
, 8th and 9th
Legio IX Hispana

Legio nona Hispana , sometimes known as Legio IX Hispana was a Roman legion. The legion's symbol is unknown, likely a Taurus , as other legions created by Caesar....
Legions were all founded by Pompey
Pompey

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'p?mpi/, Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir , was a distinguished military and political leader of the late Roman Republic....
in Spain in 65 BC. They were ordered to Cisalpine Gaul
Cisalpine Gaul

Cisalpine Gaul was the Roman name for a geographical area , in the territory of modern-day northern Italy , inhabited by the Celts. Sometimes referred to as Gallia Citerior , Provincia Ariminum, or Gallia Togata ....
in 58 BC by Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar

'Gaius Julius Caesar' , July 13, 100 BC ? March 15, 44 BC,) was a Roman Republic military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, where it marched with him through out the entire Gallic Wars
Gallic Wars

The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the Roman Republic proconsul Julius Caesar against several Gaul, lasting from 58 BC to 51 BC....
.

Later seeing action at battle of Pharsalus
Battle of Pharsalus

The Battle of Pharsalus was a decisive battle of Caesar's civil war. On August 9, 48 BC, the battle was fought at Pharsalus in central Greece between forces of the Populares faction and forces of the Optimates faction....
in 48 BC, Julius Caesar took the 6th to Alexandria
Alexandria

Alexandria , with a population of 4.1 million, is the second-largest city in Egypt, and is the country's largest seaport, serving about 80% of Egypt's imports and exports....
to settle the dispute in Egypt with Cleopatra. Alexandria was besieged
Siege of Alexandria (47 BC)

The Siege of Alexandria was a series of skirmishes and battles occurring between the forces of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator between 48 and 47 BC....
, and the 6th was suffered many casualties, losing almost two-thirds of its strength. Caesar eventually triumphed when reinforcements under Mithridates of Pergamum
Mithridates I of the Bosporus

Mithridates I of the Bosporus was a leading citizen of Pergamon and possibly one of the many bastard sons of the famous King Mithridates VI of Pontus....
arrived.

Caesar took his "Veteran Sixth Legion" with him to 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....
and Pontus
Pontus

Pontus or Pontos is a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in Antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Pontos Euxeinos , or simply Pontos....
.
"When Caesar reached Pontus he gathered all his forces together in one spot. They were modest in number and experience of war, with the exception of the veteran Sixth Legion, which he had brought with him from Alexandria; but this had gone through such toil and danger and been so reduced in size, in part by the difficulties of the marches and voyages, and in part by the frequency of campaigning, that it contained less than a thousand men..."

The Legion served in Pontus under Caesar in 48 and 47 BC. This culminated in the battle of Zela
Battle of Zela

The Battle of Zela was a battle fought in 47 BC between Julius Caesar and Pharnaces II of Pontus....
where victory was won by Legio VI.
"The origin of our victory lay in the bitter and intense hand-to-hand battle joined on the right wing, where the veteran Sixth Legion was stationed".

"Caesar was quite overjoyed at such a victory, although he had been victorious in many battles. He had brought a major war to an astonishingly rapid end... He ordered the Sixth Legion back to Italy
Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia....
to receive their rewards and honors..."

During Caesar's African war against Scipio
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica

File:Silver denarius of Metellus Scipio 47 46 BCE.jpgQuintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica was a Roman consul and military commander in the Roman Republic....
in 46 BC, the Sixth Legion deserted en masse from Scipio to reinforce Caesar and fought under him.

Under Mark Antony
The legion was disbanded in 45 BC after the battle of Munda
Battle of Munda

The Battle of Munda took place on March 17, 45 BC in the plains of Munda, modern southern Spain. This was the last battle of Julius Caesar's Caesar's civil war against the conservative republicans....
, establishing a colony
Colonia (Roman)

A Roman colonia was originally a Roman Empire outpost established in conquered territory to secure it. Eventually, however, the term came to denote the highest status of Roman city....
at Arelate (Arles
Arles

Arles is a city in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rh?ne Departments of France, of which it is a Subprefectures in France, in the former Provinces of France of Provence....
), but was re-formed by Lepidus
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir)

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus ,born ca 90 BC died 13 BC, was a patrician Ancient Rome politician of the 1st century BC who rose to become a member of the Second Triumvirate and Pontifex Maximus....
the following year (44 BC) and was handed over to Mark Antony
Mark Antony

