Roman Generals Gladius, Legio IV Flavia Felix 60 AD – 70 AD

Roman Generals Gladius, Legio IV Flavia Felix 60 AD – 70 AD Mr Dougal, kindly check your email and Spam I have emailed you. Should you need please reach out on chat through the website, Thank you! Specifications: A rarely seen 2000 year old Roman Generals (Legatus) Gladius, Legio IV Flavia Felix. This particular model of the sword commonly known as a ring pommel and is dated 60 AD – 70 AD. It was found in Croatia and expertly restored. The sword itself is intact and structurally sound without any wobble or looseness in its parts. The hilt is incredibly intricate with inlaid gold symbols and lettering, These include most notably the “LEG – IIII” Swastika symbol” FL – FEL”, Fourth Legion Flavia Felix. The reverse side “C – VIB” “Swastika ” PAETVS” and the ends include a “FF” on either side. The remainder including the ring pommel has lots of gold inlaid scroll work The blade is equally impressive having been made of Pattern wielded steel, certainly this sword was made for a very important individual. The tip also expands like a armour piercing tip. Truly a rarely seen sword of Museum quality! Overall Sword 77 CM Weight 1.24 KG Some Historical references on the Legion. Legio quarta Macedonica (“Macedonian Fourth Legion”), was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in 48 BC by Gaius Julius Caesar (dictator of Rome 49-44 BC) with Italian legionaries. The legion was disbanded in AD 70 by Emperor Vespasian. The legion symbols were a bull (as with all of Caesar’s legions) and a capricorn.[1] In 48 BC, the Roman Republic was decaying rapidly. Caesar had crossed the Rubicon River in the year before, starting a civil war. Pompey, Cato the younger and the rest of the conservative faction of the senate had fled to Greece. Caesar was preparing to follow in pursuit and, among other preparations, levied Legio IV. The first battles of the legion were Dyrrhachium and Pharsalus, where Caesar defeated Pompey. After this, the legion was stationed in the province of Macedonia, attaining thus its cognomen. IV Macedonica sided always with Julius Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian, first against Caesar’s murderers in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, then against Mark Antony in the naval Battle of Actium in 31 BC. Octavian, now Augustus, sent the legion to Hispania Tarraconensis in 30 BC, to take part in the Cantabrian Wars. In 25 BC, they served as the decisive force in the Battle of Vellica under the personal command of Augustus.[2] After Augustus’ victory in 13 BC, the legion remained in the province, but its effectives were spread through the Iberian Peninsula. In 43, the legion was transferred to Germania Superior, to replace XIV Gemina as the garrison of Moguntiacum (modern Mainz). Along with XXII Primigenia, the legion supported Vitellius, governor of Germania Superior, in the Year of the Four Emperors (69), first against Otho, then Vespasian, who would become emperor in the end. During the Batavian rebellion (69/70), IV Macedonica secured Moguntiacum and fought under Petillius Cerialis against the rebels. Their actions deserved no reproach but Vespasian did not trust its men, probably due to their support for Vitellius. The legion was disbanded in 70, but reconstituted shortly afterwards under the name of Legio IV Flavia Felix. FF stand for Flavia Felix, the former legion IIII Macedonica from Mainz, which had been disgraced by its conduct during the Batavian revolt (69-70), was reconstituted by the emperor Vespasian under the name IIII Flavia Felix and stationed in Burnum (modern Kistanje in Croatia) in Dalmatia. Although many soldiers of the new unit must have belonged to the old legion, there were also new recruits from northern Italy and perhaps southern Gaul. Gnaeus Julius Agricola (the future father-in-law of the Roman historian Tacitus) oversaw the actual founding of the legion. Because the legion’s symbol was a lion, it is possible that it was officially constituted and given its eagle in late July or early August 70.   Enquire Now