Legio VIII Augusta

Legio VIII Augusta

Legio VIII Augusta, also known as the Eighth Augustan Legion, was founded by Julius Caesar. Its emblem was a bull and it gained its cognomen for fighting bravely under Augustus.

Cognomen: Augusta
Emblem: Bull
Major Campaigns: Caesar’s Gallic and Civil Wars (58-46 BC); Mutina (43 BC); Philippi (42 BC); Perusia (41 BC); Pannonian Revolt (6-9 AD); Bedriacum (69 AD); Marcus Aurelius’ Marcomannic Wars (166-180 AD); Lugdunum (197 AD); Caracalla’s Alamannic campaign (213 AD); Alexander Severus’ Persian campaign (230-233 AD); Alexander Severus’ German campaign (235 AD)
Main HQ: Argentoratum (Strasbourg, France)

Early Service

Legio VIII Augusta fought for Julius Caesar during his Gallic Wars and Civil War and was rewarded with land in Campania. The legion was reconstituted by Octavian in 44 BC and the veterans were recalled into service to fight in the next series of civil wars.

By 6 AD, Legio VIII Augusta had been stationed on the Danube and was part of the army being prepared for Tiberius’ aborted Marcomannic campaign. And so like the rest of the legions in the area, it helped crush the Pannonian Revolt. After this, the legion was stationed at Poetovio (Ptuj) in Pannonia and took part in the mutiny in 14 AD after the death of Augustus.

_{Altar to Jupiter and a Genius, dedicated by a soldier of Legio VIII Augusta, 175-200 AD, Stockstadt. Saalburg Museum.}

Under Claudius, Legio VIII Augusta was sent to Moesia and garrisoned Novae (Svistov). During the Year of the Four Emperors, the legion supported Otho but did not make it to Italy before Otho was defeated at Bedriacum and so joined the Pannonian legions in supporting Vespasian and defeating Vitellius.

Service in Germania

in 70 AD, Legio VIII Augusta was sent to the Rhine during Vespasian’s reorganization of the legions and was firstly stationed at Mirebeau-sur-Beze before moving to Argentoratum (Strasbourg) during the reign of Domitian.

Little it known of the legion’s activities during the 2nd c. AD but a vexillation was sent by Hadrian to Hadrian’s Wall and it fought in the Marcomannic Wars during Marcus Aurelius’ reign.

_{Dedication to Alexander Severus and a Genius, dedicated by frumentarii of Legio VIII Augusta and Legio XIII Gemina, 3rd c. AD, Rome. British School at Rome.}

In 213 AD, Legio VIII Augusta fought for Caracalla against the Alamanni and a vexillation was used by Alexander Severus in his campaign against the Persians in 235 AD, before quickly hurrying back to the Rhine to stave off another Alammanic attack. The legion would continue to be stationed in Germania over the next century and continue to deal with the Alamanni.

It is unclear what role it had during the period of the Gallic Empire. The Notitia Dignitatum does not mention Legio VIII Augusta and so it can be assumed that the legion may have been wiped out during one of the many barbarian invasions.

_{Centurial Building Stone of Legio VIII Augusta, Zugmantel. Saalburg Museum.}

Interactive Map

Embark on a journey through time and space with our interactive map to discover the far-reaching influence of Legio VIII Augusta on the Roman Empire.

Confirmed Members

The following table lists members of Legio VIII Augusta who have been identified through epigraphical or historical sources.

Please note that the dates listed in the table refer to the inscriptions themselves, not necessarily the exact time period during which the individuals served in

Name	Rank	Date	Found	Source
A. Bucius Lappius Maximus	Legate	c. 77-81 AD	Neris-les-Bains, France La Noue, France Mirebeau-sur-Beze, France Niederbieber, Germany	CIL XIII, 12168,7-9 CIL XIII, 12171,8 CIL XIII, 12173,16-18 CIL XIII, 12206, 10
L. Antistius Rusticus	Legate	93 AD	Yalvac, Turkey	AE 1925, 126
M. Cornelius Nigrinus Curiatius Maternus	Legate	97 AD	Lliria, Spain	CIL II, 3788
M. Acilius Priscus Egrilius Plarianus	Legate	c. 120-123 AD c. 118-128 AD	Ostia Antica, Italy	CIL XIV, 155 CIL XIV 4145 & 4442
M. Juventus Caesianus	Legate	186 AD	Rottweil, Germany	AE 1956, 90
A. Egnatius Proculus	Legate	c. 191-235 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 1406
P. Aelius Coeranus	Legate	c. 201-250 AD	Tivoli, Italy	CIL XIV, 3586
Cn. Petronius Probatus Junior Justus	Legate	c. 231-235 AD	Nola, Italy	CIL X, 1254
L. Valerius Valerianus	Prefect	c. 238-244 AD	Pozzuoli, Italy	CampiFleg-03, p 42
L. Cornelius Bocchus	Tribune	c. 1-79 AD	Lisbon, Portugal	AE 1999, 857
M. Julius Verus	Tribune	c. 1-300 AD	Aix-en-Provence, France	CIL XII, 516
Q. Solonius Severinus	Tribune	c. 1-300 AD	Nimes, France	CIL XII, 3184
L. Julius Brocchus Valerius Bassus	Tribune	c. 1-300 AD	Bellerive, Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland	CIL XII, 2607 CIL XII, 2606
L. Coiedius Candidus	Tribune	50 AD c. 51-60 AD	Castelleone di Suasa, Italy	CIL XI, 6163 AE 1992, 566
Q. Rutilius Flaccus Cornelianus	Tribune	c. 51-150 AD	Cortijo Nuevo, Spain	CIL II, 1116
Sex. Sentius Caecilianus	Tribune	c. 75-76 AD	Fossa, Italy	CIL IX, 4194
Sex. Cornelius Dextrus	Tribune	c. 101-300 AD	Bejaia, Algeria	CIL VIII, 8934
M. Oppius Capito Quintus Tamudius Aninius Severus	Tribune	c. 131-170 AD	Osimo, Italy	CIL IX, 5832
M. Aemilius Papus	Tribune	c. 138-161 AD	Utrera, Spain	CIL II, 1283
Q. Gavius Fulvius Proculus	Tribune	c. 156-165 AD	Caiazzo, Italy	CIL X, 4579
L. Pompeius Senior	Tribune	c. 161-180 AD	Fertassa, Morocco	AE 1957, 59
L. Neratius Proculus	Tribune	c. 165-166 AD	Sepino, Italy	CIL IX, 2457
L. Aemilius Carus	Tribune	c. 172-177 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 1333
L. Cestius Gallus Cerrinius Justus Lutatius Natalis	Tribune	c. 175-210 AD	Castel Volterno, Italy	CIL X, 3722
C. Vesnius Vindex	Tribune	c. 186-192 AD	Urbino, Italy	CIL XI, 6053
P. Prosius Celer	Camp Prefect	c. 151-200 AD	Bonn, Germany	AE 1931, 13
C. Gavius Silvanus	First Spear	c. 54-65 AD	Turin, Italy	CIL V, 7003
M. Aurelius Victurus	Eagle-Bearer	c. 201-300 AD	Kibyra, Turkey	AE 2003, 1707
Samminus	Standard-Bearer	c. 261-285 AD	Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia	ILJug-01, 274
Marinianus Marinus	Centurion	c. 1-300 AD	Dalheim, Luxembourg	AE 2011, 777
P. Talpidius Clemens	Centurion	c. 1-300 AD	Norroy-les-Pont-a-Mousson, France	CIL XIII, 4625
M. Petronius Classicus Marrucinus	Centurion	c. 9-45 AD	Ptuj, Slovenia	CIL III, 4060
Terentius Julianus	Centurion	c. 31-70 AD	Ivosevci, Croatia	ILJug-03, 2818
Q. Vettius Vemens	Centurion	c. 31-70 AD	Aquileia, Italy	InscrAqu-02, 2758a
