Legio II Italica

The symbol of II Italica, the she-wolf with twins, on this antoninianus mint by Gallienus. The reverse has LEG II ITAL VII P VII F, "Legio II Italica seven times faithful and loyal".

Legio secunda Italica ("Italian Second Legion"), was a legion of the Imperial Roman army.

Formation

The legion was founded in AD 165 by emperor Marcus Aurelius (r. 161-80) alongside III Italica at a time when the Roman Empire was fighting both in Germania and in Parthia.

Unit history

The legion main theatre of operations was the Roman province of Noricum, in the south margin of the Danube, where Germanic incursions were frequent.

In 180 II Italica was stationed in Lauriacum, modern Lorch.

Year of the five Emperors

In 193, II Italica marched into Rome with Septimius Severus, then fighting for power. The new emperor awarded them the title of Fidelis (loyal) to acknowledge the support. Later Septimius Severus would use II Italica against the rebellions of Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus, and in his Parthian campaigns.

Under Gallienus

In the 3rd century, support of the legions was a crucial demand for candidates to the throne. Well aware of this fact, Gallienus granted II Italica the cognomina VII Pia VII Fidelis (seven times faithful, seven times loyal) to secure their continuing support.

Later service

There are still records of the II Italica in Noricum in the beginning of the 5th century.

Symbol

The legion symbol is a she-wolf and the twins Romulus and Remus, and is a reference to the rule of Marcus Aurelius and his colleague Lucius Verus.

See also

• List of Roman legions
• Roman legion
• Saint Florian

External links

• livius.org account of Legio II Italica

Roman legions
Legio I Adiutrix Legio I Armeniaca Legio I Germanica Legio I Iovia Legio I Isaura Sagittaria Legio I Italica Legio I Macriana liberatrix Legio I Maximiana Legio I Minervia Legio I Parthica Legio II Adiutrix Legio II Armeniaca Legio II Augusta Legio II Flavia Constantia Legio II Flavia Virtutis Legio II Gallica Legio II Herculia Legio II Isaura Legio II Italica Legio II Parthica Legio II Traiana Fortis Legio III Augusta Legio III Cyrenaica Legio III Diocletiana Legio III Gallica Legio III Isaura Legio III Italica Legio III Parthica Legio IV Flavia Felix Legio IV Macedonica Legio IV Scythica Legio V Alaudae Legio V Iovia Legio V Macedonica Legio VI Ferrata Legio VI Herculia Legio VI Hispana Legio VI Victrix Legio VII Claudia Legio VII Gemina Legio VIII Augusta Legio IX Hispana Legio X Equestris Legio X Fretensis Legio X Gemina Legio XI Legio XI Claudia Legio XII Fulminata Legio XIII Gemina Legio XIV Gemina Legio XV Apollinaris Legio XV Primigenia Legio XVI Flavia Firma Legio XVI Gallica Legio XVII Legio XVIII Legio XIX Legio XX Valeria Victrix Legio XXI Rapax Legio XXII Deiotariana Legio XXII Primigenia Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix