Historical Foundation:
Possibly recruited by Mucianus for Vespasian during his advance on Rome
in the war
between Vitellius and Vespasian from Marines of the Ravenna fleet.
Given
the honorifics of 'pia fidelis' (loyal & faithful) by
Vespasian in recognition of their loyalty. Made iustae legionis
troops in the winter of 69 - 70 A.D., but before March of 70 given the
date on a diploma of 7 March 70. Their standard is the capricorn and
they were awarded the pegasus by Vespasian. Also connected to this
legion are a trident with dolphins twined about it from a grave stelae.
Permanent Bases:
I. 71 - 77? AD: Lindum, Brittania (Lincoln)
II. 77? - 87 AD: Deva, Britannia (Chester)
III. 87 - 102 AD: Acumincum or Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica),
Pannonia
IV. 102 - 106 AD: Singidunum (Belgrade), Dacia
V. 106 - 5th C.: Aquincum (Budapest), Pannonia
Events:
70 AD: Suppressed the Batavian revolt of Julius Civilis at the
battle of Xanten.
71 - 87 AD: In
Britain, suppressed the Brigantes revolt under Venutius, and defeated
the Ordivices including the occupation of the Isle of Mona (Anglesey).
102 - 106 AD: Fought in Trajan's Dacian campaigns.
117 - 136 AD: Various
construction projects in Pannonia druing the reign of Hadrian including
the road from Singidunum (Belgrade) to Aquincum (Budapest).
162 - 166 AD: Active in Lucius Verus' Parthian campaigns.
171 - 173 AD: Involved in Marcus Aurelius Marcomanni wars and
sustained heavy losses requiring reinforcements from Legio III in
Africa.
193 - 195 AD: Supported Septimius Severus in the civil war.
238 AD: Likely fought with Gordian III against the Sassanids.
269 AD: Also likely campaigned with Claudius II against the
Goths.
Re-enactment
Foundation:
Re-founded by Marcia Rutilia Severa in
2005. This legion appeals to me in part because of my own service as a
US Marine, and the honorifics are similar...'Pia Fidelis' and 'Semper
Fidelis'. We have decided to go with
the
concept of white tunics for legionaries and officers, and red ones for
centurions. We have also decided to use the idea put forth by Fuentes
that legions formed of naval units may have used blue scarves to honor
their origins. We use ultramarine focale and sashes for this
purpose. Our scuta is blue with a vertical gold trident and a
pair of dolphins twined about it above and below the boss. Vexilla are
blue with "Leg II APF" on them, sometimes with a pegasus.
We celebrate the Deis Natalis at Yuletide
in December...this being the likely time in which the legio
classiariorum was raised to iustae legionis status. This would give
them the Capricorn as a founding symbol. In addition, the Pegasus
is displayed, this emblem being given to them by Emperor Vespasian,
perhaps at the time he awarded them the honorifics of 'Pia Fidelis'
Secundae
Adiutrix went to Britain with Cerialis and five auxiliary units. It is
believed they were first stationed at Lindum. When Agricola arrived he
used them to break the Ordovices tribe in Snowdonia and finished what
had been started and interrupted by Boudiccea's revolt in 60 AD; the
assault and occupation of Mona. From there he began campaigning into
Caledonia and this is where the interesting part occurs from a
speculative point of view; Tacitus records that Agricola used the roman
fleet in concert with the legions as he progressed northward. Since II
Adiutrix was still predominantly the Marines from which the legion was
raised, I don't think it too far fetched that a commander of Agricola's
caliber would have noted their usefulness in this regard. It is
possible, though entirely speculative, that elements of this legion may
have been used in some of the coastal harrying attacks of the
campaigns. What is not speculative is that II Adiutrix built the
fortress at Deva in Britain during this time.