Legio Duovicesimae Primigenia - The Twenty-Second Firstborn Legion

The Twenty-Second Firstborn Legion (and its twin XV Primigenia) was founded by the emperor Caligula in 39, who needed extra forces for his campaigns in Germania, the Legion was probably recruited in the eastern recruiting grounds of the existing 22nd Deiotariana Legion, the eagle emblem of which it also adopted. The emblems of the Twenty-second were the demigod Hercules and the Capricorn. The 22nd Primigeneia was possibly given its title by the next emperor, Claudius, for the goddess Fortuna Primigeneia was his patron deity.

The 22nd Primigeneia had just two permanent bases throughout its career. The legion was based at Mogontiacum (Mainz), for the next thirty years, sending troops to Italy to help install their commander-in-chief, Vitellius, as emperor. Those cohorts of the 22nd Primigeneia that remained on the Rhine surrendered to Civilis and his rebels in AD 70. Vespasian subsequently transferred them down the Rhine to Vetera, where, for their penance, they built a new base to replace the one destroyed by the rebels.

We know that XXII Primigenia still existed at the beginning of the fourth century, because it received the honorific title “Primigenia CV”, which must mean Constantiana Victrix”, but after the reign of Constantine I the Great (306-337), it disappears from our sources.

Epigraphic Evidence for Legio XXII Primigenia in Britain

Evidence from RIB1026 (see below) suggests that a vexillation from leg. XXII Primigenia sent to Britain in the early third century.

RIB 1026 - Funerary inscription for Gracilis (c. A.D. 217)

To the spirits of the departed (and) to … Gracilis, centurion from Upper Germany from the Twenty-Second Legion: Aurelia […]illa had this set up to her husband.

[...] M
[... ]RACILI
[...]INATO
[...]MAN SVPER
[...]G XXII AVRELIA
[...]ILLA CON
IVGI FACIEND
VM CVRAVIT

It is suggested that Gracilis was a member of a vexillation from leg. XXII Primigenia sent to Britain in the early third century.

RIB 3163 - Fragmentary tombstone (before A.D. 161)

… primus pilus of the Twenty-Second Legion Deiotariana, prefect of the Twentieth Legion Valeria Victrix.

[...]
[..] ▸ LEG ▸ XXII D[...]
[..]AEF ▸ LEG ▸ XX ▸ V ▸ V

In view of the find-spot, this must be part of a tombstone, but an epitaph would not end with details of an officer’s career, so there was presumably a second tablet. The praefectus castrorum of a legion was regularly promoted from being primus pilus of another legion, so the restoration is certain. The Twenty-Second Legion Deiotariana was destroyed within the period 119–61, so this inscription is no later than the 160s, but may be much earlier.

RIB 2216 - Bulding inscription of the Twenty-Second Legion Primigenia

A detachment of the Twenty-Second Legion Primigenia (built this).

VEXI[...]
LEG XXI[...]
PRIMIG[...]

Supposedly on the Antonine Wall, it was seen in, or shortly before, 1797 in Callendar House, Falkirk.
A detachment, 1,000 strong, of the Twenty-Second Legion Primigenia formed part of the reinforcements sent to Britain about 119 by Hadrian.

Evidence from Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae(ILS) for Legio XXII Primigenia in Britain

After the loss of the ninth legion (after c. 120 AD) reinforcements from the Twenty-Second Firstborn Legion are requested. We have two inscriptions which recorded such reinforcements, which include 1,000 legionaries from Legio VII Gemina from Spainand VIII Augusta and XXII Primigenia both from Germany.

ILS 2726

T PONTIVS T F PAL SABINVS PRAEF COH I PANN ET DALMAT EQ C R TRIB MIL LEG VI FERRAT DONIS DONATVS EXPEDITIONE PARTHICA A DIVO TRAIANO HASTA PVRA VEXILLO CORONA MVRALI > LEG XXII PRIMIG > LEG XIII GEMIN PRIMVS PILVS LEG III AVG PRAEPOSITVS VEXILLATIONIBVS MILLIARIIS TRIBVS EXPEDITIONE BRITTANNICA LEG VII GEMIN VIII AVG XXII PRIMIG TRIB COH III VIG COH XIIII VRB COH II PRAET P P II PROC PROVINC NARBONENS IIII VIR I D QVINQ FLAMEN PATRON MVNICIPI

ILS 2735