Legio II Adiutrix

The formation of Legio II Adiutrix from marines of the classis Ravennatis following the Year of Four Emperors was due to the machinations of the commander of the Roman fleets, Sextus Lucilius Bassus. Bassus' intentions was to incite those men to desert Vitellius in support of Vespasian, but his intrigue was so poorly handled that while the marines decided to support Vespasian, lost his command, Cornelius Fuscus was sent to take command of the marines, and Bassus was sent to Vespasian to determine his fate. The first assignment of II Adiutrix was in Germania Inferior, where the Batavian rebellion was at its peak. After the defeat of the rebels, Legio II Adiutrix followed general Quintus Petillius Cerialis to Roman Britain where it replaced Legio XIV Gemina bringing the strength of the garrison in that province to four legions. The legion is believed to have made its base camp at Chester. In 87, the legion was recalled to the continent to participate in the Dacian wars of emperor Domitian. There it made its new base at Aquincum (modern Budapest). Around 95 and 96, still in Dacia, the later emperor Hadrian served as military tribune in Legio II Adiutrix. In the summer of 106 the legion took part to the siege of the Dacian Capital Sarmisegetusa. After Trajan's Dacian Wars of 101–106, the legion returned to Pannonia Inferior, where it would remain for the years to come. Despite this, the legion or vexillations or subunits took part in: • Lucius Verus's campaign against the Parthian Empire (162–166) • Marcus Aurelius' campaign against the Marcomanni and the Quadi (171–173) • Marcus Aurelius' campaign against the Quadi (179–180). The Legion was commanded by Marcus Valerius Maximianus in Laugaricio. • Caracalla's campaign against the Alemanni (213) • Gordian's campaign against the Sassanid Empire (238) In 193, Legio II Adiutrix supported emperor Septimius Severus during his struggle for the purple. == Attested members ==