II Parthian Legion

Age of the Northern Dynasty

The II Parthian Legion was formed in 197 by order of the Emperor Septimius Severus , who used it in his war against the Parthian kingdom ^[2] . Together with him two more legions were organized with the same nicknames - I and III . Apparently, the legion was recruited in Pannonia , Illyria and Thrace ^[3] . According to the Roman historian Dion Cassius , the I and III Parthian legions remained in Mesopotamia, and the II legion was transferred to Castra Albana on the shores of Lake Albano in the Albanian Mountains , not far from Rome ^{[4] [1]} . In this regard, the II Parthian Legion was sometimes called the Albanian, while its soldiers were colloquially called the Albanians ^[2] .

Archaeologists have excavated the Albanian cemetery, as a result of which we have at our disposal numerous tombstones of legionaries who served in II Parthian, who used to call themselves Veterani Augusti Nostri ( Russian veterans of our emperor ). A noteworthy aspect is that the tombstones usually mention the centuries that the soldiers served in. Even on the tombstones of legionnaires who died far from Alba (on the Danube or in the East) there are similar inscriptions ^[2] .

This custom is almost unique. Only the veterans of the II Undaunted Trajan Legion in Alexandria had the same practice. However, it makes it possible to assume that the soldiers of the II Parthian Legion were recruited from the II Undaunted Trayanov Legion, but it should be emphasized that there is no evidence in favor of this hypothesis ^[2] .

Of course, the legion in Italy did not serve to guard the borders. He controlled Rome and Central Italy, but this did not detract from his importance as a strategic reserve of the empire. Too often in the 2nd century the Romans were forced to transfer their legions from one region to another for protection, leaving the provinces vulnerable to foreign invaders. From now on, it was always possible to send the 2nd Parthian Legion and the Praetorian Guard from Alba and Rome to the border zone, which was in danger. It is likely that the commander of the imperial guard, the prefect of Praetorium , was higher in rank of Legate II of the Parthian Legion ^[2] .

Thus, on the one hand, the legion was used as a reserve, and on the other hand, as a means of influence in internal disputes. III century emperors often dealt with usurpers, and the deployment of the II Parthian Legion near the capital made it possible to cope with such threats. Another result of this action was the weakening of senatorial power ^[5] .

The Parthian Legion II was most likely used by Septimius Severus during the British campaign of 208–211, and, most likely, by his son and successor Caracalla in military operations against the Alemannians in 213 ^[2] . In the spring of 214, reinforced by auxiliary equestrian units ^[6] , the legion accompanied Caracalla to Alexandria and from there he went to Syria, where he was housed in winter apartments in Apamea ^[7] . Undoubtedly, the legion participated in the Parthian campaign of Caracalla , since it is known that its commander was involved in the assassination of Caracalla and the ascension to the throne of the prefect Praetor Makrin ^{[2] [1]} .

In the winter of 217/218, the II Parthian Legion remained in Apamea in Syria, where he sided with the new contender for the imperial title Heliogabal ^[1] , who had already gained the support of the III Gallic Legion . After Heliogabal became sovereign, the legion was awarded the honorary nicknames “Antoninov” ^[8] and “Forever devoted, loyal and happy” ( Latin Pia Fidelis Felix Aeterna ) ^[2] . II Parthian Legion gained some political influence. The former prefect of Pretoria Triccian was executed because he had once abused soldiers. ^[2] Together with Heliogabal, the legion returned to Rome in the year 218/219 ^[2] .

In the early 230s, Emperor Alexander Sever went east to make a campaign against the newly formed Sassanid state . The II Parthian Legion took part in the campaign and was again transferred to Apamea ^[7] .

After that, in 234, the legion again participated in the conflict with the Alemanni. His soldiers were present in Mogontziak when Alexander Sever was killed in 235. The II Parthian Legion supported the successor of Alexander Severus Maximinus I of Thrace , who triumphantly ended the German war ^[2] .

Age of Soldier Emperors

The II Parthian Legion participated in the war of Maximin against the Sarmatians in the territory of present-day Hungary , and then became part of the corps sent to Italy, where the Senate rebelled against the sovereign. In Rome, two emperors were elected - Pupien and Balbin , so Maximin was forced to go to Rome. However, the soldiers of the II Parthian Legion knew that their relatives in Alban could be used as hostages, and they rebelled and killed the ruler of the Roman state in Aquileia ^[2] .

Since no burial sites dating back to the reign of Gordian III were found in the Albanian cemetery, it is concluded that the Parthian Legion II took part in the campaign against the Persians under this emperor and, obviously, was again in Apamea ^[7] . At this time, the legion received the honorary title "Gordianov" ^[9] . In February 249, the legion returned to its place of permanent deployment. Perhaps he was involved in the war against the carps under Philippe Arab . In the second half of 249, the Parthian Legion II fought for this emperor against the pretender to the throne, Decius Trajan , but was defeated at Verona in northern Italy ^[2] .

The inscriptions show that over the next half century, the legion visited several parts of the empire, but it is difficult to establish the sequence of his stay in these places. Nevertheless, it can be argued that he was involved in the conflict between the emperor Gallien and his rival Postum on the side of the first. For this he received the titles “Pia V Fidelis V” (five times faithful and faithful), “Pia VI Fidelis VI” and “Pia VII Fidelis VII” ^[1] . Relating to the last quarter of the III century, an inscription from Bordeaux mentions the II Parthian Legion. An inscription from Arabia Petrais shows that the legion participated in the campaign of Aurelian against the kingdom of Palmyra . Other inscriptions are found in Thrace , Numidia and Cilicia . However, we only know for sure that in the years 276–282 the II Parthian Legion fought in Cilicia against the Isaurian rebels ^[2] . It is mentioned on the coins of the British usurper Carausius ^[1] .

Late Antiquity

The II Parthian Legion was in Italy at the end of the III century, but was almost certainly dissolved by Constantine I the Great after his victory on the Mulvian Bridge in October 312. This is not mentioned in the sources, but we know that the emperor disbanded the guard as a punishment for supporting the usurper Maxentius , which most likely meant the end of the II Parthian Legion ^[2] .

However, in 360, as part of the troops defending the fortress of Bezabdu on the Tigris, we see the II Armenian Legion , II Flavian Legion (most likely, II Brave Flavian Legion ) and II Parthian Legion. It must be recreated or formed from a separate unit ^[2] . Bezabda was captured by the Persians: defenders who were unable to defend a breach in the wall were killed in street battles or captured ^[10] . At the beginning of the 5th century, the Parthian Legion was last mentioned in the sources. According to Notitia Dignitatum , he was under the command of the Dux of Mesopotamia and was stationed with his prefect in Cep ^[11] .

1. Emil Ritterling. Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft. Legio (II Parthica). Band XII, 2. - Stuttgart, 1925. - 1476-1483 p.
2. Gabriele Wesch-Klein. Soziale Aspekte des römischen Heerwesens in der Kaiserzeit = Heidelberger althistorische Beiträge und epigraphische. - Stuttgart: Steiner, 1998.
3. Oliver Stoll. Römisches Heer und Gesellschaft. - Stuttgart: Steiner, 2001.

1. R. Kanya. A brief history of various legions (Russian) . Legio 2001.
2. Jona Lendering. Legio II Parthica . Livius.org . 2002.
3. Legio II Parthica (German) . imperiumromanum.com .

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