Legio XV Apollinaris | |
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Active | 41/40 BC to sometime in the 5th century |
Country | Roman Republic and 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 | Illyricum (48 BC–6 BC) Carnuntum (9–61) Syria (61–c. 73) Carnutum (c. 73–117) Satala (117–5th century) |
Nickname(s) | Apollinaris, "devoted to Apollo" under Augustus Pia Fidelis, "faithful and loyal" under Marcus Aurelius |
Patron | Apollo |
Engagements | Tiberius Marcomanni campaign (6) First Jewish Revolt (66–73) Dacian Wars (105–106) Trajan Mesopotamian campaign (115–117) Lucius Verus Armenian campaign (162) Septimus Severus Parthian campaign (197) |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Titus (officer) Trajan (campaign) Lucius Verus (campaign) Septimius Severus (campaign) |
Legio XV Apollinaris ("Apollo's Fifteenth Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. It was recruited by Octavian in 41/40 BC. The emblem of this legion was probably a picture of Apollo, or of one of his holy animals.
XV Apollinaris is sometimes confused with two other legions with the same number: An earlier unit which was commanded by Julius Caesar and met its end in North Africa in 49 BC, and a later unit that was present at the Battle of Philippi on the side of the Second Triumvirate and then sent east.