Invicta

[TEASER] - Mutiny of the 10th Legion

Added 2020-01-10 01:19:24 +0000 UTC

Here is a preview image and a script excerpt for our upcoming episode on the mutiny of the 10th legion!

Legio X Equestris

Caesar had begun his first military campaigns in 61 BC whilst serving as Propraetor in charge of Hispania Ulterior. Here he would fight the Lusitani tribes with existing Roman forces and his own newly raised 10th legion. The 10th would prove its worth in this combat and was later re-deployed, along with the 7th, 8th, and 9th legions, for the planned Gallic War of 58 BC.

It is during this fighting that the 10th would earn its nickname “Equestris” and rise to prominence. The men quickly became the general’s favorite unit and Caesar is quoted as saying that they had his highest confidence in bravery. Over the next decade, the 10th would fight gallantly on the prestigious right wing of Caesar’s army as it marched across the world, winning accolades and rewards that made it one of the most famed legions of its day.

Mutiny

However, after these many years of fighting, the 10th Equestris would come to expect that its service would be rewarded. After all, Caesar had promised them peace at the end of the tunnel with promises of land and wealth awaiting them upon their return home.

After the fighting in Gaul though, the Civil War kicked off and these promises would have to wait. The 10th faithfully continued to serve Caesar and helped win him a mighty victory against Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. Thus, after 13 years of service, they were rotated back to Italy to receive their long awaited prize.

Meanwhile, Caesar had set off in Pursuit of Pompey in Egypt. Unwittingly he walked headlong into a civil war and became trapped in Alexandria. Back in Rome, no one had heard from Caesar in quite some time and rumours swirled of his possible demise. What if Caesar was dead? This sort of uncertainty did little to ameliorate the situation amongst the veteran legions in Italy who awaited their payments, land grants, and official discharge from service. As the months dragged on with no news and too much idle time, they degraded into a mutinous state.