Legio I Parthica

I Parthica symbol was the centaur, represented in the reverse of this coin struck in Singara under Emperor Gordian III.

Legio prima Parthica (Latin for "1st Parthian Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in AD 197 by the emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193-211) for his forthcoming war against Parthia. The legion's presence in the Middle East is recorded until the early 5th century.

The legions I, II, and III Parthica were levied by Septimius Severus for his campaign against the Parthian Empire. After the success of this campaign, I and III Parthica remained in the region, in the camp of Singara (Sinjar, Iraq), in Mesopotamia, to prevent subsequent rebellions and to guard the eastern provinces from attacks from the Parthian Empire.

Legionaries from I Parthica were usually sent to other provinces, namely Lycia, Cilicia and Cyrenaica.

In 360, I Parthica unsuccessfully defended its camp against a Sassanid attack; after the defeat, the legion was moved to Nisibis (modern Turkey), where it remained until the city was surrendered to the Sassanid Persians in 363. After that, the legion was moved to Constantina, where it is last mentioned in the 5th century.

The legion emblem was the centaur.

See also

• List of Roman legions
• Roman legion

External links

• livius.org account of Legio I Parthica

Roman legions
Legio I Adiutrix Legio I Armeniaca Legio I Germanica Legio I Iovia Legio I Isaura Sagittaria Legio I Italica Legio I Macriana liberatrix Legio I Maximiana Legio I Minervia Legio I Parthica Legio II Adiutrix Legio II Armeniaca Legio II Augusta Legio II Flavia Constantia Legio II Flavia Virtutis Legio II Gallica Legio II Herculia Legio II Isaura Legio II Italica Legio II Parthica Legio II Traiana Fortis Legio III Augusta Legio III Cyrenaica Legio III Diocletiana Legio III Gallica Legio III Isaura Legio III Italica Legio III Parthica Legio IV Flavia Felix Legio IV Macedonica Legio IV Scythica Legio V Alaudae Legio V Iovia Legio V Macedonica Legio VI Ferrata Legio VI Herculia Legio VI Hispana Legio VI Victrix Legio VII Claudia Legio VII Gemina Legio VIII Augusta Legio IX Hispana Legio X Equestris Legio X Fretensis Legio X Gemina Legio XI Legio XI Claudia Legio XII Fulminata Legio XIII Gemina Legio XIV Gemina Legio XV Apollinaris Legio XV Primigenia Legio XVI Flavia Firma Legio XVI Gallica Legio XVII Legio XVIII Legio XIX Legio XX Valeria Victrix Legio XXI Rapax Legio XXII Deiotariana Legio XXII Primigenia Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix