... Next to these,¹ but more to the west, are the Dumnoni, whose towns are: ... Isca,² where is located Legio II Augusta 17*30 52°45 ..."
| ITER XII - Item a Muriduno Viroconium mpm. clxxxvi sic ... Iscae leg. ii Augusta xxvii ... |
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| ROUTE TWELVE - The route from Muridunum¹ to Viroconium,² one-hundred and eighty-six thousand paces. ... Isca Silurum³ and the Second Augustan Legion, twenty-seven [miles from Bomium near Bridgend] ... |
| XXVIII ... Sub dispositione uiri spectabilis comitis litoris Saxonici per Britanniam ... Praefectus legionis secundae Augustae, Rutupis ... |
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| "Chapter Twenty-Eight ... At the disposal of the respectable man, the Count of the Saxon shore in Britain: ... The prefect of the Second Augustan Legion at Rutupiae¹ ..." |
London (3, 17, 19), Bath (146, 147), Caerwent (311), Caerleon (322, 324, 326, 327, 330, 331, 334, 357, 360, 361, 363, 365-68, 385), Usk (396), Castell Collen (417a), Chester (488, 509), Ilkley (638), Watercrook (752), Maryport (852), Cardewlees (913), Carlisle (964a), Netherby (974, 980), Bewcastle (991, 995, 996), Cumberland Quarries (998, 999, 1001, 1008), Piercebridge (1027a), Chester-le-Street (1050), Corbridge (1127, 1136, 1147, 1148, 1154-58, 1177), High Rochester (1297), Wallsend (1299, 1308), Newcastle (1322), Benwell (1330, 1341-44), Hadrian's Wall (many), Halton Chesters (1428), Housesteads (1582/3), Chesterholm/Vindolanda (1696, 1702, 1707), Birdoswalds (1880, 1916), Cramond (2137), Bridgeness (2139), Castlecary (2146), Bar Hill (2171), Auchendavy (2174-77, 2179-81, 2186), Cadder (2188), Balmuildy (2191-93, 2203/4), Antonine Wall (2209), Carpow (2213a), Scotland (2214), Antonine Wall near Bar Hill (2312).
Legio II Augusta may be identified with the II Sabina reported on an inscription of a Civil War veteran at Venafrum (Venafro). It may also be identifiable with the II Gallica, the veterans of which received land at Arausio (Orange) in 36-35BC and are commemorated on the Augustan arch there.
At the Battle of Mutina on 14th March 43BC, Marcus Antonius' two legions (II and XXXV) were caught in a pincer movement between the consular armies of Gaius Vibius Pansa who was encamped at Forum Gallorum, and Aulus Hirtius, whose two legions (IV and VII) fell upon their rear. Both legions were smashed and the survivors put to flight. The story is narrated in a letter from Sulpicious Galba, a legate in the army of Hirtius, to the orator Cicero.
In 27BC the senate granted Octavian unprecedented civil and military powers, and bestowed on him the title Augustus. Following this, one of his first thoughts was to the composition of his army, which had been in disarray since the Civil Wars. He substantially reformed the legions, by disbanding those whose previous loyalties had brought them under suspect, creating colonies of the veteran soldiers and forming new legions loyal to himself. The three imperial legions II, III and VIII, which are all entitled Augusta or 'Augustan', specifically identify them as formations during his principate.
Augustus turned his attention to Spain c.25BC, and launched series of lengthy campaigns against the tribes of the Iberian Peninsula, notably the Cantabrians and Asturians. These campaigns were to continue until 13BC. We know of seven legions which took part; I, II Augusta, IIII Macedonica, V Alaudae, VI Victrix, IX Hispana, and X Gemina. Two of these were former Antonian legions (V and X), transferred to the west after Actium, and some were perhaps brought by Augustus himself from Gaul. Of the total of seven legions sent to Spain by Augustus, only four survived, II Augusta was one, the others being IV Macedonia, VI Victrix and X Gemina. The whereabouts of the legionary fortress(es) used by Legio II Augusta during the Spanish campaigns are currently unknown.
Following the AD9 Varus disaster, the legion was transferred by Augustus from Spain to Argentoratum (Strasbourg), where they continued to garrison the fortress until the rule of Claudius.
The legion was placed under the command of the young Flavius Vespasianus during the invasion of Britain in AD43.
The legion was apparently split into several small detachments or vexilli, and stationed in several forts spread throughout the south-west of Britain until the legionary fortress at Isca Dumnonorum (Exeter) was built c.AD48.
Moved from Isca to Glevum (Gloucester) in AD67, replacing Legio XX Valeria Victrix who were moved to Viroconium (Wroxeter).
Vitellius demoted all of II Augusta’s centurions in AD69, for their open preference of Vespasian (Tacitus, Histories III, 44). They were subsequently re-instated at their former ranks by Vespasian following his rise to power that same year.
Moved from Glevum to Isca Silurum (Caerleon) c.AD75.
Remained on station at Isca Silurum throughout Agricola’s governorship AD78 to 84.
The entire legion (plus vexillations of VI and XX) was used in the construction of the Antonine Wall during the governorship of Lollius Urbicus, between AD139 and 142.
The large temporary camp at Carpow on the south bank of the Tay became a permanent fort in the Severan period (AD208-11). This fort had massive stone buildings and was garissoned by II Augusta and VI Victrix. Some of II and VI were possibly stationed at Cramond on the Forth during this same time.
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