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The Legio I Maximiana (of Maximian) was a comitatensis Roman legion, probably created by Emperor Diocletian in 296 or 297 AD. [1] The legion was named after Maximianus, a colleague of Diocletian. [1] The I Maximiana was formed together with II Flavia Constantia, to garrison the newly created province Thebaidos, in Aegyptus. As well as protect it from neighboring tribes. [1] Since no Legio I Maximiana is listed as being stationed at Thebes in the Notitia Dignitatum , the designation is interpreted more broadly as of the Thebaid in general. There is also a detachment comitatenses legion known as Legio I Maximiana Thebanorum or Thebaeorum ("Maximian legion of the Thebans"), which is separate unit mentioned in Notitia Dignitatum.
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In 354, I Maximiana was located in Thrace, in the city of Adrianople. [1] Thus it is likely that it fought in the Battle of Adrianople, in 378, when emperor Valens was defeated by Goths. According to Notitia Dignitatum , the I Maximiana Thebanorum was still under Thracian command at the start of the 5th century, while the I Maximiana was in Philae (Egypt, south of Aswan), under the dux Thebaidos. There exists also a Theban Legion in the legend of Saint Maurice from the 5th century. According to that tradition, this (Prima Maximiana Thebanorum) was a legion from Thebes that was ordered to move by Maximian. Thus it is sometimes related to I Maximiana. However, according to tradition, the Theban Legion of Saint Maurice was martyred in 286, while the I Maximiana was not founded until ten years later.
