The Auxiliary Units
Find out about the soldiers who were based on the Antonine Wall.
The wall was built by men from three different military Legions, each containing about 5,000 men.
What were legions?
Roman legions were composed of soldiers who were Roman citizens. Each legion contained around 5,000 men who were organised into ten cohorts. They served in the army for 25 years and were not supposed to marry, though many did. On retirement, they had the choice of a land grant or a sum of money, and most stayed in the area where they had been stationed.
Each legion had a clear hierarchical structure, much like the military does today. A Legate, a nobleman and member of the imperial Senate, commanded the legion. There was a second-in-command Tribune and five additional tribunes from lower noble families rounded out the primary officers. Third in command, however, was a former centurion serving as Camp Prefect, with fifty-nine centurions under him. Each centurion commanded a ‘century’ of eighty men and was responsible for day-to-day discipline and order.
Legionaries were equipped with short stabbing swords, daggers and javelins. They had helmets, rectangular shields and either segmental plate armour or chainmail for protection. Beneath this they wore a woollen tunic and, on their feet, leather boots which had hobnails hammered into the sole.
© Rob McDougall
The Legions who built the wall
Three legions were stationed in Britain during the Antonine period and contributed to the building of the wall. Once the building of the wall was completed, small detachments from the legions remained on the Antonine Wall. Many of these commanded auxiliary units who garrisoned the wall.
Open the drop downs below to learn more about the different units.
At this time, the Second Augustan Legion was headquartered at the fortress at Caerleon in South Wales. The legion arrived in Britain in AD 43 and remained in the country into the 4th century, when records disappear. Men from the legion were involved in the building of both Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall, and five distance slabs document their Antonine Wall building activities. The symbols of the legion were the Capricorn (half-goat, half-fish) and Pegasus (flying horse); these can be seen on some of the slabs.
Inscriptions on distance slabs show us that members of the legion were involved in constructing a number of Antonine Wall forts, such as Bar Hill, Cadder and Balmuildy. At Castlecary, soldiers of the Sixth and Second Legions dedicated an inscription to Fortuna within the fort bathhouse. At Auchendavy fort a fragmentary building inscription has been found, along with four altars dedicated by a centurion from the Second Legion, Cocceius Firmus.
The Sixth Victorious Legion was based at the legionary fortress at York. The legion first arrived in Britain around AD 120, and remained into the 4th century, when records disappear. The legion was involved in the building of both Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall, and five distance slabs document its Antonine Wall building activities.
In addition to its role in constructing the frontier, the legion was present in some way at a number of Antonine Wall forts. The Sixth Legion was involved in building work within the fort at Croy Hill, and further evidence of an altar and a legionary tombstone indicate that there was probably a legionary detachment living at the site.
A detachment was probably also stationed at Westerwood, as an altar has been found here dedicated by Vibia Pacata, the wife of one of the Legion’s centurions, Flavius Verecundus. Two altars at Castlecary were dedicated by soldiers of the Sixth Legion, suggesting that there was probably a legionary detachment located at the fort.
The Twentieth Victorious Valerian Legion was headquartered at the legionary fortress at Chester. The legion was stationed in Spain, on the Danube, and in Germany before coming to Britain as part of an invasion force in AD 43. The Twentieth Legion was instrumental in suppressing Boudicca’s revolt and remained in Britain through the 3rd century, after which records disappear. The legion was involved in the building of both Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall, and at least eight distance slabs document its Antonine Wall building activities.
In addition to its role in constructing the frontier, inscriptions reveal the legion’s presence at a number of Antonine Wall forts. Inscriptions at Bar Hill and at Bearsden record building work within the forts. A centurion from the Twentieth Legion, Gaius Flavius Betto, is recorded in an altar from Rough Castle fort as the commander of the Sixth Cohort of Nervians.
The Life of a Soldier
From training and repairs, to socialising and cooking, discover the life of a soldier stationed on the wall.
The life of a Civilian
Soldiers on the Antonine Wall were joined by a range of civilians, who often lived in villages outside the forts.