Marcus Antonius , known in English as Marc Antony, was a Roman Republic politician and General. He was an important supporter and the best friend of Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator, being Caesar's second cousin, once removed, by his mother Julia Antonia....
the year after. Following the defeat of the republican generals Cassius
Gaius Cassius Longinus

For other individuals with a similar name, see Cassius Longinus.Gaius Cassius Longinus was a Roman Republic Roman Senate, the prime mover in the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, and the brother in-law of Marcus Junius Brutus....
and Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus

File:Portrait Brutus Massimo.jpgMarcus Junius Brutus or Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, often referred to simply as Brutus, was a Roman Senate of the late Roman Republic....
in successive battles at Philippi
Battle of Philippi

The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Liberators' civil war between the forces of Mark Antony and Augustus against the forces of Julius Caesar's assassins Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus in 42 BC, at Philippi in Macedonia ....
in 42 BC and the subsequent division of control between Mark Antony and Caesar's nephew and heir Octavian, a colony was again formed from retired veterans at Beneventum
Benevento

Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato....
in 41 BC, and the remainder of Legio VI Ferrata was taken by Mark Antony to the East where it garrisoned Judea
Judea

Judea or Jud?a is the name given to the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel , an area now divided between Israel and the West Bank ....
.

Two legions under Mark Antony and Octavian
Another Sixth Legion, Legio VI Victrix
Legio VI Victrix

Legio sexta Victrix was a Roman legion founded by Augustus in 41 BC. It was the twin legion of Legio VI Ferrata and perhaps held veterans of that legion, and some soldiers kept to the traditions of the Caesarian legion....
, evidently saw action at Perusia
Perusia

The ancient Perusia, now Perugia, first appears in history as one of the 12 confederate cities of Etruria. It is first mentioned in the account of the war of 310 BC or 309 BC between the Etruscans and the Roman Republic....
in 41 BC, which presents us with a problem because the official Legio VI Ferrata was at that moment with Mark Antony in the East;
"Octavian did not hesitate to duplicate legionary numerals already in use by Antony. The latter had serving with him Legio V Alaudae
Legio V Alaudae

Legio quinta Alaudae sometimes known as Gallica, was levied by Julius Caesar in 52 BC from native Gauls. Their emblem was an elephant, and their cognomen Alaudae came from the high crest on their helmets, typical of the Gauls, which made them look like larks....
, Legio VI Ferrata and Legio X Equestris
Legio X Equestris

Legio X Equestris was a Roman legion, levied by Julius Caesar. Legio X was the "most famous legion of its day", in part due to the fact that it took the leading role in most of Caesar's Gallic battles....
. Soon we find Octavian's army boasting of a Legio V (the later Macedonica
Legio V Macedonica

Legio quinta Macedonica was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied by consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Augustus in 43 BC, and it existed in Moesia at least until 5th century....
), Legio VI (the later Victrix) and Legio X (soon to be Fretensis
Legio X Fretensis

Legio decima Fretensis of the sea strait") was a Roman legion levied by Augustus in 41/40 BC to fight during the period of Roman Civil War that started the dissolution of the Roman Republic....
). Of these, Legio V and Legio X, and less certainly Legio VI, bore under the empire a bull-emblem which would normally indicate a foundation by Caesar; but the true Caesarian legions with these numerals (Alaudae, Ferrata and Equestris) were with Antony."

It would seem, therefore, that Octavian had used the veterans of Caesar's Sixth Legion, this time from those left at Beneventum, to form the core of his own Sixth Legion used at Perusia.

Later Legio VI Ferrata fought in Antony's Parthian War
Antony's Parthian War

Antony's Parthian War or the Roman-Parthian War of 40-33 BC was a conflict following the Battle of Carrhae, between the Roman Republic, represented in the East by the triumvirate Mark Antony, and the Parthians....
in 36 BC.

During the war between Antony and Octavian
Final war of the Roman Republic

The final war of the Roman Republic, also known as Antony's civil war or the war between Antony and Octavian, was last of the Roman civil wars of the Roman republic, fought between Cleopatra and Augustus....
the Legio VI's Ferrata and Victrix found themselves on opposing sides at the Battle of Actium
Battle of Actium

The Battle of Actium was the final engagement in the Final War of the Roman Republic. It was fought between the forces of Augustus and the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII....
in 31 BC. Legio VI Ferrata was severely mauled by Octavian's forces. Following the battle, another colony of veterans seems to have been created at Byllis
Byllis

Byllis was at first an Illyrian settlement of the Bylliones. The settlement was refounded as city, now a Hellenic Byllis. Later on the population became Latin speaking....
in Illyricum
Illyricum (Roman province)

The Roman province of Illyricum replaced the formerly independent kingdom of Illyria. It stretched from the Drin River river in modern Albania to Istria in the west and to the Sava river in the north....
, probably together with soldiers from other legions, and the remainder of VI Ferrata was moved to 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....
/Judea
Iudaea Province

Iudaea was a Roman province that extended over the former region of the Hasmonean and Herodian kingdoms of Israel. It was named after the tetrarchy of Judea of which it was an expansion, the latter name deriving from the Kingdom of Judah of the 6th century BCE....
where it was to remain, while Legio VI Victrix was sent to Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
.

In Judea
From 54 AD to 68 AD the Sixth Legion Ferrata served under Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo

Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo was a Ancient Rome general....
at Artaxata
Artashat

Artashat is a city on the Araks River in the Ararat valley. It is the provincial capital of the Ararat in Armenia. Once one of the oldest cities of Armenia, today Artashat is one of the modern cities of Armenia....
and Tigranocerta
Tigranakert

Tigranakert was a city near present-day Silvan, Turkey, east of Diyarbakir. It was founded by the Armenian Emperor Tigranes the Great in the 1st century BC....
against the Parthians. In 69 AD the Sixth Legion returned to Judea and fought in the Jewish War. As the War wound down, it was placed under the command of Mucianus
Mucianus

Gaius Licinius Mucianus was a general, statesman, and writer of ancient Rome.His name shows that he had passed by adoption from the Mucius to the Licinius gens....
and fought against Vitellius
Vitellius

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius , was a Roman Emperors who reigned from 16 April 69 to 22 December of the same year....
. The Legion was largely responsible for Mucianis' victory over the forces of Vitellius during the brief Civil War
Year of the Four Emperors

The Year of the Four Emperors was a year in the history of the Roman Empire, AD 69, in which four emperors ruled in a remarkable succession. These four emperors were Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian....
following the death of Nero
Nero

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus , born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and final Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty....
.

In 106 AD the Legion can be placed at Bostra
Bosra

Bosra is an ancient city administratively belonging to the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria. It is a major archaeological site and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
in Nabatea
Nabataean kingdom

The Nabataean kingdom, also named Nabatea , was a political state of the Nabataeans which existed during Classical antiquity and was annexed by the Roman Empire in AD 106 ....
under Aulus Cornelius Palma Frontonianus. In 138 AD the Legion was stationed in Palestine
Iudaea Province

Iudaea was a Roman province that extended over the former region of the Hasmonean and Herodian kingdoms of Israel. It was named after the tetrarchy of Judea of which it was an expansion, the latter name deriving from the Kingdom of Judah of the 6th century BCE....
, but was briefly sent to Africa
Africa Province

File:Roman Africa.JPGThe Roman province of Africa was established after the Romans defeated Carthage in the Third Punic War. It roughly comprised the territory of present-day northern Tunisia, north-eastern Algeria and the Mediterranean Sea coast of modern-day western Libya along the Syrtis Minor....
during the reign of Antonius Pius. In 150 AD the Legion was once again in Judea
Judea

Judea or Jud?a is the name given to the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel , an area now divided between Israel and the West Bank ....
, and the last reference found to Legio VI Ferrata places them still there in in 215 AD.

Legacy
The Legion's long sojourn in Palestine left a lasting trace in the country's geography and culture, long past the end of the Legion itself and the Roman Empire in general, and up to the present. Being posted to guard the strategic pass at Meggido during the Bar Kokhba revolt, the place where it had its camp remained known throughout the centuries by the name "Lajun" (derived from "Legion"). In Ottoman
Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299?1923. It was Treaty of Lausanne by the Republic of Turkey, which was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923....
times a Khan
Caravanserai

A caravanserai was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information, and people across the network of trade routes covering Asia, North Africa, and South-Eastern Europe....
erected in that location was known as "Khan al-Lajun", and a Palestinian village of that name existed there until the creation of Israel
Israel

Israel officially the State of Israel , is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area....
in the 1948 war, when it was destroyed and replaced with Kibbutz Meggido. Former inhabitants of Lajun Village still conduct a kind of annual pilgrimage to its ruins and preserve the name for later generations born after the village was destroyed - though few remember the name's Roman origin.

See also

List of Roman legions
List of Roman legions

This is a list of Roman legions, including key facts about each legion,primarily focusing on Principate legions, for which there exists substantial literary, epigraphic and archaeological evidence....
Roman legion
Roman legion

The Roman Legion is a term that can apply both as a translation of legio to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly , to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire....

External links