Legio IV Flavia Felix

Legio IIII "Flavia Felix" ("serene Flavian legion"), was a Roman legion levied by Vespasian in 70, from the ashes of the Legio IIII "Macedonica". The legion was active in Moesia Superior in the first half of the 4th century. The legion symbol was a lion.

During the Batavian rebellion, the IIII "Macedonica" fought for Vespasian, but the emperor distrusted his men, probably because they had supported Vitellius two years before. Therefore IIII "Macedonica" was disbanded, and a new Fourth legion, called "Flavian Felix" was levied by the emperor, who gave the legio his nomen, "Flavia". Since the symbol of the legion is a lion, it was probably levied in July/August 70.

IIII "Flavia Felix" was camped in "Burnum", Dalmatia (modern Kistanje), where it replaced XI "Claudia". After the Dacian invasion of 86, Domitian moved the legion to Moesia Superior, in "Singidunum", although there is some evidence of the presence of this legion, of one of its "vexillationes" in "Viminacium", base of VII "Claudia". In 88 the Fourth participated to the retaliation invasion of Dacia; it also participated in the Dacian Wars of Trajan, ending with the victory at the Battle of Tapae.

Monuments of IIII Flavia Felix have been found at Aquincum (Budapest). This suggests that a subunit replaced II Adiutrix during its absence during the wars of Lucius Verus against the Parthian empire (162-166).

In the Marcomannic Wars ( 166-180 AD ), the fourth fought on the Danube against the Germanic tribes.

After the death of Pertinax, the IIII "Flavia Felix" supported Septimius Severus against usurpers Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus.

The legion may have fought in one of the several wars against the Sassanids, but stayed in Moesia Superior until the first half of the 4th century.

This Roman Legion was featured in the beginning of Gladiator where Maximus Decimus Meridius was the Legion commander, leading the campaign in Germania against the Marcomani.

ee also

*List of Roman legions
*Roman legion
*Legio IIII "Macedonica"

External links

* [http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/iiii_flavia_felix.html livius.org account of Legio IIII Flavia Felix]
* [http://www.romanarmy.com/legioiiiiff/ Reenactment Legion based in Southern Ontario, Canada portraying IIII Flavia Felix]