Legio X Fretensis Roman Vexillum

Legio X Fretensis was established by Octavian between 41 and 40 BC to counter Sextus Pompey who, by controlling Sicily, threatened the vital grain routes to Rome.

Its nickname derived from the Fretum Siculum, the Strait of Messina, where the legion oversaw naval operations and participated in the battles of Mylae and Naulochus in 36 BC. The unit's characteristic emblem was the wild boar, a symbol of strength and aggression.

Once Augustan power was consolidated, the X Fretensis was primarily employed in the East, taking part in Corbulo's Armenian campaigns and eventually stationed in Syria and then Judea. Here, it played a central role in the First Jewish-Roman War: under Vespasian and Titus, it besieged Jerusalem in 70 AD, distinguishing itself by the effective use of war machines during the siege of the Temple. Subsequently, it contributed to the capture of Masada, where the construction of the famous siege ramp marked the end of the Zealot resistance. The legion remained a Roman garrison in Palestine until the 4th century, eventually moved to Aila as a control force in the new province of Palestina Salutaris.