Legio VI Victrix

When Julius Caesar moved north in his official capacity as governor of Illyricum and the Gallic provinces in 58bce, a Legio VI was one of the garrison units he found on his arrival. Raised in Cisalpine Gaul in 52, Caesar’s Sixth Legion served with him during his tenure as governor and was withdrawn to Spain in 49, later seeing action at Pharsalus, Alexandria and Munda, during which time it earned the name Ferrata, meaning ‘Ironclad’. The legion was disbanded in 45 establishing a colony at Arelate (Arles), but was re-formed by Lepidus the following year and given over to Marcus Antonius the year after that. Following the defeat of the republican generals Cassius and Brutus in successive battles at Philippi in 42 and the subsequent division of control between Antony and Octavian, a colony was again formed from retired veterans at Beneventum in 41 and the remainder of Legio VI Ferrata was taken by Antony to the East.

Another Legio VI evidently saw action at Perusia in 41bce, which presents us with a problem because the official Legio VI Ferrata was at that moment with Anthony in the East. This is explained in Lawrence Keppie’s excellent book The Making of the Roman Army – from Republic to Empire (p.134):

“Octavian did not hesitate to duplicate legionary numerals already in use by Antony. The latter had serving with him V Alaudae, VI Ferrata and X Equestris. Soon we find Octavian’s army boasting of a V (the later Macedonica), VI (the later Victrix) and X (soon to be Fretensis). Of these, V and X, and less certainly 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.” (Keppie, p.134)

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

Incidentally, Antony’s VI Ferrata was severely mauled at the Battle of Actium in 31bce by the forces loyal to Caesar’s nephew and heir, Octavian. Following Actium, another colony of veterans seems to have been created at Byllis, probably together with soldiers from other legions, whereafter the remainder of VI Ferrata was moved to Syria where it was to remain.

In conclusion, it is possible that both Octavian’s VI Victrix and Anthony’s VI Ferrata, originated from Caesar’s Sixth Legion.

Legio Sextae Victrix Service in Spain

The campaigns of Marcus Agrippa against the Cantabrian and Asturian tribes of Spain between 27-13bce was to be very costly in terms of Roman manpower. Agrippa was to use seven legions during these campaigns, of which only four survived. The pacification of the Spanish tribes must have been complete, however, as the strength of the resident garrison was reduced in AD9 by the removal of Legio II Augusta to Strasbourg, leaving three legions to secure Spain; IV Macedonica, VI Hispaniensis and X Gemina.

Boundary stones marking the extent of the prata legionis (‘legion’s pastureland’) of Legio IV Macedonica, prove that this legion was stationed at or near Aguilar de Campo on the Pisurga River. The name Aguilar derives from the Latin Aquila or ‘Eagle’, and the modern place name may be translated as ‘The Field of Eagles’, indicative perhaps, of the time when the Eagles of the Roman legions held dominion over the area. Unfortunately, the legionary fortresses of the other two remaining units of the late Augustan garrison, Legio VI Hispaniensis and Legio X Gemina, are not certainly known, but probably occupied sites securing the valleys of tributaries of the Douro.

Colonia Caesarea Augusta (Zaragoza) was probably established in 19bce by veterans from legions IV, VI and X.

Legio VI became known as Hispaniensis from its service in Spain but the date of the award is not known. The origin of the title Victrix (literally ‘Victorious’) is pre-Augustan, and was awarded after an outstanding victory, perhaps during the campaigns of Marcus Agrippa against the Astures (see Legio II Augusta).

In Batavian Campaign Against Civilis

Legio VI Victrix was one of three legions (others being I Adiutrix and X Gemina) taken from Spain in AD69, that comprised part of the Flavian force of nine legions under Mucianus, sent to counter the Revolt of Civilis. In the general shake-up of the legions following the revolt, made primarily to ensure no disharmonious factions were left within the Rhine armies, VI Victrix was stationed at Novaesium on the Rhine.

It is possible that VI Victrix was reduced in strength during the second Dacian war when vexillations from the Rhine army were used to reinforce the Danube frontier. Several cohorts of IX Hispana could then have been sent from Britain as replacements for VI Victrix at Vetera on the Lower Rhine c. AD108.

Movements in Britain

It is thought that Legio VI Victrix was brought to Britain from [Vetera? in] Germany in AD122 by Platorius Nepos when he assumed governorship of the province. It is around this time that Legio IX Hispana disappeared from Britain, and the Sixth Legion may have been sent to replace it.

The Sixth Legion was certainly present at the very start of construction on Hadrian’s Wall as they are attributed with the construction of the first bridge over the River Tyne at Pons Aelius (Newcastle) in AD122, also at many forts and stations along the barrier wall.

