Legio XXI Rapax

Legio XXI Rapax
Active 31 B.C. – 92 A.D.
Country Roman Empire
Type Infantry assault (some cavalry support)
Garrison/HQ Castra Regina (Regensburg)
Castra Vetera (Xanten)
Vindonissa
Moguntiacum (Mainz)
Engagements Cantabrian Wars
Year of the Four Emperors
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Vitellius

Legio vigesima prima rapax ("Rapacious Twenty-First Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. It was founded in 31 BC by the emperor Augustus (r. 30 BC - AD 14), probably from men previously enlisted in other legions. The XXI Rapax was destroyed in 92 by the Sarmatians. The symbol of the legion is thought to have been a capricorn.[1]

Brick stamp LEG XXIR, found in Rheinzabern.

Augustus probably sent his new XXIst legion to Hispania Tarraconensis to fight the campaign against the Cantabrians. XXI Rapax was one of the five legions used by Drusus to suppress the rebellion of the Raetians, in 16-15 BC. From 15 BC, the legion was stationed in Castra Regina (Regensburg), in the new province of Raetia.

After the disaster of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, the legion was sent as reinforcements to Germania Inferior, where they shared the base camp of Castra Vetera (Xanten) with V Alaudae. Both Legio V and Legio XXI were involved in a mutiny in AD 14.[2] In 43, they were relocated in Vindonissa, in the province of Germania Superior.

The legion occupied Vindonissa from 46 to 69 with two auxiliary cohorts, first the III Hispanorum and VI Raetorum, and later the VII Raetorum equitata and the XXVI voluntariorum civium Romanorum.

Along with the rest of the German border army, the XXI Rapax supported its commander, Vitellius, in the Year of the Four Emperors (69) and marched to besiege Rome. Vitellius was, however, defeated by Vespasian before the end of the year.

In 70, the legion was part of the army sent to deal with the Batavian rebellion and relieve the four legions imprisoned by Civilis. After that they were sent to Germania Superior, where they shared the castrum (camp) of Moguntiacum (modern day Mainz) with XIV Gemina.

In 89, the legions in Moguntiacum supported their commander, Lucius Antonius Saturninus, in his revolt against emperor Domitian. After the end of this harmless insurrection, the legions were separated and XXI Rapax sent to Pannonia. The legion was probably destroyed in 92, while fighting on the Lower Danube against Sarmatians, presumably a reference to the Roxolani.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ L.J.F. Keppie, Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000, p. 128
  2. ↑ Tacitus, The Annals 1.45
  3. ↑ Bennett, Julian (1997). Trajan: Optimus Princeps: a Life and Times. Routledge. p. 33. ISBN 9780415165242.
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