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50-561: The Legio II, Sabina was a Roman military unit of the late Republican era, which may have been formed by Julius Caesar in the year of the consulate of 48 BC and coincide, in this case, with the Legio II. Enlisted to fight against Pompey, they took part in the subsequent Battle of Munda of 45 BC. Alternatively it could be the Legio II, formed by the consul, Gaius Vibius Pansa in 43 BC and recruited in Sabina, hence its nickname. If this theory

100-437: A daring river crossing they marched on Ategua. After arriving at the fortified city of Ategua, Caesar began besieging it, building several camps around it. Gnaeus and Labienus marched their army around Caesar's positions, hoping to surprise him by coming in from an unexpected direction. They approached under the cover of a thick fog, surprising a number of Caesar's pickets. When the fog lifted, it became clear Caesar had taken all

150-459: A frontal attack on the enemy. These were based around four cohorts of Batavians and two cohorts of Tungri swordsmen. The Caledonians were cut down and trampled on the lower slopes of the hill. Those at the top attempted an outflanking movement but were themselves outflanked by Roman cavalry. The Caledonians were then comprehensively routed and fled for the shelter of nearby woodland, but were relentlessly pursued by well-organised Roman units. It

200-517: A matter of debate. Some Spanish historians asserted that Munda was the Roman name for modern-day Ronda , where the battle of Munda may have been fought. Other early researchers localized the battle in various other places, e.g. near Monda or Montilla , the latter having been proposed on the basis of on an earlier localization attempt that was only meant to honor a member of the French royal house, who

250-468: A second time (indeed Caesar had executed prisoners at his last major victory, at Thapsus). After an unsuccessful ploy designed to lure the Pompeians down the hill, Caesar ordered a frontal attack (with the watchword " Venus ", the goddess reputed to be his ancestor). The fighting lasted for 8 hours without a clear advantage for either side, causing the generals to leave their commanding positions and join

300-476: A short poem, Iter , describing this journey). Caesar had called for his great-nephew Octavian to join him, but due to his health, Octavian was only able to reach him after the conclusion of the campaign. When Caesar arrived in Hispania Baetica the Pompeians were laying siege to Ulia (one of the few towns which had remained loyal to Caesar). Lucius Vibius Paciaecus, one of his officers who was known to

350-399: A speech, probably fictitious), was said to be over 30,000 strong. It was stationed mostly on higher ground; its front ranks were on the level ground, but the other ranks rose in tiers, up the slope of the hill in a horseshoe formation. The Caledonian chariotry charged about on the level plain between the two armies. After a brief exchange of missiles, Agricola ordered auxiliaries to launch

400-597: Is said that the Roman Legions took no part in the battle, being held in reserve throughout. According to Tacitus, 10,000 Caledonian people died at a cost of only 360 auxiliary troops. 20,000 Caledonians retreated into the woods, where they fared considerably better against pursuing forces. Roman scouts were unable to locate the remaining Caledonian forces the next morning. The decisive victory reported by Tacitus has been criticized by some historians, however, who believe no engagement occurred. One author has suggested that

450-594: Is true, then it probably participated in the subsequent battle of Philippi of 42 BC on the side of the triumvirate, Octavian and Marc Antony . After the defeat of the Republicans, Legio II swore allegiance to Octavian and with the same remained until the Battle of Actium of 31 BC, after which it seems to have been dissolved in the years between 30 and 14 BC (sent on leave were between 105,000 and 120,000 veterans) and some of its soldiers may have been integrated into

500-506: The Battle at Cremona against the legions of Otho . Later these soldiers were defeated by those of Vespasian and returned to Britain in 70. It is possible that the main body of the legion had always been loyal towards Vespasian. Julius Frontinus , the governor of Britain from 74 to 78 ordered several campaigns against the Silures tribe and during the war the fortress of Caerleon in Wales

550-848: The Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC and Pompey's death soon afterwards. However, in April 46 BC, Caesar's forces destroyed the Pompeian army at the Battle of Thapsus . After this, military opposition to Caesar was confined to Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula , comprising modern Spain and Portugal ). During the Spring of 46 BC, two legions in Hispania Ulterior , largely formed by former Pompeian veterans enrolled in Caesar's army, had declared themselves for Gnaeus Pompeius (son of Pompey

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600-657: The Cerro de las Balas and the Llanos del Aguila near La Lantejuela. Battle of Mons Graupius The Battle of Mons Graupius was, according to Tacitus , a Roman military victory in what is now Scotland , taking place in AD 83 or, less probably, 84. The exact location of the battle is a matter of debate. Historians have long questioned some details of Tacitus's account of the fight, suggesting that he exaggerated Roman success. Tacitus states that Gnaeus Julius Agricola , who

650-532: The Durotriges and Dumnonii tribes. During the campaign the Legion marched across the south of Britain, fighting many battles against the local tribes. The Legion was first stationed at Alchester and in 49 AD it was moved to Waddon Hill . From 55 it was based at Exeter and from 66 it was possibly at Glevum . During the uprising of queen Boudica , when its praefectus castrorum Poenius Postumus , who

700-738: The Elsick Mounth , an ancient trackway used by Romans and Caledonians for military manoeuvres. Bennachie in Aberdeenshire, the Gask Ridge not far from Perth , and Sutherland have also been suggested. Historic Environment Scotland noted the uncertainty of the location as the reason for its exclusion from the Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland . According to Tacitus, 8,000 allied auxiliary infantry formed

750-659: The Grampian Mounth within sight of the North Sea . In particular, Roy, Surenne, Watt, Hogan and others have advanced notions that the high ground of the battle may have been Kempstone Hill , Megray Hill or other knolls near the Raedykes Roman Camp . Those sites in Aberdeenshire fit the historical descriptions of Tacitus and have also yielded archaeological finds related to Roman presence. In addition, these points of high ground are proximate to

800-528: The "triumph which he celebrated for this victory displeased the Romans beyond any thing. For he had not defeated foreign generals, or barbarian kings, but had destroyed the children and family of one of the greatest men of Rome." Caesar was made dictator for life, though his success was short-lived; Caesar was murdered on March 15 of the following year (44 BC) by the next generation of statesmen, led by Brutus and Cassius . The exact location of Munda has long been

850-559: The Great) and driven out Caesar's proconsul. Soon they were joined by the remnants of the Pompeian army. These forces were commanded by the brothers Gnaeus and Sextus Pompeius (sons of Pompey), Publius Attius Varus and by the talented general Titus Labienus , who had been one of the most trusted of Caesar's generals during the Gallic Wars . Using the resources of the province, they were able to raise an army of four legions . These were

900-412: The Pompeian legions were captured, a sign of complete disbandment. Titus Labienus and Attius Varus died on the field and were granted a burial by Caesar, while Gnaeus Pompeius managed to escape from the battlefield. Caesar left his legate Quintus Fabius Maximus to besiege Munda, and moved to pacify the province. Corduba surrendered: men in arms present in the town (mostly armed slaves) were executed, and

950-451: The Pompeian supply lines. Another skirmish near Soricaria on March 7 went in Caesar's favor; many Romans in the Pompeian camp began planning to defect, and Gnaeus Pompeius was forced to abandon his delaying tactics and offer battle. He broke camp and marched his army south towards the town of Munda. The two armies met in the plains of Munda in southern Spain. The Pompeian army was situated on a gentle hill, less than one mile (1.6 km) from

1000-601: The Second Legion returned to Caerleon. The legion was still there in 255. The last known mention of the Legion was the Notitia Dignitatum which places the legion at Richborough , suggesting Caerleon was abandoned. Battle of Munda The Battle of Munda (17 March 45 BC), in southern Hispania Ulterior , was the final battle of Caesar's civil war against the leaders of the Optimates . With

