In AD 88 the legion returned south and occupied Castra Deva ( Deva Victrix), where it remained based for at least two centuries. In AD 78–84, the legion was part of Gnaeus Julius Agricola's campaigns in northern Britannia and Caledonia, and built the base at Inchtuthill. In the year of the four emperors, the legion sided with Vitellius. The Legio was stationed in Roman Britain until the beginning of the fifth century Legio XX built Deva Victrix (now Chester), a Roman castrum shown in the figure. It may also have occupied Gloucester ( Glevum) at this time. In AD 66, the legion was transferred to the much more passive Viroconium ( Wroxeter). But the legion suffered defeat, resulting in Valens’ replacement as legate In AD 60 or 61 the Twentieth helped put down the revolt of queen Boudica, after having outflanked the Ordovices by crossing Menai Strait in Wales to destroy the Druids' sacred groves. It was also one of the legions that defeated Caratacus at the Battle of Caer Caradoc, after which, from the AD 50s, it was encamped at Camulodunum, with a few units at Kingsholm in Gloucester.Īround AD 55 under The command of Manlius Valens it moved to Usk, in an unsuccessful attempt to pacify the Silures, a tribe very resistant to the imposition of Roman rule in Wales. The legion was one of the four, with which Claudius invaded Britain in 43 AD. In one battle the legion cut through the enemy lines, was surrounded, and cut its way out again.Īfter the disaster of Varus in AD 9, XX Valeria Victrix moved to Germania Inferior and was based at Oppidum Ubiorum, then moved to Novaesium at the site of modern Neuss during Tiberius' reign.
Although understrength, they managed to defeat the rebels led by Bato of the Daesitiates.
In Illyria they were led by the governor of Illyricum, Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus, who may have given his clan ( gens) name Valeria to the legion.
It is recorded operating against the Marcomanni in AD 6 in the army of Tiberius. The legion then moved to Burnum in Illyricum at the beginning of the Pannonian uprising ( Bellum Batonianum) in AD 6. XX Valeria victrix was probably part of the large Roman force that fought in the Cantabrian Wars in Hispania from 25 to 19 BC. The legion was probably founded shortly after 31 BC by the emperor Augustus.
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