THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
Trajan reigned as emperor from 98 to 117 A.D. He was born September 18th, 53 into the Ulpii family
in the Baetican city of Italica (southern Spain), and he traced his ancestry there back to the 3rd
Century B.C. His father, a Roman senator who served under Vespasianus as the legate of Legio X
Fretensis, subsequently held several governorships including those of Baetica and Syria before
becoming proconsul of Asia. He passed away before 100 AD and was deified in 113 A.D.
Trajan served as a legate under his father in Syria, and then became a quaestor and a praetor before
84. Hadrian's father died when he was 9 and one of the two guardians appointed in 86 was his
father's cousin, Marcus Ulpius Traianus. Trajan was subsequently appointed as the legate of Legio
VII Gemina. He led his men against the rebel Antonius Saturninus on the Rhine and then fought
under Domitian against the Germans. In 91 he became a consul and thereafter was the governor of
Moesia inferior and then Germania superior. Hadrian was dispatched to Germania in 97 AD to advise
Trajan that the emperor Nerva had adopted him as his heir. On January 27th, 98, Nerva died and
Trajan assumed power. Before heading off to Rome he establish the Limes in Germany.
The Dacian king Decebalus was a constant thorn in the side of Rome, and it was in 100 AD that
Trajan began his preparations for the first Danube campaign to deal with him. Legions were
redeployed from several provinces including Germany and Britain. Auxiliary units were transferred into
the area and new legions were created to replace two lost in battle. Legio XXX likely took the place of
V Alaudae, which was crushed by the Sarmatians in 92, and Legio II Traiana replaced the vanquished
Legio Rapax.
The offensive against Dacia was launched in 101, after the completion of a new road through the ‘Iron
Gates’ and the erection of a 60 arch bridge across the Danube. Although Decebalus capitulated in
102, he continued to harass the Romans and incite rebellion. Trajan returned to Dacia in 106 and
engaged in a long bitter struggle that involved almost one third of the Roman army and concluded
with Decebalus' suicide. The surviving Dacians were slain or enslaved, and the new Roman province
of Dacia was opened to immigrants from other parts of the empire. The spoils of war financed
massive public works throughout the empire, and the victory was commemorated on Trajan's column.
In 114 Trajan attacked Parthia and captured Babylon and Ctesiphon. The conquered areas proved
too difficult to control and Trajan reluctantly withdrew to the west in 117 AD where he died in Selinus
on August 9th. Hadrian was his successor.
LXXX U(LPIA) V(ICTRIX) P(IA) F(IDELIS)
Founded around 100 AD, Legio XXX earned the cognomen Victrix (winner) for its involvement in the
Dacian conflict. It was stationed at Brigetio (Szony) in Pannonia Superior in 105 after XI Claudia was
transferred to Oescus (in Lower Moesia). Stamped tiles discovered at Carnutum and Vindobona
testify to Legio XXX's presence there involved in construction projects, which makes participation in
Trajan's Parthian war of 114-117 unlikely. In 118 Marcius Turbo was given the task of quelling unrest
in Pannonia and Dacia following Trajan's death, and he would have acted as Legio XXX's supreme
commander.
When VI Victrix was redeployed to Britain in 119-122, Legio XXX occupied its former base at Castra
Vetera near Colonia Ulpia Traiana (Xanten) in Germania Inferior. The fort was strategically placed
where the Lippe joins the Rhine making it ideally suited to control the area and launch raids into
Germany.
Soldiers from the XXXth are found posted in Colonia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne) as clerks in the
office of the governor of Germania Inferior, running lime kilns at Iversheim, involved in construction in
Bonna (Bonn) along with Legio I Minervia, and serving in locations such as Rigomagus (Remagen),
Noviomagus and Divitia. Detachments were posted in Gaul and Legio XXX's name has been
associated with Cabillonum (Chalon Saone-et-Loire), Lugudunum (Lyon), Lutetia (Paris) and
Avaricium (Bourges).
A vexillation of Legio XXXth possibly accompanied I Minervia when it participated in Lucius Verus'
Parthian campaign in 162. It supported Lucius Septimius Severus against Clodius Albinus in
196/197 and earned the title Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal). Vexillations of XXX served with Iulius
Castinus in 206-8 when he quelled dissident Gauls and Spaniards and fought with Severus in
Britannia.
Detachments were active with Severus Alexander in Persia in 235. The lower Rhine was overrun in
240 and then again in 256. Postumus repelled the invaders in 260, established in-depth defences
and founded the Gallic Empire with the support of Legio XXX. Aurelian's reintegration of Gaul into the
Roman Empire in 274 AD was accomplished at a significant loss in life, and the Franks overran the
weakened defences as far as Paris. Order was firmly restored by Chlorus around 300, and he
refounded Colonia Ulpia Traiana (Xanten), which had been a ghost town for almost a quarter of a
century. Legio XXX was transferred into the city, which was henceforth known as Tricesimae (thirty).
According to Ammianus Marcellinus “soldiers of the Thirtieth” were present at Amida when the
Persians laid siege to and captured the city in 359 AD.
The men who served in Legio XXX originated from such diverse places as Italia, Germania Inferior,
Gallia, Belgica, Britannia, Dalmatia and Thracia. Examination of the coinage of Gallienus suggests a
relationship between the legion and the god Neptune, while those of Victorinus link the god Jupiter,
and the astrological sign of Capricorn, with the XXXth.
Trajan reigned as emperor from 98 to 117 A.D. He was born September 18th, 53 into the Ulpii family
in the Baetican city of Italica (southern Spain), and he traced his ancestry there back to the 3rd
Century B.C. His father, a Roman senator who served under Vespasianus as the legate of Legio X
Fretensis, subsequently held several governorships including those of Baetica and Syria before
becoming proconsul of Asia. He passed away before 100 AD and was deified in 113 A.D.
Trajan served as a legate under his father in Syria, and then became a quaestor and a praetor before
84. Hadrian's father died when he was 9 and one of the two guardians appointed in 86 was his
father's cousin, Marcus Ulpius Traianus. Trajan was subsequently appointed as the legate of Legio
VII Gemina. He led his men against the rebel Antonius Saturninus on the Rhine and then fought
under Domitian against the Germans. In 91 he became a consul and thereafter was the governor of
Moesia inferior and then Germania superior. Hadrian was dispatched to Germania in 97 AD to advise
Trajan that the emperor Nerva had adopted him as his heir. On January 27th, 98, Nerva died and
Trajan assumed power. Before heading off to Rome he establish the Limes in Germany.
The Dacian king Decebalus was a constant thorn in the side of Rome, and it was in 100 AD that
Trajan began his preparations for the first Danube campaign to deal with him. Legions were
redeployed from several provinces including Germany and Britain. Auxiliary units were transferred into
the area and new legions were created to replace two lost in battle. Legio XXX likely took the place of
V Alaudae, which was crushed by the Sarmatians in 92, and Legio II Traiana replaced the vanquished
Legio Rapax.
The offensive against Dacia was launched in 101, after the completion of a new road through the ‘Iron
Gates’ and the erection of a 60 arch bridge across the Danube. Although Decebalus capitulated in
102, he continued to harass the Romans and incite rebellion. Trajan returned to Dacia in 106 and
engaged in a long bitter struggle that involved almost one third of the Roman army and concluded
with Decebalus' suicide. The surviving Dacians were slain or enslaved, and the new Roman province
of Dacia was opened to immigrants from other parts of the empire. The spoils of war financed
massive public works throughout the empire, and the victory was commemorated on Trajan's column.
In 114 Trajan attacked Parthia and captured Babylon and Ctesiphon. The conquered areas proved
too difficult to control and Trajan reluctantly withdrew to the west in 117 AD where he died in Selinus
on August 9th. Hadrian was his successor.
LXXX U(LPIA) V(ICTRIX) P(IA) F(IDELIS)
Founded around 100 AD, Legio XXX earned the cognomen Victrix (winner) for its involvement in the
Dacian conflict. It was stationed at Brigetio (Szony) in Pannonia Superior in 105 after XI Claudia was
transferred to Oescus (in Lower Moesia). Stamped tiles discovered at Carnutum and Vindobona
testify to Legio XXX's presence there involved in construction projects, which makes participation in
Trajan's Parthian war of 114-117 unlikely. In 118 Marcius Turbo was given the task of quelling unrest
in Pannonia and Dacia following Trajan's death, and he would have acted as Legio XXX's supreme
commander.
When VI Victrix was redeployed to Britain in 119-122, Legio XXX occupied its former base at Castra
Vetera near Colonia Ulpia Traiana (Xanten) in Germania Inferior. The fort was strategically placed
where the Lippe joins the Rhine making it ideally suited to control the area and launch raids into
Germany.
Soldiers from the XXXth are found posted in Colonia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne) as clerks in the
office of the governor of Germania Inferior, running lime kilns at Iversheim, involved in construction in
Bonna (Bonn) along with Legio I Minervia, and serving in locations such as Rigomagus (Remagen),
Noviomagus and Divitia. Detachments were posted in Gaul and Legio XXX's name has been
associated with Cabillonum (Chalon Saone-et-Loire), Lugudunum (Lyon), Lutetia (Paris) and
Avaricium (Bourges).
A vexillation of Legio XXXth possibly accompanied I Minervia when it participated in Lucius Verus'
Parthian campaign in 162. It supported Lucius Septimius Severus against Clodius Albinus in
196/197 and earned the title Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal). Vexillations of XXX served with Iulius
Castinus in 206-8 when he quelled dissident Gauls and Spaniards and fought with Severus in
Britannia.
Detachments were active with Severus Alexander in Persia in 235. The lower Rhine was overrun in
240 and then again in 256. Postumus repelled the invaders in 260, established in-depth defences
and founded the Gallic Empire with the support of Legio XXX. Aurelian's reintegration of Gaul into the
Roman Empire in 274 AD was accomplished at a significant loss in life, and the Franks overran the
weakened defences as far as Paris. Order was firmly restored by Chlorus around 300, and he
refounded Colonia Ulpia Traiana (Xanten), which had been a ghost town for almost a quarter of a
century. Legio XXX was transferred into the city, which was henceforth known as Tricesimae (thirty).
According to Ammianus Marcellinus “soldiers of the Thirtieth” were present at Amida when the
Persians laid siege to and captured the city in 359 AD.
The men who served in Legio XXX originated from such diverse places as Italia, Germania Inferior,
Gallia, Belgica, Britannia, Dalmatia and Thracia. Examination of the coinage of Gallienus suggests a
relationship between the legion and the god Neptune, while those of Victorinus link the god Jupiter,
and the astrological sign of Capricorn, with the XXXth.
Legati Legionis
L. Aemilius L. f. Cam(ilia)
Karus, legate at the end of
Hadrian's era,
Canutius Modestus, in the
year 223,
C. Iulius C. f. Fabia Severus,
C. Iulius CN. f. Verus, under
Antoninus Pius around the
year 148,
Iunius Faustinus ......
Postumianus, third century,
Q. Marcius Gallianus,
Q. Petronius Melior, around
the time of Severus
Alexander.
Tribuni Militum
Aelius Carus, third century,
T. Caesarnius Quinctius
Macedo Quinctianus,
Hadrian's era,
T. Marius Martialis, third
century,
C. Sagurus C. f.
Clu(stumina) Priscus,
M. Rossius M. f. Pupinia
Vitulus e(gregius) v(ir),
T. Varius T. f. Clemens
Cl(audia) Celia, in the time
of Antoninus Pius.
Praefecti
T. Statilius ... f. Pollia ...in the
year 129/130.
Primi Ordines (First
Order)
L. Petronius Taurus
Volusianus,
T. Pontius M. f. Sept(imia?)
Marcianus Carnunto,
primipil(us), in the year 243.
Centuriones
M. Annius M. f. Quir.
Martialis, under Traian,
Aur(elius) Tertins, third
century,
C. Caesius C. f. Ouf(entina)
Silvester, in the time of
Hadrian,
T. Fl(avius) Constans,
(centurio) protec(tor),
T. Flavius Super,T. Flavius
Victorinus,
Q. Iulius C. f. Quir. Aquila, in
the time of Hadrian or
Antoninus Pius,
M. Iulius Martius, in the year
189,
C. Iulius Fab(ia) Procolus,
Priscus, in the year 211,
M. Petronius Fortunatus,
L. Septimius L. f.
Pannonius, d(omo) Ulp(ia)
Papir(ia)
Petavione Marcellinus, in
the time of Severus
Alexander,
M. Verecundinius Simplex,
in the year 164,
Ulpius Charistus, third
century.
L. Aemilius L. f. Cam(ilia)
Karus, legate at the end of
Hadrian's era,
Canutius Modestus, in the
year 223,
C. Iulius C. f. Fabia Severus,
C. Iulius CN. f. Verus, under
Antoninus Pius around the
year 148,
Iunius Faustinus ......
Postumianus, third century,
Q. Marcius Gallianus,
Q. Petronius Melior, around
the time of Severus
Alexander.
Tribuni Militum
Aelius Carus, third century,
T. Caesarnius Quinctius
Macedo Quinctianus,
Hadrian's era,
T. Marius Martialis, third
century,
C. Sagurus C. f.
Clu(stumina) Priscus,
M. Rossius M. f. Pupinia
Vitulus e(gregius) v(ir),
T. Varius T. f. Clemens
Cl(audia) Celia, in the time
of Antoninus Pius.
Praefecti
T. Statilius ... f. Pollia ...in the
year 129/130.
Primi Ordines (First
Order)
L. Petronius Taurus
Volusianus,
T. Pontius M. f. Sept(imia?)
Marcianus Carnunto,
primipil(us), in the year 243.
Centuriones
M. Annius M. f. Quir.
Martialis, under Traian,
Aur(elius) Tertins, third
century,
C. Caesius C. f. Ouf(entina)
Silvester, in the time of
Hadrian,
T. Fl(avius) Constans,
(centurio) protec(tor),
T. Flavius Super,T. Flavius
Victorinus,
Q. Iulius C. f. Quir. Aquila, in
the time of Hadrian or
Antoninus Pius,
M. Iulius Martius, in the year
189,
C. Iulius Fab(ia) Procolus,
Priscus, in the year 211,
M. Petronius Fortunatus,
L. Septimius L. f.
Pannonius, d(omo) Ulp(ia)
Papir(ia)
Petavione Marcellinus, in
the time of Severus
Alexander,
M. Verecundinius Simplex,
in the year 164,
Ulpius Charistus, third
century.
| HISTORICAL OFFICERS OF LXXX VV |
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| Legio XXX VV |
| Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix is an informal association of Roman re-enactors (from southern Ontario and the north-eastern USA) established in 2004 with the goal of portraying all aspects of:
Family participation is welcome and encouraged. |
| What is Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix? |
| Background History of Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix |