Legio IIII Martia

Legio IIII Martia: one of the legions of the later Roman empire. Its name indicates that the legionaries were especially dedicated to the war god Mars.

Coin of Aurelian
Coin of Aurelian

This legion is mentioned in the text known as Notitia Dignitatum, a catalogue of officials and commanders of Roman army units, as they existed in the late fourth century. This document states that the Fourth Martian Legion was one of the units commanded by the general who was responsible for the protection of the province Arabia. This may not have been the most important of Rome's frontiers, but it was an arid zone, which made its defense rather difficult.

Lejjun, north gate
Lejjun, north gate

The legion was based in Betthorus, modern Lejjun (Jordan). It was already in existence when the emperor Diocletian (284-305) reorganized the oriental frontier. It may have been created by Aurelian (270-275), who sent western soldiers to the east after the annexation of the Palmyrene Empire. At Lejjun, a church was excavated, which may have been used by the soldiers and the citizens in the area surrounding the fortress.

The number four was the logical choice, because there was already a third legion (III Cyrenaica) in Arabia.

This page was created in 2003; last modified on 14 April 2020.