Last Legion Standing

[Renatus]

The second, and similar-sounding source is John Casey, writing in Birthday of the eagle (2002).

First Passage: "...legio V Macedonica, for example, survived from the republic to the reigh of Justinian and possibly later. (Casey 2002:175)" I'd have loved a citation right after "...to the reigh of Justinian" because I haven't been able to find an authoritative "latest date" for that particular legion. If anyone knows the source for Casey here, I'd be grateful.

Second Passage: "(I)t was the Emperor Heraclius ... who was to oversee the destruction of the last legions when at the battle of Yarmuk in 636 the Arabs overwhelmed the Roman Army...(Casey 2002:176)" Again, I'd have loved to have Casey's source for this and I'll just have to wait to get a print copy as the Google preview omits the list of sources.

I think that you may be disappointed; Casey does not give a reference for either statement.

The presence of what is assumed to be legio V Macedonica in Egypt during the reign of Justinian is attested in P. Cair. Masp. 1 67002, the text of which can be found here:

http://papyri.info/ddbdp/p.cair.masp;1;67002/

The reference to Μακεδόνων is at 2.13. The papyrus is dated to AD567. Unfortunately, I have not found a translation but you may find something helpful in C. Zuckerman, 'Legio V Macedonica in Egypt', Tyche 3 (1988), 279-287, if you can get a copy.