Legion XIX
Legion XIX
On the history of the 19th Legion
The Legio XIX (19th) was a legion of the Roman army. She is still known today as one of the three legions that died in the fall of 9 AD. were destroyed in the Varus battle.
The Roman historian Velleius Paterculus described the legions involved in the Battle of Varus some 20 years after the battle:
"The valiant army of all, foremost among the Roman troops in discipline, valor, and experience of war, was caught in a trap by the laziness of the leader, the deceitful cunning of the enemy, and the unfavorable fortune of fate."
(Historia Romana II, 119)
About the formation of the XIX. Legion can only be guessed at in the absence of sources. There is much to suggest that the XIX. Legion under Octavian, later Emperor Augustus, during the civil war after the Battle of Philippi around 41/40 BC. was excavated. (L. Keppie, 161) . So after this battle Octavian returned to Italy and increased his force to at least 25 legions. It seems possible that the founding of the XIX. Legion falls into this context.
Nevertheless, it can only be speculated where exactly the XIX. Legion was stationed after its formation. Operations in Dalmatia or in Sicily against Sextus Pompeius are possible, but remain just as uncertain as participation in the Battle of Actium (31 BC). (ibid. 162). Furthermore, one suspects that the XIX. Legion stationed in Aquitaine after the Battle of Actium. Certainly proven are veterans of the XIX. Legion among other things through epigraphic testimonies in the area around Pisa. (ibid. 163)
Archaeological finds finally speak for a participation of the XIX. Legion in the conquests of the central and foothills of the Alps 15 BC. At Döttichenbichl (district Garmisch-Patenkirchen), a sacrificial site of the local Raeter from the time of the Alpine campaigns and subsequent years south of Oberammergau, three iron catapult arrowheads were found, which bear the embossed stamp of Legio XIX.
Further evidence is known from the Dangstetten camp on the High Rhine. An inscribed lead disk found there names the third cohort of the XIX. Legion associated with the name of P. Quinctilius Varus. Here it is assumed that Varus was legionary legate of Legio XIX at this time. (71NUBER 2008; DERS. 2009. NUBER 2008 H.-U. NUBER, P. Quinctilius Varus, Legatus Legionis XIX. Arch. Correspondence Bl. 38, 2008 , 223-231. NUBER 2009 H.-U. NUBER, P. Quinctilius Varus won... as legatus Augusti in southern Germany, in: 2000 years Varusschlacht. Imperium, Haltern 2009, 106-113)
With the abandonment of the Dangstetten camp (around 13/12 or 9/8 BC) or at the latest around the birth of Christ, the XIX. Legion from the foothills of the Alps from the High Rhine to the Lower Rhine. (Zanier The Roman Alpine Campaign p. 80)
In the province of Lower Germany, it is assumed that there was a temporary stay in Cologne, Neuss, Haltern and perhaps also Oberaden.
A lead ingot found in autumn 1964 during excavations in the eastern part of the main camp in Haltern in a pit on the former Via Principalis speaks in favor of stationing in Haltern. This bears clearly visibly carved Roman numerals. The inscription identifies Legio XIX (LXIX) as the owner/producer of the bar and suggests the legion's stay in the military camp on the territory of today's town of Haltern am See before it met its end in the Varus Battle. After this heavy defeat, the ordinal number XIX was never assigned to another legion. The battle thus meant the final end of the XIX. Legion. Likewise, the majority of the legionnaires who had fought under Varus found their deaths in the forests of Germania.
Nevertheless, soldiers also seem to have survived the fighting. Some legionnaires were captured, others managed to escape and reached Roman-occupied territory.
Thus Tacitus reports in his annals that survivors of the battle were among the soldiers who died in AD 15. visited the former battlefield with Germanicus to bury the remains of the fallen. (Tacitus 1.61, 1.62) Presumably, as a result, survivors had merged with other legions (Keppie 164) Finally, Tacitus reports that the Aquila (legion eagles) of the legion were killed by Germanicus in the year 15 A.D. could be reclaimed by the Brukterers. Thus at least part of the ignominy of losing the Varus Battle was made up for. This is also the last mention of Legio XIX in ancient written sources.
