One of the most interesting things about the Imperial Roman legions are the various "regimental" or unit names, nicknames, and distinctions that they had. Most wargamers who fight ancient period battles appear to know very little, if anything, about the background and meaning of these unit distinctions.

However, it is these "distinctions" that bring to life the various legions, just as in the 18th and 19th centuries the regiments in various armies had the traditions and titles that make them so interesting and attractive to various warnamprs.

A Roman army made up of specific legions, each legion chosen for its distinctive qualities, would be much more interesting, especially in a campaign set up, than simply getting together so many non-descript groups of Roman infantry, any of which can be substituted for any other.

The system of designations of the Imperial legions can be broken down into five basic groups. They are as follows.

A. Number: Assigned to all legions on the basis of the highest number in use. Numbers not in use, and sequence of numbers for legions raised in groups, such as I, II, and III Parthica.

B. Person: Assigned on the basis of the person who actually raised a given unit, or during whose reign the unit was raised or reorganized. No system of assignment. Apparently done by individual decision. Limiited use.

C Deity: Assigned on the basis of showing respect to the deity of the emperor who was reigning at the time that a given unit was raised or reorganized. A variation on B above. No system of assignment. Very limited use.

D. Province: Assigned on the basis of the location where the unit gained distinction, or where the new unit was to he used. Fairly widespread use.

E. Nickname: Assigned on the basis of Special accomplishment or ability, or special circumstance of the unit's creation, not covered in B, C, or D above. Very limited use.

The designations of almost all legions were based on the use of at least two or more of the ahove groups in the particular title.

Since the color of the clothing worn by legionaries was not specified by orders, and a number of colors were undoubtedly used by various legions, it seems to me that this presents a means to make a distinction between wargame legions on the following basis.

First, assign a color to each of the specific groups given above, A through E. This is particularly applicable in a campaign set up where a unit in a given color could be used to represent a number of different units on various battlefields, each unit being drawn from the same general group, as listed above.

Thus, if the color red were assigned to group B, Person, green assigned to group C, Deity, blue assigned to group D, Province, and brown assigned to group E, Nickname, it would be possible to have three or four wargame legions, each in a different color, which could be used to represent as many as 20 or more legions on different wargame boards And each of the 20 or more legions could have its own record of accomplishments and mistakes, based on a series of battles during one of more campaigns.

Now the wargamer who has wanted to maneuver groups of Roman legions through a campaign can do so, without the large outlay of money it would take to field 20 legions. Also, each one of the three or four legions the gamer builds can be close to full strength of a given legion. It would no longer be necessary to build only a few cohorts of a given legion in order have many units of different legions in a wargame army.

In order to give the wargamer a good selection of legions to choose from, I will list the legions of the 1st and 2nd centuries with their particular designations.

Legions

I Germanica Province where it gained distinction under Tiberius. Probalbly of Pre-Augustan creation.

I Adiutrix pia fidelis : Means Reserve. Raised from Marines of the fleet by Nero to supplement the legionary strength.

I Italica Raised in Italy by Nero. According to Seutonius, all the recruits had to be Italian born and six feet tall,

I Macriana: Raised by Clodius Mecer, governor of Africa, who set himself up as Emperor after Nero's death. Disbanded by Galba and recreated by Vitellius, upon whose death it finally disappeared.

I Flavia Minervia : Raised by Domitian, who favored Minerva. Later "pia fidelis Domitiana" was added for loyalty in the revolt of Saturninus. "Domitiana" was erased when Domitian incured the "damnatio memoriae".

I Parthica : Raised in the East by Septimius Severus.

II Adiutrix pia fidelis : Means Reserve. Raised from Marines of the fleet by Vespasian to supolement the legionary strength.

II Augusta: Raised by Augustus.

II Italica pia: Raised in Italy in 165 A.D. by Marcus Aurelius.

II Parthica : Raised in the East by Severus.

II Traiana Fortis: Raised by Trajan.

III Augusta pia fidelis : Formed by Augustus.

III Cyrenaica : Province where it gained distinction. Probably of pre-Augustan creation.

III Gallica : Formed from the veterans of Caesar's Gallic legions. Definitely of pre-Augustan creation.

III Italica concors : Raised in Italy in 165 AD by Marcus Aurelius.

III Parthica : Raised in the East by Severus.

IV Flavia firma: Raised in 70 A.D. by Vespasian.

IV Macedonica: Province where it gained distinction. Raised by Augustus.

IV Scythica: Region where it gained distinction. Definitely of pre-Augustan creation.

V Alaudae : Means the Lark, "the Great" songster. Raised by Caesar. It was probably lost in 92 A.D.

V Macedonica : Province where it gained distinction. Its two emblems, the Bull and Capricorn, associate it with both Caesar and Augustus. This probably refers to its creation, under Caesar, and its later reorganization, under Augustus. It was also probably known as V Gallica at one time.

VI Ferrata fidelis constans: Means "Iron Shod", indicating endurance. Definitely of pre-Augustan creation. Possibly originated from Caesar's VI legion.

VI Victrix : Victorious. Given after an outstanding victory. Definitely of pre-Augustan creation. Also known as Hispania from its service in Spain. Possibly created from Caesar's VI legion.

VII Macedonica Claudia pia fidelis : For its loyalty to Claudius in 42 AD during the mutiny of Scribonianus, when the latter tried to make himself emperor. Definitely of pre-Augustan creation.

VII Gemina : One legion made out of two. Also known as Galbiana. Formed by Galba.

VIII Augusta : reconstituted by Augustus. Definitely of pre-Augustan creation.

IX Hispana: Province where it gained distinction. Definitely of pre-Augustan creation.

X Fretensis : From the naval war between Ocavian and Sextus Pompeius. Definitely of pre-Augutan creation.

X. Gemina: One legion made out of two. Definitely of pre-Augustan creation.

XI Claudia pia fidelis: Same as VII Macedonica Known as Actiacus under Augustus. Indicates that it fought at Actium.

XII Fulminata : Means Lightning Hurler. Probably gained under Caesar, definietly pre-Augustan.

XIII Gemina pia fidelis: One legion made oiut of two. Formed by Augustus.

XIV Gemina Martia Victrix: One legion ma de out of two. Formed by Augustus. The title Martia Victrix was granted after 60 A.D. for the legion's part in the defeat of Boudicca.

XV Apollinaris: Named for the god Apollo, considered by Augustus to be his protecting deity Raised by Augustus.

XV Primigenia: Named for the Roman goddess Fortuna Primigenia, the "bringer" of good luck and fortune. Since the two legions with this name were raised for the invasion of Britain the name may be considered to be something in the way of a suplication to the goddess for good luck in the campaign. Raised by either Caligula or Claudius.

XVI Flavia firma: Raised in 70 by Vespasian,

XVI Gallica : Province where it gained distinction under Drussus. Raised by Augustus.

XX Valeria Victrix: Probably named for distinction gained under Valerius Messalinus. May have been named after his wife,Valeria Messalina, by Claudius. Raised by Augustus.

XXI Rapax: Means "greedy" in the sense of sweeping everything before it. Raised by Augustus.

XXI I Deiotariana: Deiotarus, tetrach of Galatia, was a client king whose domains had been extended by Pmpey. The tetrach eraised two units and had them trained in the Roman manner, as if they were legions, to assist Caesar in his lightning campaign against Pharnaces. When the kingdom was bequeathed to Rome in 25BC, a legion was formed out of the troops from these two units -- by Augustus.

XXII Prininenia nia fidelis : Same as XV Primigenia as above.

XXX Ulpia Victrix : Prohably called victorious after distinguished conduct in Dacia. Raised by Trajan.

All of the above information came from The Imperial Roman Army by Graham Webster. Funk and Wagnalls, Now York. 1969.