Legio I Adiutrix ( First Legion "Rescuer"), was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in AD 68, probably by Nero or Galba when he rebelled against emperor Nero (r. 54–68). The last record mentioning the Adiutrix is in 344, when it was stationed at Brigetio (modern Szőny), in the Roman province of Pannonia. The emblem of the legion was a capricorn,, The Origins and Early History of the Second Augustan Legion, in , Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000, Stuttgart, 2000, p. 128. used along with the winged horse Pegasus, on the helmets the symbol used by I Adiutrix legionaries was a dolphin.
Origins Graham Webster notes that, along with its partner Legio II Adiutrix, that while both were raised from marines of the Fleet, "their precise origins are obscured by the confusion of the Civil War."Webster, The Roman Imperial Army (New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1969), p. 110 Tacitus mentions that marines Nero had brought into Rome were still present in the city when Galba arrived from Spain;Tacitus, Histories, i.6 both Suetonius and Dio Cassius state that Galba created the legion.Suetonius, "Galba", 12; Dio Cassius, lv.24.2 H.M.D. Parker argues that the dies natalis, or official date of creation when it received its aquila standard, of the legion was 22 December 68.Parker, The Roman Legions, 1957 (New York: Barnes and Noble, 1993), pp. 99-103
Year of the Four Emperors In the confusing Year of the Four Emperors, the legion fought in Otho's army in the Battle of Bedriacum, where this emperor was defeated by VitelliusTacitus, Histories ii.43.1. The victorious Vitellius ordered the legion transferred to Spain,Tacitus, Histories iii.44. but by the year 70 it was fighting in the Batavian rebellion.
Stationed in Moguntiacum The city of Moguntiacum (Mainz) is the legion's first known base camp, shared with Legio XIV Gemina, where they attended mainly building activities. In 83, they fought the Germanic wars against the Chatti, a German tribe living across the Rhine, under the command of Emperor Domitian. After that they were transferred to the Danubian army stationed in the Roman province of Pannonia, to fight the Dacians.
Legio I Adiutrix Pia Fidelis Following the murder of Domitian in 96, the Adiutrix, along with the Danubian army, played an important role in Roman politics, forcing Nerva to adopt Trajan as his successor. When Trajan became emperor, he gave the legion the cognomen Pia Fidelis ("loyal and faithful") to acknowledge their support.ILS 1029, 1061, etc. Between 101 and 106, under the new emperor's command, I Adiutrix, along with IV Flavia Felix and XIII Gemina, conquered Dacia and occupied the newly formed province. Trajan also used his Pia Fidelis in the campaign against Parthia (115–117), but they were sent back to Pannonia by his successor emperor Hadrian, with base in Brigetio.
During the next decades, I Adiutrix remained in the Danube frontier. Under Marcus Aurelius, I Adiutrix fought the war against Marcomanni commanded by Marcus Valerius Maximianus. Between 171 and 175, the commander was Pertinax, emperor for a brief period in 193. When Septimius Severus became emperor, I Adiutrix was among his supporters, joining him in the march for Rome.
In the next decades, the main base was again Pannonia, but they played a part in several Parthian wars, namely the campaigns of 195 and 197–198 of Septimius Severus, 215–217 led by Caracalla and 244 by Gordian III.
The legion, or more likely vexilationes of it, took part in the battle of Mediolanum.
The legion received the cognomen Pia Fidelis Bis ("twice loyal and faithful") and Constans ("reliable"), sometime in the 3rd century.
Attested members Name Rank Time frame Province Source Orfidius Benignus legatus legionis 69 Italia Tacitus, Histories, ii.43 Sextus Octavius Fronto legatus legionis between 75 and 85 Titus Julius Maximus Manlianus legatus legionis c. 105 Lucius Attius Macro legatus legionis between 125 and 130 Pannonia Superior Claudius MaximusGéza Alföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter der Antoninen (Bonn: Rudolf Habelt Verlag 1977), p. 334 legatus legionis c. 134 - c. 137 Pannonia Superior Titus Flavius LonginusAlföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter der Antonine, p. 296 legatus legionis c. 143-c. 146 Pannonia Superior IGRR I, 622 Gaius Julius Commodus Orfitianus legatus legionis c. 149-c. 152 Pannonia Superior Publius Helvius Pertinax legatus legionis c. 171-175 Pannonia Superior Augustan History, Pertinax, 2.6 Marcus Valerius Maximianus legatus legionis c. 179 Pannonia Superior Lucius Aurelius GallusPaul M. M. Leunissen, Konsuln und Konsulare in der Zeit von Commodus bis Severus Alexander (1989), p. 335 legatus legionis c. 193 Pannonia Superior Gaius Junius Faustinus Placidus Postumianus legatus legionis c. 196? Pannonia Superior Quintus Cornelius Valens Cu[...] Honestianus Junianus legatus legionis 200/210 Pannonia Superior Claudius Piso legatus legionis c. 207 Pannonia Superior Lucius Julius Apronius Maenius Pius Salamallianus legatus legionis 220/222 Pannonia Superior Aemillus Deciminus medicus ordinarius c.114 Pannonia Quintus T.f. Attius Priscus tribunus angusticlavius 1st century = ILS 2720 Lucius Minicius Natalis Quadronius Verus tribunus laticlavius c. 115 Gaius Caesonius Macer Rufinianus tribunus laticlavius between 178 and 180 Pannonia Superior Gaius Julius Septimius Castinus tribunus laticlavius late 2nd century Pannonia Superior
See also
List of Roman legions
Notes
References
Primary sources Tacitus, Histories.
Secondary sources , art. Legio, in Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft 7 (1999), klm. 7-22. , The Origins and Early History of the Second Augustan Legion, in , Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000, Stuttgart, 2000, pp. 123–160.