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| Legio III Parthica | |
|---|---|
| Active | 197 to sometime in the 5th century |
| Country | Roman Empire |
| Type | Roman legion (Marian) |
| Role | Infantry assault (some cavalry support) |
| Size | Varied over unit lifetime. Approx. 3,500 fighting men + support at the time of creation. |
| Garrison/HQ | Resaena, Mesopotamia (197 – c. 4th century) Apatna, Osroene (5th century |
| Nickname(s) | Parthica, "Parthian" (since 197) Severiana, "Severus" (under Alexander Severus) |
| Mascot(s) | Bull |
| Engagements | Septimius Severus Parthian campaign (197) Caracalla Sassanid campaign (217) Sassanid campaign of Severus Alexander (231) Battle of Resaena (243) Odaenathus Sassanid campaign (264) Diocletian Sassanid campaign (298) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Septimius Severus (campaign) Caracalla (campaign) Alexander Severus (campaign) Odaenathus (campaign) Diocletian (campaign) |
Legio III Parthica ("Parthian-conquering Third Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in AD 197 by the emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193–211) for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence the cognomen Parthica. The legion was still active in the Eastern provinces in the early 5th century. The legion's symbol was probably a bull.