1050-571: The Ulians and knew the area, was sent with six cohorts (2,000-3,000 legionaries) to reinforce the defenders. Caesar himself marched his main army on Corduba hoping to draw the Pompeians from Ulia. Paciaecus arrived near Ulia during the night just when a storm swept in. Using the darkness and the rain Paciaecus marched his men through the Pompeian lines; the sentries, unable to recognize the legionary symbols, let them pass. Paciaecus slipped his men into

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1100-650: The annihilation of several legions at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest , the Legio II Augusta moved to Germania , possibly in the area of Moguntiacum . While in Germania, during the 15 AD the legion would participate in the campaigns of Germanicus against the Germanic tribes . After Germanicus was recalled the legion was stationed at Argentoratum . On its way back from Germania, the legion

1150-543: The battle occurred in Aberdeenshire at the foot of Bennachie , a very distinctive hill just south of a large marching camp at Logie Durno. Considerable debate and analysis have been conducted regarding the battle location, with the locus of most of these sites spanning Perthshire to the north of the River Dee , all in the northeast of Scotland . A number of authors have reckoned the battle to have occurred in

1200-448: The centre, while 3,000 cavalry were on the flanks, with the Roman legionaries as a reserve in front of their camp. Estimates for the size of the Roman army range from 17,000 to 30,000; although Tacitus says that 11,000 auxiliaries were engaged, along with a further four squadrons of cavalry, the number of legionaries in reserve is uncertain. The Caledonian army, which Tacitus claims was led by Calgacus (but only mentions him as giving

1250-554: The city was forced to pay a heavy indemnity. The city of Munda held out for some time, but, after an unsuccessful attempt to break the siege, surrendered, with 14,000 prisoners taken. Gaius Didius, a naval commander loyal to Caesar, hunted down most of the Pompeian ships. Gnaeus Pompeius looked for refuge on land, but was cornered during the Battle of Lauro and killed. Although Sextus Pompeius remained at large, after Munda there were no more conservative armies challenging Caesar's dominion. Upon his return to Rome, according to Plutarch ,

1300-427: The city, reinforcing the defenders. While Ulia was being reinforced, Caesar marched on towards Corduba, which was defended by Sextus Pompeius and a strong garrison. En route, Caesar's vanguard clashed with Sextus' cavalry, alerting the Pompeians to his presence. Sextus sent word to his brother that Caesar was near Corduba and requested reinforcements. Gnaeus gave up the siege of Ulia and marched to his brother's aid with

1350-415: The emperor Domitian may have been informed of the fraudulence of Agricola's claims to have won a significant victory. Despite these claims, Agricola was awarded triumphal honours and was offered another governorship in a different part of the empire, so it would seem unlikely Domitian doubted he had achieved substantial successes. Suggestions that he invented the entire episode and was thereafter shunned by

1400-403: The emperor do not seem likely, given that he was awarded honours on his return. Following this final battle, it was proclaimed that Agricola had finally subdued all the tribes of Britain. Soon afterwards he was recalled to Rome, and his post passed to Sallustius Lucullus . It is likely that Rome intended to continue the conflict, but that military requirements elsewhere in the empire necessitated

1450-532: The entire Pompeian army. Sextus had blocked or destroyed the bridge to Corduba across the Baetis . Caesar constructed a makeshift bridge and marched his army across, setting up camp near Corduba. Soon Gnaeus and Labienus arrived with the Pompeian army. Fierce skirmishes were fought on the bridge, with both sides losing many men. Caesar was looking for a decisive engagement and this was not going to be it. So during one night Caesar's army slipped out of their camp and after

1500-584: The highground around the city and was entrenched very well. Building a camp to the west (between Caesar and Ucubi), they tried to come up with a plan to dislodge their opponent from his superior position. They launched an attack on the camp of Postumius and the XXVIII, but were repulsed when Caesar sent the V, VI and X to aid their comrades. The following day Caesar was reinforced by his allies, most notably king Bogud of West-Mauretania . Under Labienus’ advice, Gnaeus Pompeius decided to avoid an open battle, and Caesar

1550-461: The last unconquered British tribe (and were never entirely subdued). After many years of avoiding the fight, the Caledonians were forced to join battle when the Romans marched on the main granaries of the Caledonians, just as they had been filled from the harvest. The Caledonians had no choice but to fight or starve over the next winter. The Battle of Mons Graupius has been a constant motif in

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1600-514: The military victory at Munda and the deaths of Titus Labienus and Gnaeus Pompeius (eldest son of Pompey ), Caesar was politically able to return in triumph to Rome , and then govern as the elected Roman dictator . Subsequently, the assassination of Julius Caesar furthered the long Republican decline that led to the Roman Empire , initiated with the reign of the emperor Augustus . The republicans had initially been led by Pompey , until

1650-634: The new Legio II Augusta. At the beginning of Augustus' rule, in 26 BC, this legion was relocated to a place north of Hispania Tarraconensis , to fight in the Cantabrian Wars . This war would definitively establish Roman power in Hispania. While the legion was in Hispania, they along with the Legio I Germanica helped build the Colonia Acci . They also constructed the city of Cartenna . With

1700-402: The ranks. As Caesar himself later said he had fought many times for victory, but at Munda he had to fight for his life. Caesar took command of his right wing, where his favorite Legio X Equestris was involved in heavy fighting. With Caesar's inspiration the tenth legion began to push back Pompeius' forces. Aware of the danger, Gnaeus Pompeius removed a legion from his own right wing to reinforce

1750-664: The revolt. The legions in Britain suffered greatly, causing reinforcements from the Germanic provinces to be brought over. In 196 Decimus Clodius Albinus , governor of Britain, declared himself emperor and the Legio II Augusta supported his claim. The legions were defeated by the current emperor, Septimus Severus. Although, while the legions were absent from Britain, the province was overrun with Pictish tribes . Emperor Severus attempted to conquer Scotland in order to stop

1800-473: The situation. Already under heavy pressure on both the left (from Legio X) and right wings (the cavalry charge), they thought Labienus was retreating. The Pompeian legions broke their lines and fled in disorder. Although some were able to find refuge within the walls of Munda, many more were killed in the rout. At the end of the battle there were about 30,000 Pompeians dead on the field; losses on Caesar's side were lighter, about 1,000. All thirteen standards of

1850-508: The study of Roman Scotland . In the 19th century, it was identified with almost every principal Roman site in Perth and Kinross from Dalginross to Blairgowrie . With the advent of aerial photography and the interpretation of crop markings in the 20th century, the focus has moved to the north-east and a series of marching camps en route to the Moray coast. This has given rise to the belief that

1900-479: The threatened left wing, which was a critical mistake. As soon as the Pompeian right wing was thus weakened, Caesar's cavalry launched a decisive attack, which turned the course of the battle. King Bogud and his Mauretanian cavalry attacked the Pompeian right breaking through the flank and attacking the rear of the Pompeian army. Titus Labienus, commander of the Pompeian cavalry, saw this manoeuvre and moved some troops to intercept them. The Pompeian army misinterpreted

1950-516: The tribes, while Severus was fighting the Picts, Legio II Augusta was stationed at a fort near Carpow . It is unknown when, but the II Augusta received the surname Antonina , which meant that the soldiers were particularly dear to the emperor. This happened either under Caracalla or Heliogabalus , During Severus Alexanders reign as emperor of Rome, the conquests in Scotland were given up and

2000-539: The two original veteran legions, a legion formed from the survivors of Thapsus, and an additional legion recruited from Roman citizens and local inhabitants. They took control of almost all Hispania Ulterior, including the important Roman colonies of Italica and Corduba (the capital of the province). Caesar's generals Quintus Fabius Maximus and Quintus Pedius did not risk a battle, and remained encamped at Obulco (present-day Porcuna ), about 35 miles (56 km) east of Corduba, requesting help from Caesar. Thus, Caesar

