| Legio XXI Rapax | |
|---|---|
| Active | 31 B.C. – 92 A.D. |
| Country | Roman Empire |
| Type | Infantry assault (some cavalry support) |
| Garrison/HQ | Castra Regina (Regensburg) Castra Vetera (Xanten) Vindonissa Moguntiacum (Mainz) |
| Engagements | Cantabrian Wars Year of the Four Emperors |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Vitellius |
Legio XXI Rapax ("Predator, Twenty-First Legion") was alegion of theImperial Roman army. The symbol of the legion is thought to have been acapricorn.[1]
It was founded in 31 BC by the emperorAugustus (r. 27 BC – AD 14), probably from men previously enlisted in other legions.
Augustus probably sent his new XXIst legion toHispania Tarraconensis to fight thecampaign against the Cantabrians. XXIRapax was one of the five legions used byDrusus to suppress the rebellion of theRaetians, in 16–15 BC. From 15 BC, the legion was stationed inCastra Regina (Regensburg), in the new province ofRaetia.
After the disaster of theBattle of the Teutoburg Forest, the legion was sent as reinforcements toGermania Inferior, where they shared the base camp ofCastra Vetera (Xanten) withVAlaudae. Both Legio V and Legio XXI were involved in a mutiny in AD 14.[2] In 43, they were relocated inVindonissa (Windisch), in the province ofGermania Superior.
The legion occupied Vindonissa from 46 to 69 with two auxiliary cohorts, first theIIIHispanorum andVIRaetorum, and later theVIIRaetorum equitata and theXXVIvoluntariorum civium Romanorum.
Along with the rest of theGerman border army, the XXIRapax supported its commander,Vitellius, in theYear of the Four Emperors (69) and defeated Othonian forces at theFirst Battle of Bedriacum.[3] Vitellius was, however, defeated byVespasian before the end of the year.
In 70, the legion was part of the army sent to deal with theBatavian rebellion and relieve the four legions imprisoned byCivilis. After that they were sent to Germania Superior, where they shared thecastrum (camp) ofMoguntiacum (modern dayMainz) withXIVGemina.
In 89, the legions in Moguntiacum supported their commander,Lucius Antonius Saturninus, in his revolt against emperorDomitian. After the end of this unsuccessful insurrection, the legions were separated and XXIRapax sent toPannonia.[4]
In spring of 92, several tribes (probablyMarcomanni,Quadi,Jazyges) crossed the Danube and attacked Pannonia, probably destroying XXIRapax. These tribes would be defeated from May to December 92, and chased back over the river. The Romans did not pursue the retreating tribes.[5]
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