Legio II Parthica Roman Vexillum

The Legio II Parthica was established by Septimius Severus in 197 AD for the campaign against the Parthian Empire, alongside the Legions I and III Parthica, from which it derived its cognomen “Parthica”.

After the capture and sacking of Ctesiphon, the legion was brought back to Italy and stationed in the Castra Albana near Albano Laziale, becoming the first permanent legion in Italy after about two centuries and serving as a mobile strategic reserve directly under the emperor's command. Its main emblems were the bull and the centaur, a symbol that also earned it the appellation "Alban legion".

In 218, the II Parthica was decisive in the power struggle between Macrinus and Elagabalus: initially sent against the rebel, it switched sides to the latter, contributing to the victory at Antioch and receiving the honorary epithets pia, fidelis, felix, aeterna as a reward. It later took part in Alexander Severus' campaigns against the Sasanids and operations on the Germanic front, continuing to be employed as an imperial intervention force until at least the early 5th century.