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Short description

Legio IV Scythica was a Roman legion levied by Mark Antony around 42 BC, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence her other cognomen, Parthica. The legion was still active in Syria in the early 5th century. The legion's symbol was a capricorn.

Description

Legio IV Scythica was levied by Mark Antony around 42 BC, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence her other cognomen, Parthica. The legion was still active in Syria in the early 5th century. The legion's symbol was a capricorn.

In its first years, the whereabouts of IV Scythica are uncertain, although it is probable that they took part on Antony's campaign against the Parthians. The name suggests that they fought against the Scythians. After the battle of Actium and Antony's suicide, Octavian transferred IV Scythica to the Danube province of Moesia. The legion is reported to take part in civilian tasks, such as the building and keeping of roads. In his youth, future emperor Vespasian served in this legion.

Campaigns in the East:

In the East, the king Vologeses I had invaded Armenia (58), a client kingdom of Rome. Nero ordered Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, the new legatus of Cappadocia, to manage the matter, and Corbulo brought the IV Scythica from Moesia, and with III Gallica and VI Ferrata defeated the Parthians, restoring Tigranes on Armenia's throne. In 62, IV Scythica and XII Fulminata, commanded by the new legatus of Cappadocia, Lucius Caesennius Paetus, were defeated by the Parthians at the battle of Rhandeia and forced to surrender. The legions were covered with shame and removed from the war theatre to Zeugma. This city would be the base camp of IV Scythica for the next century.

In the Year of the Four Emperors (69), the legion, like the rest of the Eastern army, sided with Vespasian from day one. Despite the demonstrated loyalty, the IV Scythica was not involved in actual fighting because they were not considered a high quality legion. This has to do with another defeat suffered years earlier in the Jewish rebellion. In the 2nd century they participated in the control of another Jewish rebellion, this time with more success. IV Scythica participated in all campaigns of the 2nd century against the Parthian Empire. Between 181 and 183, the commander of the Eastern legions was Septimius Severus, who became emperor relying on his legion's power. The legion disappears from all sources after 219, when their commander, Gellius Maximus, rebelled against Elagabalus and proclaimed himself emperor, only to be defeated by Elagabalus. However, in the early 5th century, IV Scythica was reported still in Syria.