Legions · Guide
Historical references and illustration credits
The institutional narratives draw on Caesar’s Gallic War and Civil War; Tacitus’ Annals, Histories, and Agricola; Josephus’ Jewish War; Cassius Dio’s Roman History, especially 55.23–24; Velleius Paterculus 2; Ammianus Marcellinus, especially 18–20; and the eastern and western Notitia Dignitatum. These works differ in date, purpose, perspective, and proximity to the events. Their testimony is integrated into the dossiers rather than reproduced as a catalogue of passages.
Specific modern institutional references are listed below. They support the basic identification and selected historical outline of each regiment; the tactical and social explanations distinguish interpretation from specifically recorded regimental events.
Additional material used for particular historical and visual questions includes the Antonine Wall’s legions, auxiliary units, and distance stones; English Heritage on army organization; Roman Inscriptions of Britain on legionary tile stamps; Hadrian’s Lambaesis address; the archaeological discussion of Durostorum; and Regensburg’s Porta Praetoria.
The uncertainties surrounding the late Sixth Legion entry are discussed in the Journal of Roman Studies study of the Notitia. The rival interpretations of V Alaudae’s ending are retained with reference to Gérardin’s study. Neither disagreement is silently resolved by choosing a more dramatic story.
Illustrations. Six explanatory plates were newly generated for this compendium: early imperial equipment; later equipment; formations; auxiliaries; symbols; and siegecraft. They are labeled reconstructions. The regional maps retain their original visible credits, including World History Encyclopedia on the relevant provincial plates. Historical map dates and campaign arrows represent particular reconstructions; they are not new archaeological surveys. No illustrated flag, shield color, individual face, or decorative pattern should be treated as an authenticated object merely because it appears in a plate.