Q. Vettius	Centurion	c. 45-69 AD	Svishtov, Bulgaria	AE 1999, 1331
Senucio	Centurion	c. 45-70 AD	Corinth, Greece	AE 1978, 777
Severus	Centurion	c. 51-100 AD	Strasbourg, France	CIL XIII, 11627
M. Julius Paternus	Centurion	c. 51-150 AD	Solin, Croatia	CIL III, 2035
M. Postumus Celer	Centurion	c. 71-100 AD	Strasbourg, France	CIL XIII, 5979
C. Aquillius Proculus	Centurion	c. 71-125 AD	Nijmegen, Netherlands	AE 1998, 966
C. Julius Maianus	Centurion	c. 71-200 AD	Bad Ems, Germany	CIL XIII, 7733
Flavius Ovilonus Proclius	Centurion	c. 71-300 AD	Strasbourg, France	Archimede-2021-183
Sex. Octavius Primanus	Centurion	c. 101-150 AD	Baden-Baden, Germany	Reuter-2018, p 154
M. Ulpius Vannicus	Centurion	c. 101-170 AD	Obernburg am Main, Germany	AE 1929, 106
C. Magius Senecio	Centurion	c. 101-200 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 2815
T. Valerius Justinus	Centurion	c. 101-250 AD	Wintersdorf, Germany	CIL XIII, 6318
M. Aurelius Lucilius	Centurion	c. 101-300 AD	Tarragona, Spain	CIL II, 4147
L. Favonius Seccianus	Centurion	c. 131-170 AD	Bullau, Germany	CIL 13, 6516
P. Nasellius Proclianus	Centurion	148 AD c. 131-170 AD	Bockingen, Germany	CIL XIII, 6469 & 6472 CIL XIII, 6477
Crescentinus Respectus	Centurion	c. 151-200 AD	Idstein, Germany Zugmantel, Germany	CIL XIII, 7613 CIL XIII, 7613a
C. Julius Valens	Centurion	c. 151-230 AD	Mainz, Germany	AE 1976, 494
Julius Victinus	Centurion	c. 151-250 AD	Bockingen, Germany	CIL XIII, 6473
Valerius Citus	Centurion	c. 151-250 AD	Bockingen, Germany	CIL XIII, 6475
Veranius Saturninus	Centurion	158 AD c. 158-160 AD	Neckarburken, Germany Osterburken, Germany	AE 1986, 523 CIL XIII, 11766
C. Cestius Sabinus	Centurion	c. 161-180 AD	Urbino, Italy	CIL XI, 6057
Claudius Paternus	Centurion	c. 171-230 AD	Brotzingen, Germany	AE 1990, 761
Julius Demetrianus	Centurion	187 AD	Ohringen, Germany	CIL XIII, 11757
Sextilius Marcianus	Centurion	192 AD	Mainz, Germany	CIL XIII, 6728
M. Octavius Severus	Centurion	c. 197-211 AD	Welzheim, Germany	CIL XIII, 6526
M. Baebius Urvinianus	Centurion	c. 201-250 AD	Unknown	Bender-2022, 1
Gratius Artillius	Centurion	c. 201-300 AD	Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia	ILJug-01, 272
Claudius Clamosus	Centurion	c. 201-300 AD	Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia	ILJug-01, 272
M. Terentius Aelianus	Centurion	c. 231-235 AD	Nola, Italy	CIL X, 1254
Aurelius Secundus	Centurion	268 AD	Vienna, Austria	CIL III, 14359, 27
P. Farfinias Severus	Trumpeter	c. 45-69 AD	Svishtov, Bulgaria	AE 1914, 93
L. Valerius Flavinus	Legionary	c. 1-50 AD	Empuries, Spain	AE 2002, 867
M. Miledius	Legionary	c. 1-50 AD	Aquileia, Italy	AE 1988, 585
Maximus	Legionary	c. 1-100 AD	Labin, Croatia	CIL III, 3051
Maturius Exsuperatus	Legionary	c. 1-300 AD	Cimiez, France	CIL V, 7886
T. Aelius Macrobius	Legionary	c. 1-300 AD	Antibes, France	CIL XII, 5723
Julius Rufus	Legionary	c. 1-300 AD	Lillebonne, France	CIL XIII, 3224
M. Annius Marcellus	Legionary	c. 1-300 AD	Khoros, Syria	CIL III, 193
C. Servilius	Legionary	c. 9-45 AD	Ptuj, Slovenia	CIL III, 10879
Sex. Valerius Lucinus	Legionary	c. 31-70 AD	Ivosevci, Croatia	ILJug-03, 2818
Q. Cerrinius Cordus	Legionary	c. 31-70 AD	Aquileia, Italy	AE 1988, 587
C. Valerius Valens	Legionary	c. 45-70 AD	Corinth, Greece	AE 1978, 777
Severius Acceptus	Legionary	c. 51-70 AD	Kadikoy, Turkey	AE 1934, 125
T. Albius Rufus	Legionary	c. 69-100 AD	Aquileia, Italy	InscrAqu-02, 2752
T. Flavius Peregrinus	Legionary	c. 71-100 AD	Strasbourg, France	CIL XIII, 5979
C. Valerius Crispus	Legionary	c. 71-100 AD	Wiesbaden, Germany	CIL XIII, 7574
C. Caprius Julianus	Legionary	c. 71-300 AD	Strasbourg, France	Archimede-2021-183
L. Licinius Maximus	Legionary	c. 80-130 AD	Strasbourg, France	CIL XIII, 5982
C. Verterius Secundus	Legionary	c. 101-150 AD	Baden-Baden, Germany	Reuter-2018, p 154
Cassius Carantinus	Legionary	c. 101-200 AD	Massongex, Switzerland	AE 1945, 122
C. Vereius Clemens	Legionary	c. 101-200 AD	Heidelberg, Germany	CIL XIII, 6397
Flavius Marinianus	Legionary	c. 101-250 AD	Wintersdorf, Germany	CIL XIII, 6317
Perpetuus	Legionary	c. 101-250 AD	Wintersdorf, Germany	CIL XIII, 6319
L. Veratius Paternus	Legionary	c. 151-200 AD	Pforzheim, Germany	CIL XIII, 6334
Julius Macrinus	Legionary	c. 151-260 AD	Grozzkrotzenburg, Germany	CIL XIII, 7416
C. Julius Jullinus	Legionary	c. 171-200 AD	Osterburken, Germany	AE 1985, 690
Q. Melicius Respectus	Legionary	c. 171-200 AD	Osterburken, Germany	AE 1985, 692
L. Traianus Ibliomarus	Legionary	c. 171-230 AD	Osterburken, Germany	AE 1985, 695
Tertinius Severus	Legionary	c. 171-230 AD	Vinxtbach, Germany	CIL XIII, 7731
Vengius Germanus	Legionary	182 AD	Bad Cannstatt, Germany	CIL XIII, 11747a
T. Januarinius Tertius	Legionary	182 AD	Osterburken, Germany	AE 1985, 686
Q. Villonius Verecundus	Legionary	189 AD	Obernburg am Main, Germany	AE 1957, 50
C. Sanctinius Mercator	Legionary	192 AD	Obernburg am Main, Germany	AE 1957, 52
Firmidius Severinus	Legionary	201 AD	Geneva, Switzerland	CIL XII, 2587
L. Aelius Victor	Legionary	c. 201-230 AD	Trier, Germany	CIL XIII, 3645
Aurelius Maximianus	Legionary	c. 201-250 AD	Martigny, Switzerland	AE 1996, 985
Marcianius Avitianus	Legionary	c. 201-250 AD	Saverne, France	CIL XIII, 11647
Secundus Constans	Legionary	c. 201-250 AD	Lyon, France	CIL XIII, 1850
Septimius Sextianus	Legionary	c. 201-250 AD	Lyon, France	CIL XIII, 1874
Surus	Legionary	c. 201-300 AD	Letka, Bosnia and Herzegovina	AE 1990, 788
C. Julius Victorinus	Legionary	204 AD	Mainz, Germany	Chiron-2023-120, 4
C. Julius Servandus	Legionary	206 AD	Obernburg am Main, Germany	AE 1957, 48
C. Securius Domitianus	Legionary	212 AD	Osterburken, Germany	AE 1978, 525
P. Sedulius Julianus	Legionary	c. 212-223 AD	Bad Cannstatt, Germany	CIL XIII, 6440
Calenus	Legionary	213 AD	Osterburken, Germany	AE 1978, 526
M. Cossius Florentinus	Legionary	223 AD	Grozzkrotzenburg, Germany	AE 1978, 550
Victorinus	Legionary	c. 223-224 AD	Osterburken, Germany	AE 1978, 527
Nertinius Festus	Legionary	224 AD	Obernburg am Main, Germany	AE 2012, 1013
