Antonininaus of Gallienus. Reverse shows centaur and the inscription "LEG II PART VI P VI F".
Active
197 to sometime in the 5th century
Country
Roman Empire
Type
Roman legion (Marian)
Role
Infantry assault (some cavalry support)
Size
Varied over unit lifetime. Approx. 5,500 fighting men + support at the time of creation.
Garrison/HQ
Castra Albana, Italia (197–218) Apamea, Syria (218–234) Moguntiacum, Germania Superior (234–238) Castra Albana (238 – beginning of the 4th century) Bezabde, Mesopotamia (in 360) Cepha, Mesopotamia (c. 400)
Nickname(s)
Parthica, "Parthian" (since 197) Pia Fidelis Felix Aeterna, "forever faithful, loyal and blest" (since 218) V Fidelis V Pia, "Five times loyal, five times faithful" (253/260) VI Fidelis VI Pia, "Six times loyal, six times faithful" (before 260)
Mascot(s)
Bull and centaur
Engagements
Septimius Severus Parthian campaign (197) Severus Britannic campaign (208–211) Caracalla Alamannic campaign (213) Battle of Antioch (218) Alexander Severus Sassanid campaign (231) Siege of Bezabde (360) vexillationes participated in many other campaigns
Commanders
Notable commanders
Septimius Severus (campaign) Caracalla (campaign) Alexander Severus (campaign)
Military unit
Legio II Parthica ("Parthian-conquering Second Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in AD 197 by the emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193–211), for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence the cognomenParthica. The legion was still active in the beginning of the 5th century. The legion's symbol was a centaur.
Legio I Parthica (Latin for "1st Parthian Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in AD 197 by the emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193–211)...
Legio III Parthica ("Parthian-conquering Third Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in AD 197 by the emperor Septimius Severus (r....
Aquileia, where he was assassinated by disaffected elements of the LegioIIParthica. Maximinus is described by several ancient sources, though only Herodian's...
Legio V Parthica (the "Fifth Parthian Legion") was a legion of the Roman Empire (and later the Byzantine Empire) garrisoned in Amida, Mesopotamia, established...
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Second Trajanian Legion Legio II Isaura, the Second Isaurian Legion LegioIIParthica, the Second Parthian Legion This disambiguation page lists articles...
the fund Albanum previously owned by Domitian, to accommodate the LegioIIParthica. This place-name hypothesis is considered the most reliable as the...
Maximian), I Minervia, I Pontica (under Diocletian), II Adiutrix, II Italica, legioIIParthica, III Italica, IIII Flavia, IIII Italica (under Alexander...
city. After four weeks, Maximinus' demoralized army mutinied and the LegioIIParthica murdered him. The situation for Pupienus and Balbinus, despite Maximinus'...
from famine and disease, while the city is besieged. Soldiers of LegioIIParthica kill him in his tent, along with his son Maximinus (who is appointed...
Augustus). The Italians formed the base of the recruitment of the LegioIIParthica, a new legion created and stationed in Italy. To be admitted to the...
these events, Macrinus travelled to Apamea to ensure the loyalty of LegioIIParthica before setting off to march against Emesa. According to Dio, Macrinus...
comitatenses, which were stationed in strategic points within the empire. LegioIIParthica, which was garrisoned in the Alban mountains outside Rome from the...
Legio IX Hispana ("9th Spanish Legion"), also written as Legio VIIII Hispana, was a legion of the Imperial Roman army that existed from the 1st century...
office (e.g. Aldo Moro and Shinzo Abe) are excluded. Assassination of William II on 2 August 1100, New Forest, England Assassination of John the Fearless on...
amphitheatre was built for the nearby Castra Albana, the fortress of the LegioIIParthica founded by the emperor Septimius Severus (193-211); however, the amphitheatre...
with the introduction of the three new legions: I, II and III Parthica. He garrisoned LegioIIParthica at Albanum, only 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Rome...
LegioII Flavia Virtutis ("brave Flavian") was a comitatensis Roman legion, levied by Emperor Constantius II (337–361), together with I Flavia Pacis and...
as Caesar. Maximinus marched on Rome but was assassinated by his LegioIIParthica, and subsequently Pupienus and Balbinus were murdered by the Praetorian...
Romans as an advanced colony against the Persians. It was the camp of legio I Parthica. Its position south-east of Nisibis was indifferently defined by ancient...
November 312—barely two weeks after Constantine captured the city. The LegioIIParthica was removed from Albano Laziale, and the remainder of Maxentius' armies...
least the early 3rd century the legio VI Ferrata was stationed in Judea. From the early 2nd century onward the legioII Adiutrix were based at Aquincum...
Notitia Dignitatum identifies Cepha as the seat of the commander of the LegioIIParthica. The bishop of Cepha is recorded as attending the Council of Chalcedon...
hence its other cognomen, Parthica. The legion was still active in the Roman province of Syria in the early 5th century. The Legio IV Scythica was founded...
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