Legio I Illyricorum
The Legio I Illyricorum was a Roman Legion stationed in Qasr el-Azraq and Palmyra; it is mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum.
History
This Legio I Ilyricorum was founded by the Roman Emperor Aurelian. The legion was made up entirely of soldiers who lived near the Danube river.[1][2]In either 272 or 273 the legion would fight under Aurelian against the Palmyrene Empire.[1][3]After the defeat of the Palmyrene Empire the legion remained in the east. They were based in Qasr el-Azraq and garrisoned Palmyra.[1][2][3][4]The purpose of the legion was to prevent any more uprisings. During Diocletian's and Galerius' reigns the legion was transferred to a "Diocletianic Camp" near Palmyra. During the reign of emperor Licinius soldiers from the I Illyricorum would be transferred to Egypt and Cyrene. The commander of the soldiers at the time was Victorinus.[2] Later, the Legion was transferred back to Palmyra.[3]
Attested Members
Name | Rank | Time Frame | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Victorinus | Dux | Unknown | [3] |
Aurelius Onesimus | Legionary | Unknown | [3] |
References
- Pollard, Nigel (2000). Soldiers, Cities, And Civilizations in Roman Syria. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press.
- "Legio I Illyricorum - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
- Intagliata, Emanuele (2018). Palmyra after Zenobia. Oxbow.
- Merrony, Mark (2017). The Plight of Rome in the Fifth Century A.D. New York: Routledge.