Legio II Adiutrix



Legio secunda Adiutrix (Second Rescuer Legion), was a Roman legion levied by emperor Vespasian in 70, from Roman navy marines of the classis Ravennatis. There are still records of II Adiutrix in the Rhine border in the beginning of the 4th century. The legion's symbols were a Capricorn and Pegasus.

History
The first assignment of II Adiutrix was in Germania Inferior, where the Batavian rebellion was at its peak. After the defeat of the rebels, II Adiutrix followed general Quintus Petillius Cerialis to Britain to deal with another rebellion led by Venutius. During the next years, the legion was to stay in the British Islands to subdue the rebel tribes of Scotland and Wales, with base camp probably at Chester.

In 87, the legion was recalled to the continent to participate in the Dacian wars of emperor Domitian. Between 94 and 95, still in Dacia, later emperor Hadrian served as military tribune in the II Adiutrix.

In the summer of 106 the legion took part to the siege of the Dacian Capital Sarmisegetusa. After Trajan's Dacian Wars of 101-106, the legion was located in Aquincum (modern Budapest), which would be its base camp for the years to come. Despite this, the legion or subunits of it took part in:
 * Lucius Verus's campaign against the Parthian Empire (162-166)
 * Marcus Aurelius' campaign against the Marcomanni and the Quadi (171-173)
 * Marcus Aurelius' campaign against the Quadi (179-180). The Legion was commanded by Marcus Valerius Maximianus in Laugaricio.
 * Caracalla's campaign against the Alemanni (213)
 * Gordian's campaign against the Sassanid Empire (238)

In 193, II Adiutrix supported emperor Septimius Severus during his struggle for the purple.