Legio XXII Primigenia
Legio XXII Primigenia, was levied by
emperor Caligula in
39, for his campaigns in
Germania. There are still records of the XXII
Primigenia in Moguntiacum (modern
Mainz) in the end of
3rd century. The
legion's symbols were a
Capricorn and the demigod
Hercules.
XXII
Primigenia was first stationed in Moguntiacum in the
Roman province of
Germania Superior, guarding the
Rhine border as part of the
limes. Along with the rest of the Germanic army, the legion supported
Vitellius in the
Year of the four emperors (
69). During the
Batavian rebellion, XXII
Primigenia, commanded by Gaius Dillius Vocula, was the only Germanic legion that survived attacks of the rebels and stayed in its camp, defending Moguntiacum. They remained in Moguntiacum until at least the
3rd century. Later emperor
Hadrian was
tribunus militum of the XXIIth in
97-
98.
The Rhine settlement was their main camp, but
subunits of the legion participated in the building of the
Antonine wall in Scotland (
2nd century) and in the campaigns against the
Sassanid Empire (around
235).
They were still in Moguntiacum during the attack of the tribe of the
Alamanni in
235, and were responsible for the lynching of emperor
Alexander Severus, when he tried to negotiate with the enemy, and the subsequent election of
Maximinus Thrax as new emperor.
In
268, the
Primigenia probably fought under
Gallienus at the
Battle of Naissus, winning a victory over the
Goths. The following year,
Laelianus, the commander of the 22nd, became
emperor of the
Gallic empire.
*
List of Roman legions and
Roman legion*
livius.org account*
LEGIO XXII PRIMIGENIA, Ohio (USA) re-enactement group