2050-613: The walls of Munda, in a defensible position. Caesar led a total of eight legions (Legio II, III, V, VI, X, XXI, XXVIII and XXX), with 8,000 horsemen and an unknown number of light infantry, while Pompeius commanded thirteen legions, 6,000 light-infantrymen, and about 6,000 horsemen. Many of the Republican soldiers had already surrendered to Caesar in previous campaigns and had then deserted his army to rejoin Pompeius: they would fight with desperation, fearing that they would not be pardoned

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2100-494: Was an important blow to the Pompeian confidence and morale, and some of the native allies started to desert to Caesar. After taking Ategua, Caesar started building a camp near the Pompeian camp across the River Salsum. Gnaeus attacked quickly, catching Caesar off guard. The heroic actions and sacrifice of two centurions of the V stabilized the line. After this setback, Caesar decided to retreat to Sorecaria, cutting off one of

2150-591: Was born in Montilla. It is a matter of civic pride in Montilla that the Battle of Munda was (according to them) fought nearby, and at the outset of Hispanist Prosper Mérimée 's novella Carmen , source of Georges Bizet 's opera, the narrator clearly states that his research indicates that Munda was near Montilla (no reference to either Munda or Montilla is found in Bizet's opera). Other experts have asserted that Munda

2200-414: Was constructed where from 75 the legion was based. The legion remained there, even during Agricola's term as governor of Britain although several vexillations of the Legio II Augusta fought in the Battle of Mons Graupius . In 139 the Legion helped build the short lived Antonine Wall . During the years 155 and 158 a revolt spread across Britain, the Legio II Augusta was one of those that fought against

2250-521: Was drenched in heavy rain and harassed by heavy storms. After Julius Sacrovir and Julius Florus revolted against the Roman Empire in Gaul, the Legio II Augusta, under the command of Gaius Silius would help put down the revolt. The legion was one of the four legions used during Claudius's invasion of Britannia . The commander of the Legion at the time was Vespasian . He led the campaign against

2300-494: Was forced to move from Rome to Hispania to deal with the Pompeius brothers. He brought three trusted veteran legions ( X Equestris , V Alaudae and VI Ferrata ) and one of the newer legions III Gallica , but in the main was forced to rely on the recruits already present in Hispania. Caesar covered the 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from Rome to Obulco in less than one month, arriving in early December (he immediately wrote

2350-464: Was forced to wage a winter campaign, while procuring food and shelter for his army. In early 45 BC, the pro-Caesarian faction in Ategua offered to surrender the city to Caesar, but when the Pompeian garrison found out, they executed the pro-Caesarian leaders. The garrison tried to fight their way through Caesar's lines some time after the incident, but were beaten back. The city surrendered soon after; this

2400-418: Was fought just outside Osuna , in the province of Seville. This was supported by ancient slingshot bullets that were excavated near La Lantejuela , halfway between Osuna and Écija . The theory is further supported by ancient inscriptions found in Écija and Osuna that honor the town of Astigi (Écija) for standing firmly on Caesar's side during the battle. Therefore, the Battle of Munda probably took place on

2450-524: Was the Roman governor and Tacitus's father-in-law, had sent his fleet ahead to panic the Caledonians , and, with light infantry reinforced with British auxiliaries , reached the site, which he found occupied by the enemy. Even though the Romans were outnumbered in their campaign against the tribes of Britain , they often had difficulty getting their foes to face them in open battle. The Caledonii were

2500-638: Was then its acting commander possibly because its legatus and tribunes were with the governor Suetonius Paulinus , contravened Suetonius' orders to join him and so later committed suicide. In 69 CE, during the Year of the Four Emperors , a vexillation of the Legio II Augusta sided with emperor Otho. After Otho was defeated the vexillation switched sides and served Vitellius. This vexillation possibly took part in Vetellius's march on Rome, and fought in

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