Legio XV Apollinaris | |
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![]() Map of the Roman empire in AD 125, under emperor Hadrian, showing the Legio XV Apollinaris, stationed at Satala (Saddagh, Turkey), in Cappadocia province, from AD 117 until the 5th century | |
Active | 41/40 BC to sometime in the 5th century |
Country | Roman Republic and Roman Empire |
Type | Roman legion (Marian) |
Role | Infantry assault (some cavalry support) |
Size | Varied over unit lifetime. Approx. 3,500 fighting men + support at the time of creation. |
Garrison/HQ | Illyricum (48 BC–6 BC) Carnuntum (9–61) Syria (61–c. 73) Carnutum (c. 73–117) Satala (117–5th century) |
Nickname(s) | Apollinaris, "devoted to Apollo" under Augustus Pia Fidelis, "faithful and loyal" under Marcus Aurelius |
Patron | Apollo |
Engagements | Tiberius' Marcomanni campaign (6) First Jewish Revolt (66–73) Dacian Wars (105–106) Trajan's Parthian campaign (115–117) Lucius Verus' Armenian campaign (162) Septimus Severus' Parthian campaign (197) |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Titus (officer) Trajan (campaign) Lucius Verus (campaign) Septimius Severus (campaign) |
Legio XV Apollinaris ("Apollo's Fifteenth Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. It was recruited by Octavian in 41/40 BC. The emblem of this legion was probably a picture of Apollo, or of one of his holy animals.
XV Apollinaris is sometimes confused with two other legions with the same number: An earlier unit which was commanded by Julius Caesar and met its end in North Africa in 49 BC, and a later unit that was present at the Battle of Philippi on the side of the Second Triumvirate and then sent east.