20 Octavian/Augustus' Valiant 20th Legion - Eagle T-Shirt
This Legion was founded in 31 BC after the decisive Battle of Actium by Octavian, who'd just become Emperor Augustus. It first served in Hispania Tarraconensis in the long Cantabrian War. After the end of that twelve-year conflict in 13 BC, the Legion was sent to the Balkans, where it fought at Vindelicia. In 6 AD, it served with great distinction under Augustus' son-in-law Tiberius in the campaign against the Marcomanni in Czechia, at one point breaking through the enemy lines, finding itself isolated and surrounded, then fighting yet again back through enemy lines, as recorded by the Roman historian Velleius Paterculus. After the Teutoburg Forest disaster in 9 AD, Tiberius redeployed the experienced Legion in Germania Inferior, where it fell under the command of General Germanicus, and fought under him in three punitive campaigns. In 21, the Legion helped suppress the Turoni rebellion in Gaul. Two decades later, it fought in Caligula's Germanic War. In 43, it was one of the Legions that invaded Britain with Emperor Claudius. It would be stationed over the years in Britain at Camulodunum (Colchester), and at Kingsholm in Gloucester. After aiding in the defeat of the rebellious Queen Boudicca, the Legion was concentrated in Wroxeter. In 78, Agricola led the Legion against the Brigantes at Stanwick, which culminated in the final conquest of Britain. Agricola again used it in his campaigns into the Scottish highlands in 78-84, when they were garrisoned at Carlisle and Inchtuthill. Units of the Legion also took part in Domitian's campaign against the Germanic Chatti in 83. Soldiers of the Legion later were active in the construction of both Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall. In 155-58, when the British Legions fought extensively in widespread revolts, the Legion suffered severely, and would afterwards be filled out with reinforcements from the Germanic provinces. In 197, upon returning to Britain after a brief trip to the continent during Albinus' ill-fated attempt to become Emperor, Britain was overrun by Northern tribes. In 208, the Legion fought under Severus into Scotland, serving courageously and temporarily given the surname 'Antoniniana'. Between 249-51, the Legion was also briefly surnamed Deciana, for Emperor Decius, suggesting yet more valiant behavior. The Legion was still active during the reigns of the usurpers Carausius and Allectus (283-96), but there's no further mention of it. It's likely it was disbanded when Constantius I Chlorus reconquered Britain. 'Valeria Victrix': Valiant and Victorious. It could also be read as Victorious Black Eagle. It temporarily would use both a jumping boar and the capricorn as emblems, but it didn't seem to have a permanent emblem.
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