| Legio X Fretensis |
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Legio X ''Fretensis'' (Latin: "Tenth legion ''of the sea strait''") was a Roman Legion levied by Augustus in 41 / 40 BC to fight during the period of Civil War that started the dissolution of the Roman Republic . X ''Fretensis'' is recorded to exist at least until 410s . X ''Fretensis'' symbols were the Bull , the holy animal of the goddess Venus (mythical ancestor of the Gens Julia ), a ship (probably a reference to the battles of Naulochus and/or Actium), the god Neptune , and a boar. The symbol of Taurus may also mean that it was organized between 20 April and 20 May . HISTORY Civil wars of the Republic and early Empire Octavian, later known as Augustus , levied a legion and gave it the number ten, as a reference to Julius Caesar 's famous Tenth Legion . In 36 BC , the Tenth Legion fought under Octavian against Sextus Pompeius in the Battle Of Naulochus , where it earned its '' Cognomen '' ''Fretensis''. The name refers to the fact that the battle took place near the sea Strait Of Messina (''Fretum Siculum''). In 31 BC , it fought in the Battle Of Actium against Mark Antony . Although Actium was a battle at sea, the legion was able to board enemy ships that had been hooked close by means of an iron Grapnel . Its key participation in this battle is probably the reason that the legion also used a Trireme as one of its symbols. Actium marked the end of the civil war and the rise to power of Octavian, who was proclaimed Augustus some years later. Tiles found in Caesarea Maritima , built in the second decade BC, suggest that the legion was at that time based in Iudaea . Later X ''Fretensis'' moved to Syria . In 6 it was stationed in that province together with legions III ''Gallica'' , VI ''Ferrata'' , and XII ''Fulminata'' . In the same year, Publius Sulpicius Quirinus , governor of Syria, led these legions in the suppression of the revolt that sprung out after the killing of Herod Archelaus . Under Nero , in 58 , X ''Fretensis'' participated in the campaign of Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo against the Parthians . First Jewish-Roman War , conquered by X ''Fretensis'' in 68 .]] X ''Fretensis'' was centrally involved in the First Jewish-Roman War (66–73), under the supreme command of Vespasian . In 66 , the X ''Fretensis'' and V ''Macedonica'' went to Alexandria for an invasion of Ethiopia planned by Nero . However, the two legions were needed in Iudaea to suppress a revolt. After spending the winter in Ptolemais Ace (modern Acre, Israel ), X ''Fretensis'' and V ''Macedonica'' relocated in the coastal city of Caesarea Maritima (67/68). This was due to the large number of legions being mobilized in Ptolemais, under Marcus Ulpius Traianus , future governor of Syria and father of the emperor Trajan . During that same winter, the Caesarea camp of Xth and Vth hosted Vespasian, who was forced the following Year , to go to Rome to seize power. Vespasian's son, Titus ended the suppression of the revolt. When Tarichacae and Gamala were conquered, the X ''Fretensis'' moved to Scythopolis (modern Bet She'an ), just west of Jordan River . In the summer of 68 , X ''Fretensis'' destroyed the monastery of Qumran , where the Dead Sea Scrolls are believed to have originated. Its winter camp was at Jericho . one of the fortresses of the Jewish revolt conquered by the X ''Fretensis''.]] By 70, the rebellion in all of Iudaea had been crushed, except for Jerusalem and a few fortresses, including Masada . In that year X ''Fretensis'', in conjunction with V ''Macedonica'', XII ''Fulminata'', and XV ''Apollinaris'' , began the siege of Jerusalem , stronghold of the rebellion. The Xth camped on the Mount Of Olives . During the siege, Legio X gained fame in the effective use of their various war machines. It was noted that they were able to hurl stones that weighted a talent (about 25 kg) a distance of two furlongs (400 m) or further. The projectiles of their Ballista e caused heavy damage to the ramparts. The siege of Jerusalem lasted five months and the besieged population experienced all the terrible rigors of starvation. Finally, the combined assaults of the legions succeeded in taking the city, which was then subjected to Destruction . |
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