Legio I Illyricorum

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The Legio I Illyricorum was a Roman Legion stationed in Qasr el-Azraq and Palmyra; it is mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum . [1] According to many ancient sources, it was stationed within the Eastern Half of the Roman Empire, under emperor Aurelian.

Contents

History

This Legio I Ilyricorum was founded by the Roman Emperor Aurelian. [2] [3] The legion was made up entirely of soldiers who lived near the Danube river. [4] [5] In either 272 or 273 the legion would fight under Aurelian against the Palmyrene Empire. [4] [6] After the defeat of the Palmyrene Empire the legion remained in the east. They were based in Qasr el-Azraq and garrisoned Palmyra. [4] [5] [6] [7] The purpose of the legion was to prevent any more uprisings. During Diocletian's and Galerius' reigns the legion was transferred to the Camp of Diocletian near Palmyra. [8] [9] 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. [5] Later, the Legion was transferred back to Palmyra. [6] Sometime in the third century a unit of Moorish cavalry from the I Illyricorum would replace the Legio X Fretensis in Eilat. [10]

Attested members

NameRankTime FrameSource
VictorinusDuxUnknown [6]
Aurelius OnesimusLegionaryUnknown [6]

See also

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