Vexillations of VI Victrix and Legio XX Valeria Victrix, were used in construction work on the Antonine Wall, along with almost all of Legio II Augusta during the governorship of Quintus Lollius Urbicus in the period AD139 to 142.

A dedication was set up at the legionary supply base at Corbridge (Corstopitum) by an officer of VI Victrix to Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger), under Julius Verus; this may be dated to the revolt of the Brigantes tribe in AD155 which was ultimately to cause the withdrawal of troops from the Antonine Wall back to Hadrian’s Wall.

Active in Caledonian Campaigns of Severus

In response to raids by northern tribes, between AD197 and 205 Septimus Severus reorganised the forces, including VI Victrix along Hadrian’s Wall. During the years AD208-211 the situation in Britain warranted the personal attention of the emperor. Severus himself took to action in the field with his son Caracalla fighting beside him. Presumably VI Victrix was used during these campaigns against the barbarous Minor Northern Tribes.

Following the death of Severus, Caracalla returned to Rome where he issued coins in AD212 celebrating a victory, presumably over the Caledoni Celtic Tribe of northern Britain. Vexillations of VI Victrix and Legio II Augusta were left behind as an occupying garrison, stationed at Carpow on the south bank of the Tay and possibly also at Cramond near Edinburgh on the Firth of Forth.

Documentary Evidence for Legio VI Victrix in Britain

Ptolemy’s Geography; early second century ad

‘… Below the Selgovae and Otalini are the Brigantes extending to both seas, among whom are the following towns: … Eboracum,¹ Legio VI Victrix 20*00 57°20 …’

  1. York (Eburacum) Roman Settlement

See The Geography of Ptolemy .

The Antonine Itinerary; late second century ad

ITER I – A limite, id est a vallo, Praetorio usque mpm. clvi … Eburacum, leg. vi victrix, xvii …
“Route One – From the frontier at the entrenchments¹ to Praetorium,² one hundred and fifty-six thousand paces. … Colonia Eboracensium³ and the Sixth Victorious Legion, seventeen [miles from Aldborough] …”
  1. i.e. Hadrian’s Wall.
  2. Praetorium aut Praesidium (Bridlington, Humberside).
  3. Colonia Eboracensium (York, North Yorkshire).

See Antonine Itinerary.

The Notitia Dignitatum; 4th/5th century ad

XL … Sub dispositione uiri spectabilis ducis Britanniarum: Praefectus legionis sextae …
“Chapter Forty … At the disposal of the respectable man, the Duke of the Britains: The prefect of the Sixth Legion …”

See The Notitia Dignitatum.

Epigraphic Evidence for Legio VI Victrix in Britain

London (Londinium)

RIB 11 - Funerary inscription for Flavius Agricola

To the spirits of the departed: Flavius Agricola, soldier of the Sixth Legion Victrix, lived 42 years, 10 days Albia Faustina had this made for her peerless husband.

D M
FL AGRICOLA MIL
LEG VI VICT V AN
XLII D X ALBIA
FAVSTINA CONIVGI
INCONPARABILI
F C

The stone mentions a wife married to a soldier during his term of service. As this practice was first allowed by Septimius Severus (Herodian iii 8, 5), this text must be later in Britain than A.D. 197.


Bath (Aquae Sulis)

RIB 139 - Altar dedicated to the Genius Loci

To the Genius of this place … of the Sixth Legion Victrix, Forianus gladly, willingly, and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

GENIO LOCI
[..] IΛ [.] N P
[...]
[...]
[.] LEG VI [...]
FORIANVS
V S L L M

No commentary.


RIB 143 - Altar dedicated to Sulis

To the goddess Sulis for the welfare and safety of Marcus Aufidius Maximus, centurion of the Sixth Legion Victrix, Aufidius Eutuches, his freedman, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

[...]EAE SVLI
PRO SALVTE ET
INCOLVMITA
[...] MAR AVFID[...]
[...]AXIMI 𐆛 LEG
VI VIC
[...]VFIDIVS EV
TVCHES LEB
V S L M

This is presumably subsequent to the transfer of legio VI to Britain about a.d. 122.


RIB 144 - Altar dedicated to Sulis

To the goddess Sulis for the welfare and safety of Aufidius Maximus, centurion of the Sixth Legion Victrix, Marcus Aufidius Lemnus, his freedman, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

DEAE SVLI
[...]RO SALVTE ET
[...]NCOLVMITATE
AVFIDI MAXIMI
𐆛 LEG VI VIC M
AVFIDIVS LEMNVS
LIBERTVS V S L M

For the cognomen Lemnus see CIL vi 8499 (ILS 1489), CIL vi 8450 (ILS 1490) Rome.


