Rome - Marc Antony Legion X Fretensis

October 2024

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Marcus Antonius. Denarius mint moving with M. Antony 32-31 B.C., AR 16.5mm., 3.57g. ANT AVG – III·VIR·R·P·C Galley r., with sceptre tied with fillet on prow. Rev. LEG – X Aquila between two standards. Babelon Antonia 117. C 38. Sydenham 1228. Sear Imperators 361. Crawford 544/24.
There are a whole host of these used for payment of Army & Navy troops that fought in the famous battle of Actium. Presumably all of the Legions participating in the battle by Marcus Antonius are represented. However, Legion X Fretensis is the most notable because this Legion X was Julius Caesar's favorite legion in the Gallic Wars.
Legion X (Fretenis) fought at the battles of Pharsalus and Actium. Later this Legion X was moved to Judea & Syria where it encamped in Jerusalem. It participated in the suppression of the 1st and 2nd Jewish Revolts. This is off the top of my head so please allow me a few errors before I correct any mistakes as a write a short paper, to be posted here eventually.
Professor Theodore Mommsen, who made many documented errors, in his writing on Roman history, also managed to mix up the identifications of two 10th Legions. He originally declared that the 10th Gemina (Twins) was the favorite legion of Julius Caesar, having fought bravely for him in his Gallic Wars. Recent scholarship, by a host of historians, now shows that Legion X FRETENSIS was the famous legion, that stands out among all the other legions, that Julius Caesar raised in southern Spain in 61 B.C.