Julius Caesar 5th Alaudae Roman Legion Eagle Shirt
This Legion was raised by Julius Caesar in Transalpine Gaul in 52 BC, the first Legion to be levied in the newly subject Gallic Provinces. Being the first Legion to be recruited in a subject province, this creation was instrumental in the progress of Romanization of provinces, as it meant provincials were no longer barred from military service. Initially not recognized by the Roman Senate, the 5th was paid from Caesar's private purse. It served under Caesar in Gaul, in Spain, was stationed in Apulia for some time after Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and served at Dyrrachium in 49-48. Caesar afterwards ordered Mark Antony to ferry the 5th across the Adriatic. It rejoined Caesar for his African Campaign against Scipio and Cato, and it was at the Battle of Thapsus where its success against the charging elephants earned the Legion its permanent 'elephant' emblem. After Caesar's murder, the Legion served under Antony at Mutina, Philippi, and Actium. After Antony's defeat, Augustus sent the Legion to Lusitania, where it was one of many Legions that fought against the Cantabrians. The Legion fought under Augustus' stepson Drusus in his Germanic campaigns in 9 BC. After the Tuetoburg Forest disaster in 9 AD, the Legion was one that occupied the fortresses of Germania Inferior, preventing Germanic raids on Belgica. It fought in the Germanic campaigns of Germanicus in 14-16 AD, and in 28 it surpressed a Frisian revolt, although Emperor Tiberius still let the Frisians be independent. In 40, the Legion joined Emperor Caligula when he visited the Rhine. In 47, it was part of a successful force led against the Frisians and Chauci, and then aided in building fortifications along the newly-established border along the Rhine. After the tumultuous years of Nero, the Legion helped their commander Vitellius make himself Emperor, although he was soon defeated by Vespasian, whose vastly superior forces destroyed much of the V Alaudae. After their numbers dwindled over the years, they were never reconstituted. "Alaudae" - plural noun of Celtic origin meaning Larks, reflecting its formation in Transalpine Gaul.
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