Origins of Caesar\'s 10th legion

[Praefectusclassis]

Yuz!

[D B Campbell]

It is generally accepted that legio X was founded by Caesar in around 60 BC in Spain.

The point is surely that, if Caesar found Legion X in Gaul when he arrived, it's because it had been serving there under Pomptinus, and had probably been raised by him.

Whatever legions Caesar had in Spain probably remained there, unless they were disbanded.

I can't see any reason to suppose that Legion X had been raised in Spain and had somehow followed Caesar to Gaul. Can you? :?

[Paullus Scipio]

.....especially as the 'Gaul' we are talking about is Cis-Alpine Gaul i.e. Northern Italy and the Po valley.... :wink: :wink:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Another story had it that it was raised by Pompey.....Magnus....
but that was just a story......

[D B Campbell]

Another story had it that it was raised by Pompey.....Magnus.... but that was just a story......

Now you're just mixing it, Byron!

[Severus]

Thanks to all for the replies.

I have been enjoying the discussion (and learning while I read)

The reason I started this topic was; the members of my gaming group, who enjoy military history, have been deluded by Mr. Dando-Collins into thinking that Caesar's legions were raised in Spain.

I was under the impression that legionaries in the Republic needed to be Roman citizens. Would it even be possible to recruit the 18,000 men needed for three legions in a province like Spain if a recruit had to have citizenship? Did Spain have that many colonists or natives with citizenship? I have no idea?

Did recruiters/governors casually ignore this when they had a need for bodies?


Matt Webster

[Paullus Scipio]

Probably the first Legion raised from 'non Italians' ( all Italians were Roman citizens from 90 BC IIRC ) were Caesar's 'Alaudae' believed to be raised from Gauls ( the Trans-Alpine kind ),and paid for initially by Caesar personally, (Seutonius; Julius Caesar 24) and who acquired their offical number ( Legio V ) and their citizenship sometime after their formation, when they were recognised by the Senate.... they were recruited fairly late in the Gallic Wars, and their first major action was the siege of Vercingetorix in Alesia.......

[Sardaukar]

I thought that motion to surrender Caesar to Germans came with his somewhat shady dealing with Ariovistus (who after all was with status of "Friend and Ally" of Rome, like Aedui).

And wasn't Legio X the one of those Caesar "inherited" when he became governor of Cisalpine Gaul ? Thus not raised by him.

[D B Campbell]

Just (belatedly) listening to Podcast #4, and I'm pretty sure I heard one of the contributors referring to Caesar raising the Tenth Legion in Spain. :roll:

Can we finally agree that this is a Dando-Collins-ism, and shouldn't be repeated, even in jest, by serious Romanists? :wink:

[Praefectusclassis]

I think I heard it too, during the podcast, but it went by so quickly that I couldn't react. Besides, it was about 00.30hrs by then...

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

What are these pod-casts.....? Something on I-Pods?