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Legio III Cyrenaica
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Legio III Cyrenaica, (from Cyrenaica, a Roman province), was a Roman legion probably levied by Mark Antony around 36 BC, when he was governor of Cyrenaica. There are still records of the legion in Syria in the beginning of the 5th century. The legion symbol is unknown.
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The first historical appearance of the legion is during the campaign of Emperor Caesar Augustus to conquer Egypt in 30 BC. III Cyrenaica would remain in Egypt and, in 35 was in Alexandria, sharing camp with XXII Deiotariana. The main task of both legions was keep the province safe and to maintain peace and order between the different ethnic and religious groups present in Alexandria.
In the internal turmoils of the Roman Empire, III Cyrenaica tended to follow defeated candidates to the throne like Avidius Cassius (vs. Marcus Aurelius in 175) and Pescennius Niger (vs. Septimius Severus in 192).
The legion, or subunits of it, probably participated in the following campaigns:
- 25 BC – against Arabia Felix, modern Yemen, and 23 BC against Nubia (see XXII Deiotariana history)
- 63 – against the Parthian Empire for the control over Armenia (see XXII Deiotariana history)
- 66–70 and 132/136– retaliations on the Jewish rebellions
- 162–166 – against the Parthian Empire, commanded by Lucius Verus
- 215–217 – against the Parthian Empire, commanded by Caracalla
After the rebellion of Zenobia in 267-272, III Cyrenaica was transferred to an unclear location, although the legion was in Bostra (Syria) in the beginning of the 5th century.
Legio III Cyrenaica was known to have had at least two organic auxiliary cohorts attached to it. One of these cohorts consisted of Menapian Celts, who probably served as skirmishers or spearmen, and the other cohort was made up of Nabataean archers.[citations needed]
- Ritterling's article
- Legio III Cyrenaica, Century I, Cohors II, US re-enactment group