Legio XV Primigenia (Fortune's Fifteenth Legion") was alegion of theImperial Roman army.Primigena ("firstborn") was one of the nicknames accorded to the Roman goddessFortuna.Primigenia is an adjective, meaning "of Primigena".
It was originally levied by the emperorCaligula in 39 AD, to aid in the Germanic campaigns and was stationed in theRhine frontier until 70, when it was destroyed during theBatavian rebellion.
After its initial campaigns (along the Rhine), XVPrimigenia was stationed in Moguntiacum (Mainz). In 43, the redeployment of units following theRoman invasion of Britain leads the XVPrimigenia to Xanten, in a camp shared with theVAlaude. In 47 both legions were involved in the war against theFrisians and in the construction of Corbulo's canal in the Rhine.
During theYear of the Four Emperors (68–69), XVPrimigenia and the other German border legions supported the claim ofVitellius to the throne, first againstGalba and afterwards againstOtho. WhenVespasian was finally acclaimed undisputed emperor, the legions XVPrimigenia and VAlaudae returned to Castra Vetera (Xanten camp), where theBatavian rebellion was already in progress.
Both legions were besieged in their winter camp in 69 by a rebel army commanded byCivilis. They finally surrendered in 70 due to hunger and left the camp in orderly fashion under promises of safe conduct. However, the rebels chased the legions and killed the survivinglegionaries.
