Legio III Cyrenaica Roman Vexillum

Legio III Cyrenaica was one of the Roman army's longest-serving units, active from the age of Mark Antony until at least the 5th century AD.

Probably founded around 36 BC in Cyrenaica, the legion appears in sources during the Roman conquest of Egypt, where it remained garrisoned for over a century, between Thebes and the Alexandria area, sharing the camp with XXII Deiotariana. From there, it took part in expeditions to Arabia Felix and operations against Nubians and other peoples along the Nile, playing a key role in controlling trade routes between the Red Sea and the Nile Valley.

In 106 AD, under Trajan, III Cyrenaica was transferred to the new province of Arabia Petraea, based in Bostra, from where it intervened in campaigns against Parthians and Sasanids and in the Jewish Wars, including the suppression of the Bar Kochba revolt. Known for its loyalty to imperial candidates from the East, the legion continued to garrison the Arabian Limes until the late imperial age, still attested in late Roman military lists.