Legio XV Apollinaris Roman Vexillum

Legio XV Apollinaris was recruited by Octavian around 41/40 BC to confront Sextus Pompey and secure Rome's grain supply. Its name referred to the god Apollo, the young prince's patron deity.

After the victory over Pompey and the Battle of Actium, the legion was employed in the Illyrian campaigns and stationed for a long time in the Danubian area, between Pannonia and Illyricum, contributing to the suppression of the great Pannonian revolt during the time of Tiberius. In this phase, it had bases in strategic centers like Carnuntum and Emona, controlling the routes between northeastern Italy and the Balkans.

Under Nero, it was transferred to the East, to Syria and perhaps to Armenia, where it fought in the wars against the Parthians and then in the First Jewish-Roman War, distinguishing itself in the sieges of Jotapata and Gamla and in the capture of Josephus. In the 2nd century, its headquarters were established in Satala in Cappadocia, from where it intervened against Alan incursions and participated in the Parthian campaigns of Trajan, Lucius Verus, and probably Septimius Severus.