Lincoln (Colonia Lindum) Roman Settlement

RIB 252 - Funerary inscription for Gaius Julius Calenus

To the spirits of the departed (and) of Gaius Julius Calenus, of the Galerian voting-tribe, from Lyons, veteran from the Sixth Legion Victrix Pia Fidelis his heir made this to the memory of him.

DIS MANIB
G IVLI GAL
CALENI LVG
VET EX LEG VI
VIC P F H A SE M F

Calenus is the name of an Aeduan ( iii 35), and of a potter who also used a stamp galen (Oswald Stamps). Lugdunum, now Lyons, the capital of Gallia Lugdunensis.


Manchester (Mamucio) Roman Fort

RIB 575 - Altar dedicated to Fortuna Conservatrix

To Fortuna Conservatrix Lucius Senecianius Martius, centurion of the Sixth Legion Victrix (set this up).

FORTVNAE
CONSERVA
TRICI
L SENECIA
NIVS MAR
TIVS 𐆛 LEG
VI VICT

Collinson Som. i, 12 (quoted by Camden ed. Gough (1806) 1, 117) wrongly assigns it to Bath.The President and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, kindly granted access to their MS.

Tunshill Park, Milnrow, Manchester

RIB 582 - Dedication to the Victory of the Sixth Legion

To the Victory of the Sixth Legion Victrix Valerius Rufus willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

VICTORIAE
LEG VI VIC
VAL RVFVS
V S L M

This plate and the movable wristlet to which it is added appear to form an offering additional to the statuette itself. Sir George Macdonald points out that this must represent loot from the legionary headquarters at York.


Ribchester (Bremetenacvm Veteranorvm) Roman Fort

RIB 583 - Dediction to Apollo Maponus and Gordian's Own Unit of Sarmatian cavalry

To the holy god Apollo Maponus for the welfare of our Lord (the Emperor) and of Gordian’s Own Unit of Sarmatian cavalry of Bremetennacum Aelius Antoninus, centurion of the Sixth Legion Victrix, from Melitene, acting-commander and prefect, fulfilled his vow willingly, deservedly. Dedicated 31 August in the consulship of the Emperor Our Lord Gordian for the second time and of Ponpeianus.

DEO SAN
[...]POLLIÍ¡NÍ¡I MAÍ¡PON
[...]O SALVTÍ¡E D N
[...] N EQQ

The title Gordiani dates the inscription to the reign of Gordian (A.D. 238-44). 10.  Melitenis: sc. (castris). Melitene, on the River Euphrates, where legio XII Fulminata was in garrison. Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): For the date cf. RIB 882 and 883.


Slack (Cambodunum) Roman Fort

RIB 624 - Altar dedicated to Fortune

Sacred to Fortune: Gaius Antonius Modestus, centurion of the Sixth Legion Victrix Pia Fidelis, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

FORTVNAE
SACRVM
G ANTO MODES
𐆛 LEG VI VIC P F
V S L M

No commentary.


York (Eburacum) Roman Settlement

RIB 653 - Altar dedicated to the African, Italian, and Gallic Mother Goddesses

To the African, Italian, and Gallic Mother Goddesses Marcus Minucius Audens, soldier of the Sixth Legion Victrix and a pilot of the Sixth Legion, willingly, gladly, and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

MAT AF ITA GA
M MINV AVDES
MIL LEG VI VIC
GVBER LEG VI
V S L L M

4.  On gubernatores in connexion with warships see TLL s.v. gubernator. Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): This is the only British dedication to the African Matres; for the presence of Africans in Legion VI Victrix see Swan, JRPS 5 (1992), 1-33.


RIB 654 - Altar dedicated to the Mother Goddesses

To his own Mother Goddesses Marcus Rustius Massa gladly, willingly, and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

[...]ATRIBVS
SVIS MARCVS
RVSTIVS V S L
MASSA L M

The manner in which the letters v s l | l m are placed on the stone suggests that they may have been added as an afterthought.


RIB 658 - Dedication to Serapis

To the holy god Serapis Claudius Hieronymianus, legate of the Sixth Legion Victrix, built this temple from the ground.

DEO SANCTO
SERAPI
TEMPLVM A SO
LO FECIT CL HIERONY
MIANVS LEG
LEG VI VIC

4.  In PIR¹ Hieronymianus is identified with the senator mentioned in Ulpian Digest 33, 7, 12, 40, and with the governor of Cappadocia at the end of the second and beginning of the third century (Tertullian ad Scap. 3). Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): 4.  Hieronymianus (PIR² C 888) governed Cappadocia before a.d. 212, but a closer dating is not really possible: see Birley Fasti, 263-5. He must have been legate of the Sixth Legion before the creation of Britannia Inferior as a one-legion province. In Cappadocia he persecuted the Christians; according to Tertullian (ad Scap. 3) he was angered by his wife’s conversion, but RIB 658 attests his religious conviction. Note that Septimius Severus was also a devotee of Serapis (HA Sev. 17.4).


RIB 669 - Building inscriptions

a [Sixth] Legion Victrix
b [Sixth] Legion Victrix
c The century of Calpurnius Victorinus.
d The century of Antonius Primus (built) 120 (feet).
e The century of Antonius Primus … .
f (No translation).
g The century … .
h (No translation).
i The century … .
a) leg(io) [VI] Vic[t(rix)] b) leg(io) [VI] Vict(rix) c) [ (centuria) Calp]urni Vict[o]rini d) (centuria) Anton(i) Prim(i)N CXX e) (centuria) Anton(i) Prim(i) f) VNO [ ̣ ̣ ̣] MNVI [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] VIC g) (centuria) [ ̣ ̣ ̣] h) LN [ ̣] XXX i) (centuria) [ ̣ ̣ ̣]

No commentary. Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): d) and (e) Evidently duplicate stones of the same century.


RIB 670 - Funerary inscription for Aurelius Super

To the spirits of the departed (and) to Aurelius Super, centurion of the Sixth Legion, who lived 38 years, 4 months, 13 days his wife, Aurelia Censorina, set up this memorial.

D M
AVR SVPERO CENT
LEG VI QVI VIXIT ANIS
XXXVIII M IIII D XIII AVRE
LIA CENSORINA COIVNX
MEMORIAM POSSVIT

No commentary.


RIB 679 - Fragmentary funerary inscription

To the spirits of the departed […]lius Cresces, son of …, of the … voting-tribe, from …, veteran of the Sixth Legion Victrix, ..

[...] M
[...]LIVS
[...] CRESCES
[...]A VET
LEG [...] VIC
CA[...]
PRI[...]
ET V[...]

No commentary.


RIB 685 - Funerary inscription for Flavia and Saenius Augustina

To the spirits of the departed (and) of Flavia Augustina she lived 39 years, 7 months, 11 days her son, Saenius Augustinus, lived 1 year, 3 days, and […]a, (her daughter), lived 1 year 9 months, 5 days Gaius Aeresius Saenus, veteran of the Sixth Legion Victrix, had this set up for his beloved wife and himself.

D M FLAVIAE AVGVSTINAE
VIXIT AN XXXVIIII M VII D XI FILIVS
SAENIVS AVGSTINVS VIXIT AN I D III
[...]A VIXIT AN I M VIIII D V G AERESIVS
SAENVS VET LEG VI VIC CONIVGI CARI
[...]SIMAE ET SIBI F C

No commentary.


RIB 690 - Funerary inscription for Simplicia Florentina

To the spirits of the departed (and) of Simplicia Florentina, a most innocent soul, who lived ten months her father, Felicius Simplex, made this: centurion of the Sixth Legion Victrix.

D M SIMPLICIAE FLORENTINE
ANIME INNOCENTISSIME
QVE VIXIT MENSES DECEM
FELICIVS SIMPLEX PATER FECIT
𐆛 LEG VI V

l. 5 is a secondary cut in rougher lettering.


Greta Bridge Roman Fort

RIB 747 - Inscription

… fallen down through age, under the charge of … centurion of the Sixth Legion Victrix … Postumius Urbanus … of Upper Britain ..

[...]IING POSI
[...]HOÍ¡EVÍ¡MOLLINI
[...  ]ILABS SVB CVRA
[...] 𐆛 LEG VI VIC
[...  ]OST VRBANVS
[...]PERIORIS
[...] CITRA
[..] EM
[...]

No commentary.

Greta Bridge (747), Watercrook (754), Braugham (783), Papcastle (884), Netherby (981), Bewcastle (997b), Cumberland Quarries (1019), Piercebridge (1025, 1027a), Binchester (1038), South Shields (1057, 1061, 1070a, 1070d, 1070e), Corbridge (1120, 1122, 1125, 1131, 1132, 1137, 1159-63, 1175), Whitley Castle (1199), Risingham (1239), High Rochester (1283, 1292), Wallsend (1305), Newcastle (1329, 1330, 1322), Rudchester (1398), Halton Chesters (1427, 1429, 1430), Chesters (1460/1, 1471), Carrawburgh (1547), Housesteads (1577, 1609), Chesterholm (1684), Great Chesters (1746), Carvoran (1779), Birdoswald (1907, 1929c), Castlesteads (2000), Stanwix (2027), Bowness (2061), Hadrian’s Wall (many), Birrens (2112, 2113), Castlecary (2146, 2148, 2151), Croy Hill (2160-63), Westerwood (2164a), Auchendavy (2185), Balmuildy (2194, 2196, 2200, 2205).