Legio I Germanica ( First Legion "Germanic"), was a legion of the Imperial Roman army, possibly founded in 48 BC by Julius Caesar to fight for him in the civil war against Pompey. The title germanic is a reference to its service in the Germanic Wars, rather than the place of origin of its soldiers. After the Revolt of the Batavi (AD 70), the remaining men of the Germanica were added to Galba's seventh legion, which became VII Gemina. The emblem of Legio I is unknown, but it was probably Taurus, like all the other legions levied by Caesar (except the V Alaudae).

Origin

There are three theories about I Germanica recruitment. The most favored is that it was raised by Julius Caesar in 48 BC to fight in the civil war against Pompey. The Legion first saw action at the Battle of Dyrracchium. In that case it would have fought in the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. Another claim is that the legion was raised by Pompey and it fought against Caesar at Pharsalus, Thaspus, and Munda.

The third theory attributes its recruitment to Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus, a partisan of Caesar, who died in the Battle of Forum Gallorum against Mark Antony in 43 BC. Legio I would have been recruited in that year for that campaign.

However recruited, Legio I was inherited by Augustus and therefore ought to have been entitled to the cognomen Augusta after distinguished service under his eyes; however, there was no Legio I Augusta. That title was stripped after a defeat in the Cantabrian Wars and the loss of its standard to the Astur and Cantabrian peoples.

The legion would fight against Sextus Pompey in Sicilly in 36 BCE. After Augustus lost a battle, he requested the Legio I Germanica as reinforcements. Each centurion then passed before the tribunal to be approved or disapproved. The approved kept their rank. The disapproved were discharged from the service. The terms of the agreement were faithfully kept. Germanicus returned to Rome.

I Germanica went back to duty, but not exactly with honor. It remained in Germania Inferior fighting in all the major campaigns along the Rhine and the Danube.

After the dissolution of the Cologne fortress the legion was moved to Bonn.

Gaius Julius Vindex's revolt against Nero

During the year 67 AD emperor Nero's position as emperor became unstable. When the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, Servius Sulpicius Galba, rebelled against Nero, both of them supported him.

It would be several months before emperor Vespasian could muster a strong force, led by Quintus Petillius Cerialis, to restore control over the Rhineland and subdue the Batavian revolt. In the wake of this, the remains of I Germanica were combined with Legio VII Galbiana to become the VII Gemina. The legion was probably disbanded in the year 70.

Attested members

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

! Name

! Rank

! Time frame

! Province

! Source

|-

| Fabius Valens

| legatus legionis

| 68-69

| Germania

| Tacitus, Histories I.57

|-

| Herennius Gallus

| legatus legionis

| 69-70

| Germania

| Tacitus, Histories IV.19

|-

| Torquatus Novellus Atticus

| tribunus laticlavius

| before 30

| Germania

| = ILS 950

|}

See also

  • List of Roman legions

Notes

References

  • livius.org account