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Legio XII ''Fulminata'' ("wielder of the thunderbolt"), also known as ''Paterna'', ''Victrix'', ''Antiqua'', ''Certa Constans'', and ''Galliena'', was a Roman Legion , levied by Julius Caesar in 58 BC and which accompanied him during the Gallic Wars until 49 BC . The unit was still guarding the Euphrates River crossing near Melitene at the beginning of the 5th Century . The legion's emblem was a Thunderbolt (''fulmen''). UNDER CAESAR The Twelfth legion, as it is perhaps better known, fought in the Battle Against The Nervians , and probably also in the Siege Of Alesia . The Twelfth fought at the Battle Of Pharsalus ( 48 BC ), when Caesar defeated Pompey. After Caesar won the civil war, the legion was named ''Victrix'', and enlisted in 43 BC by Lepidus and Mark Anthony . Mark Anthony led the Twelfth, renamed XII ''Antiqua'' ("of consolidated quality") during his campaign against the Parthian Empire . During the latest part of Augustus ' principality, XII ''Fulminata'' served in Syria , camping at Raphana . AGAINST THE PARTHIANS In the East, King Vologeses I had invaded Armenia ( 58 ), a client kingdom of Rome. Emperor Nero ordered Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo , the new Legatus of Cappadocia , to manage the matter, and Corbulo brought the IIII ''Scythica'' from Moesia , and with III ''Gallica'' and VI ''Ferrata'' defeated the Parthia ns, restoring Tigranes to the Armenian throne. In 62 , IIII ''Scythica'' and XII ''Fulminata'', commanded by the new legatus of Cappadocia, Lucius Caesennius Paetus , were defeated by the Parthians at Battle Of Rhandeia and forced to surrender. The legions were shamed. Removed from the war theatre, they did not participate in the successful campaign of Corbulo . GREAT JEWISH REVOLT In 66 , after a Zealot Revolt had destroyed the Roman garrison in Jerusalem , the XII ''Fulminata'', with '' Vexillatio nes'' of IIII ''Scythica'' and VI ''Ferrata'', was sent to retaliate, but it was sent back by Gaius Cestius Gallus , legatus of Syria , when he saw that the legion was weak. On its way back, XII ''Fulminata'' was ambushed and defeated by Eleazar Ben Simon at Beit-Horon , and lost its '' Aquila ''. However, XII ''Fulminata'' fought well in the last part of the war, and supported its commander T. Flavius Vespasian in his successful bid for the imperial throne. At the end of the war, XII ''Fulminata'' and XVI ''Flavia Firma'' were sent to guard the Euphrates border, camping at Melitene . DEFENDING THE EASTERN FRONTIER In . The legion was probably in Armenia during Trajan 's campaign of 114 , ended with the annexation of the kingdom. In 134 , the threat of the Alans was subdued by the governor of Cappadocia , Arrian , who defeated the invaders with the aid of XII ''Fulminata'' and XV ''Apollinaris'' . The Twelfth probably fought in the Parthian campaign of Emperor revolted; the Twelfth, having been loyal to the Emperor, obtained the cognomen ''Certa Constans'', "reliably constant". After the death of Emperor Pertinax , 193, XII ''Fulminata'' supported the governor of Syria , Pescennius Niger , who was in the end defeated by Emperor Septimius Severus . When the Eastern frontier of the Empire was moved from the Euphrates to the Tigris , the Twelfth stayed in the reserve, possibly as a punishment for its support of Severus' rival. The region around Melitene was one of the first in which Christian faith spread. Polyeuctes is a martyr under Valerian who was a soldier of the Twelfth. The Sassanid Empire was a major threat to the Roman power in the East. King Shapur II conquered the base of the XV ''Apollinaris'', Satala (256), and sacked Trapezus (258). Emperor Valerian moved against Shapur, but was defeated and captured. The defeat caused the partial collapse of the Empire, with the secessionistic Gallic Empire in the West and Palmyrene Empire in the East. It is known that the XII ''Fulminata'' was under the command of Odaenathus , ruler of the Palmyrene Empire, but also that Emperor Gallienus awarded the legion with the cognomen ''Galliena''. After these episodes, the records of the ''Fulminata'' are scarce. The Palmyrene Empire was reconquered by Aurelian ; Emperor Diocletian defeated the Sassanids and moved the frontier to Northern Mesopotamia . The Twelfth, which probably took part to these campaigns, is recorded guarding the frontier of the Euphrates in Melitene, at the beginning of the 5th century ('' Notitia Dignitatum ''). SEE ALSO
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