Petronius Senilis	Legionary	231 AD	Miltenberg, Germany	CIL XIII, 11771
C. Vettius	Cavalry	c. 1-50 AD	Magdalensburg, Austria	CIL III, 4858
Q. Vettius	Cavalry	c. 1-50 AD	Magdalensburg, Austria	CIL III, 4858
M. Metilius	Cavalry	c. 1-50 AD	Magdalensburg, Austria	CIL III, 4858
C. Sallustius Taurus	Scout	c. 151-250 AD	Mainz, Germany	CIL XIII, 6721
L. Valerius Fatales	Frumentarius	c. 1-300 AD	Efes, Turkey	CIL III, 6084
Catullius Catullinus	Frumentarius	c. 1-300 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 3350
C. Julius Vettius	Frumentarius	c. 51-200 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 3353
T. Flavius Fruendus	Frumentarius	c. 71-130 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 3351
M. Firminius Frontinus	Frumentarius	c. 101-200 AD	Velletri, Italy	CIL X, 6575
M. Licinius Sanctinus	Frumentarius	c. 151-200 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 3352
C. Mellonius Vicanus	Frumentarius	c. 167-192 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 3354
Q. Haterius Valerianus	Frumentarius	c. 222-235 AD	Rome, Italy	CIL VI, 230
Cn. Numerius Fronto	Veteran	c. 1-50 AD	Aquileia, Italy	CIL V, 2162
L. Trebius Paulus	Veteran	c. 1-100 AD	Otok Krk, Croatia	CIL III, 3127
L. Braetius	Veteran	c. 1-100 AD	Celje, Slovenia	CIL III, 5220
Manlius	Veteran	c. 1-100 AD	Milan, Italy	CIL V, 5827
Aemilius Victor	Veteran	c. 1-300 AD	Belley, France	CIL XIII, 2505
T. Flavius Julianus	Veteran	c. 1-300 AD	Aleppo, Syria	CIL III, 191
L. Titius	Veteran	c. 31-60 AD	Aquileia, Italy	CIL V, 936
Q. Titius	Veteran	c. 31-60 AD	Aquileia, Italy	CIL V, 936
C. Cassius	Veteran	c. 31-70 AD	Ptuj, Slovenia	CIL III, 10878
M. Caesius Priscus	Veteran	c. 31-70 AD	Aquileia, Italy	CIL V, 902
C. Valerius Priscus	Veteran	c. 31-70 AD	Aquileia, Italy	AE 1948, 23
Caesonius Liberalis	Veteran	c. 31-300 AD	Worms, Germany	CIL XIII, 6223
L. Scultidius Rufus	Veteran	c. 61-70 AD	Taranto, Italy	AE 1946, 212
C. Atilius Mocetius	Veteran	c. 71-100 AD	Meda, Italy	CIL V, 5713
C. Atilius Magius	Veteran	c. 71-100 AD	Meda, Italy	CIL V, 5713
Lugenus	Veteran	c. 71-300 AD	Mainz, Germany	CIL XIII, 6783
C. Taedius Secundus	Veteran	c. 71-300 AD	Strasbourg, France	Archimede-2021-188
C. Julius Longinus	Veteran	c. 79-100 AD	Rieti, Italy	CIL IX, 4684
C. Julius Aquinus	Veteran	c. 101-200 AD	Baden-Baden, Germany	ANachrBad-1993-144
Aelius Junius	Veteran	c. 176-200 AD	Ankara, Turkey	AE 2019, 1636
C. Geminius Artillus	Veteran	c. 201-250 AD	Lyon, France	CIL XIII, 1860
C. Tallonius Pervincus	Veteran	c. 201-250 AD	Lyon, France	CIL XIII, 1896
Tertinius Gessus	Veteran	c. 201-250 AD	Lyon, France	CIL XIII, 1897
Aurelius Mucianus	Veteran	c. 201-300 AD	Ezerovo, Bulgaria	AE 1939, 238
Severinius Victorinus	Veteran	c. 211-222 AD	Lauterbourg, France	CIL XIII, 6076
C. Celsinius Matutinus	Veteran	c. 222-235 AD	Strasbourg, France	CIL XIII, 11608 & 11609
Antonius	Unknown	c. 1-150 AD	Ivosevci, Croatia	CIL III, 14992
Ulpius Verecundus	Unknown	c. 101-300 AD	Samandag, Turkey	AE 1939, 218

Share this: