Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Legio I Minervia

Legio I Minervia, also known as the First Minervan Legion, was founded by Domitian in 82 AD for his campaign against the Chatti. It emblem was the goddess Minerva and it was given its cognomen by Minerva was Domitian’s protective deity.

Cognomen: Minervia
Emblem: Minerva, Boar
Major Campaigns: Domitian’s Chatti campaign (83 AD); Saturninus’ Revolt (89 AD); Trajan’s Dacian Wars (101-106 AD); Lucius Verus’ Parthian War (161-166 AD); Marcus Aurelius’ Marcomannic Wars (166-180 AD); Lugdunum (197 AD); Septimius Severus’ Parthian campaign (197 AD); Alexander Severus’ German campaign (235 AD); Frankish invasion (256-258 AD)
Main HQ: Bonna (Bonn, Germany)
Commanders: Hadrian (legate, c. 103-106 AD)

Early Service in Germania

Shortly after its foundation, Legio I Minervia fought in Domitian’s campaign against the Chatti and then was one of the legions used to put down the revolt of the governor of Germania Superior, L. Antonius Saturninus, in 89 AD.

During its service in Germania, Legio I Minervia was stationed at Bonna (Bonn) and it remained there until the 4th c. AD.

Campaigning Abroad

While its main base remained in Germania, Legio I Minervia was used abroad for many of the main conflicts fought in the 2nd c. AD, either as a whole legion or with the use of vexillations.

The legion took part in Trajan’s Dacian Wars, 101-106 AD, and was commanded by the future emperor Hadrian during the second war. The boar emblem of Legio I Minervia even appears on Trajan’s Column on a standard.

It was then used by both Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius in their Parthian campaign, 161-166 AD, and Marcomannic Wars, 166-180 AD, respectively. There is also epigraphic evidence that a vexillation was sent to Mauretania at some point as well.

Service in the 3rd c. AD

During the Year of the Five Emperors, Legio I Minervia declared for Septimius Severus and fought for him against Clodius Albinus at the Battle of Lugdunum in 197 AD. A vexillation of the legion was then taken by Severus to fight in his Parthian campaign in the same year.

For the rest of its existence, Legio I Minervia was tasked with dealing with the increasing incursions of Germanic tribes over the Rhine. They fought under Alexander Severus against the German tribes; under Maximinus Thrax against the Alemanni; under Gordian III against the German tribes; and finally under Gallienus against the Frankish invasion. Legio I Minervia also supported Postumus and his breakaway Gallic Empire, 260-274 AD.

The city and fortress of Bonna (Bonn) was destroyed in 353 AD during another Frankish invasion and it is unclear what happened to the legion from this point on.