Legio IIII Flavia Felix
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Legio IIII Flavia Felix ("serene Flavian legion"), was a Roman legion levied by Vespasian in 70, from the ashes of the Legio IIII Macedonica. The legion was active in Moesia Superior in the first half of the 4th century. The legion symbol was a lion.
During the Batavian rebellion, the IIII Macedonica fought for Vespasian, but the emepror distrusted his men, probably because they had supported Vitellius two years before. Therefore IIII Macedonica was disbanded, and a new Fourth legion, called Flavian Felix was levied by the emperor, who gave the legio his nomen, Flavia. Since the symbol of the legion is a lion, it was probably levied in July/August 70.
IIII Flavia Felix was camped in Burnum, Dalmatia (modern Kistanje), where it replaced XI Claudia. After the Dacian invasion of 86, Domitian moved the legion to Moesia Superior, in Singidunum, although there is some evidence of the presence of this legion, of one of its vexillationes in Viminacium, base of VII Claudia. In 88 the Fourth participated to the retaliation invasion of Dacia; it also participated in the Dacian Wars of Trajan, ending with the victory at the Battle of Tapae. It fought again in 165 against the Parthian Empire under Emperor Lucius Verus.
After the death of Pertinax, the IIII Flavia Felix supported Septimius Severus against usurpers Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus.
The legion may have fought in one of the several wars against the Sassanids, but stayed in Moesia Superior until the first half of the 4th century.
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[edit] Flavia Felix in Popular Culture
In the film Gladiator, General Maximus Meridius identifies himself as 'commander of the Felix Legion'.
