Legio II Italica Pia
Together with III Italica, this unit was founded in 165 or 166 by the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who badly needed extra soldiers in his war against the Germanic Marcomanni . At that time, Marcus' brother and co-emperor Lucius Verus was fighting a war against the Parthian empire. To indicate that the legion was founded by both men, its emblem was the she-wolf with the legendary brethren Romulus and Remus. (In fact, a rather ironical choice, because Romulus killed his brother.)
In the third century, II Italica took part in Maximinus' wars in Dacia and in at least one campaign against the Visigoths. During the conflict between the emperor Gallienus and his rival Postumus, the legion supported the first-mentioned, for which it was rewarded with surnames like Pia V Fidelis V ('five times faithful and loyal'), Pia VI Fidelis VI, and finally Pia VII Fidelis VII.
Standard legionary trooper:
Source equipment inspiration courtesy Angus McBride:
Together with III Italica, this unit was founded in 165 or 166 by the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who badly needed extra soldiers in his war against the Germanic Marcomanni . At that time, Marcus' brother and co-emperor Lucius Verus was fighting a war against the Parthian empire. To indicate that the legion was founded by both men, its emblem was the she-wolf with the legendary brethren Romulus and Remus. (In fact, a rather ironical choice, because Romulus killed his brother.)
In the third century, II Italica took part in Maximinus' wars in Dacia and in at least one campaign against the Visigoths. During the conflict between the emperor Gallienus and his rival Postumus, the legion supported the first-mentioned, for which it was rewarded with surnames like Pia V Fidelis V ('five times faithful and loyal'), Pia VI Fidelis VI, and finally Pia VII Fidelis VII.
Standard legionary trooper:
Source equipment inspiration courtesy Angus McBride: