03 Marcus Aurelius' 3rd Italian Legion - Rome T-Shirt

This Legion, along with the II Italica, was founded in 165-66 AD by Emperor Marcus Aurelius who needed more troops for his war against the Germanic Marcomanni. During that war it was part of a task force commanded by the future-Emperor Pertinax that secured the Upper Danube. After 171, the Legion built the "Castle on the River Regen", or the Regina Castra, which was a giant-walled real castle with the gridiron layout of a Roman Legionary fort. It was a defensive contstruction that became popular in the early 4th century. In 213 the Legion served under Caracalla during his successful campaign against the Parthians. In 243 it served under Gordian III in his expedition against the Sassanid Persians. In 253 it supported Valerian in his throne struggle, and then Gallienus during his. In 273 units of the Legion fought under Emperor Aurelian against Queen Zenobia of Palmyra. The Legion's last mention is in the latter half of the 5th century, when it was guarding the Danube against the Alamanni and Ostrogoths, doing so until the Danube frontier later collapsed. "Italica Concors" - Formed with Italians and Harmonious, since it was formed during the harmonious joint-reign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.