Legio X Fretensis | |
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Active | 41 BC to after 410 |
Country | Roman Empire |
Type | Roman legion (Marian) |
Garrison/HQ | Judaea (20s BC) Syria (c. 6–66) Jerusalem (ca. 73–late 3rd century) Aila (late 3rd century–after 410s) |
Nickname(s) | Fretensis, "of the sea strait" |
Mascot(s) | Bull, ship, Neptune, boar |
Engagements |
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Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo Vespasian (campaign) Titus Sextus Lucilius Bassus Trajan (campaign) Sextus Julius Severus |
Legio X Fretensis ("Tenth legion of the Strait") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. It was founded by the young Gaius Octavius (later to become Augustus Caesar) in 41/40 BC to fight during the period of civil war that started the dissolution of the Roman Republic. X Fretensis is then recorded to have existed at least until the 410s.
X Fretensis symbols were the bull — the holy animal of the goddess Venus (mythical ancestor of the gens Julia) — a ship (probably a reference to the Battles of Naulochus and/or Actium), the god Neptune, and a boar. The symbol of Taurus may also mean that it was organized between 20 April and 20 May.