A Short History of Legion XXI Rapax

It is not entirely known when Octavianus ordered the formation of Legion XXI, but most sources say it was likely founded in the year 31 BC. The circumstances behind its formation are unclear. One possibility is that it was formed before Octavianus’ campaign against Marcus Antonius and Cleopartra. The second possibility is that it was formed shortly after the Battle of Actium from troops that had turned over to Octavianus after the battle.

Octavianus returned command of the legions to the Senate in the year 27 BC, however, three days later the Senate confers on Octavianus great powers and the title „Augustus”. Shortly thereafter, many of the 60 legions remaining at the end of the civil war are disbanded leaving only 28 legions, including Legion XXI. 

In the year 25 BC, Legion XXI was sent to Hispania Tarraconensis, where it took part in Imperator Augustus’s campaigns against the Cantabrians. How long it stayed in Hispania is uncertain, as strong evidence suggests Legion XXI moved to the newly formed province of Raetia, shortly after it was subdued by Romans, in the year 15 BC. Three years later, Legion XXI would find itself actively involved with the campaigns in Germania. Amazing marches, fighting in mire and forests and even amphibious assaults were a large part of the campaigns that Legion XXI participated in. But soon, the end of the campaign in Germania was to come to a close.

In what was planned to be the largest Roman military operation in history, Legion XXI and eleven other legions (VIII Augusta, XV Apollinaris, XX Valeria Victrix, XIII Gemina, XIV Gemina, XVI Gallica, I Germanica, V Alaudae, Legion XVII, Legion XVIII and Legion XIX) combined with several other unnamed military units led by Tiberius were to move against King Marabodus of Marcomanni in the year 6 BC. It was hoped that this offensive would bring an end to the resistance of the barbarians in Germania. However, this was not to be…. A rebellion in Pannonia diverted Tiberius and nearly all of the gathered legions away from Germania for the next three years, which didn’t just delay the plan against the barbarians, but could have nearly brought about the fall of the empire.

It was believed that by the year 9 the people of Germania had been subdued, but the legions on the frontier still stood ready. So when the report of a barbarian uprising reached the Governor, Publius Quintilius Varus, he was encouraged by his ally and Chieftain of the Cherusci, Arminius to suppress without haste. However, Varus did not know that Arminius was a traitor and that his legions the XVII. XVIII and XIX were walking into an ambush.  Needles to say Verus’ army marched into Saltus Teutoburgiensis (Teutoburg Forest) and all three legions were annihilated.

After the „Varian” disaster the Legion XXI was redeployed to Germania Inferior and in the year 16 it participated in a campaign led by Germanicus to exact revenge against the Cheruscan people. The Legion XXI distinguished itself in this campaign and it is thought this is where it earned its name of Rapax (Raptor or Pretator). It is also believed that they were among the first Romans to return to location of the former battle and discovered what had happened with their comrades several years before.

Shortly after the conclusion of this campaign, the Legion  XXI  moved to a new camp at Xanten, sharing it with V Alaudae. The Legion XXI Rapax stayed here for about 30 years before moving to Vindonissa in the year 46.

In the year 21 a mixed subunit of XXI Rapax and XX Valeria Victrix – commanded by an officer from I Germanica, was sent out to suppress the rebellion of Turoni in Gaul, who had revolted against the heavy Roman taxation under noblemen named Julius Sacrovir and Julius Florus. Almost 20 years later Legion XXI was employed during Caligula’s Germanic war.

After Claudius’ invasion in Britain in 43 the XXI Rapax was redeployed in Germania Superior. After a possible (but not proved) brief stay at Strasbourg the legion was transferred to Vindonissa (Windisch in the current Switzerland), where it succeeded the XIII Gemina. Here, it defended the passes across the Alps against a possible Germanic invasion to Italy.

Vindonissa was occupied from 46 to 69 by the legion and two auxiliary cohors (III Hispanorum and VI Raetorum) and later the VII Raetorum equitata and XXVI voluntariorum civium Romanorum.

Politics were to play the next movement of the legion as it supported Vitellius, the commander of the Germanic army in the civil war that followed the suicide of Emperor Nero. In supporting Vitellius the Legion XXI Rapax was part of 40.000 Roman troops loyal to Vitellius, marching to Rome and were victorious. The Legion XXI played most important role in the army of Caecina, Vitellius’ general. They crossed on the Alps in winter, defeated the army of Otho at Cremona, then marched to Rome. However, by the end of the year Vespasianus defeated Vitellius. Vespasianus, learning that Germania was being overrun by a Batavian uprising, ordered his relative, Quintus Petillius Cerialis to form an army to reclaim the forts along the Rhine. This army included Legion XXI Rapax as well.

Once the uprising had been quelled, the Legion XXI was ordered to Bonna, in Germania Inferior to rebuild the camp that had been destroyed by rampaging Batavians. Using locally quarried stones, this was finished in nine years. Then the legion was sent to Mogontiacum in Germania Superior in 83.

In 89, the governor of Germania Superior, Lucius Antonius Saturninus revolted against the lawful emperor Domitianus. The XXI Rapax  and XIV Gemina supported him. The resurrection came to nothing and the two units were separated – the Legion XXI was sent to Pannonia.

It was here in the year 92, alone and heavily outnumbered by an army of Dacians and Sarmatians that the 123-year tradition of Legion XXI Rapax came to an end somewhere here in the Barbaricum. 

One year later the Legion XIV Gemina was transferred to Pannonia to replace the fallen Rapax .

Design: Nd 2006.