Legio I Italica

[Purplest]

There is evidence that subunits of it helped build the Antonine Wall.

As I'm sure you've already read, the only evidence is an altar from Old Kilpatrick fort, dedicated by Coh I Baetasiorum with their Prefect, ©ura (A)gente a centurion of I Italica. The Latin phrase means 'under the charge of' or perhaps 'directed by', and seems to appear when a legionary centurion is given temporary command of an auxiliary unit to perform some task.

In this case the task was probably building the wall or the fort, and the centurion Candidus would have been directing the construction work in some way. He would therfeore have been an engineering officer, rather than the leader of a legion detachment. Why such a man might have been sent all the way from Dacia to oversee this work is anyone's guess - perhaps he had distinguished himself in some engineering task before and come to the notice of his superiors? But there's not much reason to assume that any other members of Legio I Italica had travelled to Britain with him.

Mr. Ross,

Yes, I'm aware of the altar at Old Kirkpatrick Fort. But this appears to be the only evidence? And I agree with you, as I've wondered myself, why they would send a Centurion and subunits from this legio all the way from Dacia to north Britain? You would've thought that they would have sent units from a lot closer legions. Do you think they could've possibly have chose them because their region was more stable after Trajan conquered that territory some 35 years before? Therefore they wouldn't have necessarily needed the manpower there? I think the subunits sent to Britain would probably have been there for quite some time in order to build the Antonine Wall. I just guessing here...

Thanks,
Thomas