Standard of the Lark-crested Fifth Legion - Vexillum of Legio V Alaudae
by Serge Averbukh
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$3,500
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40.000 x 40.000 inches
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Title
Standard of the Lark-crested Fifth Legion - Vexillum of Legio V Alaudae
Artist
Serge Averbukh
Medium
Digital Art - Digital Painting
Description
Introducing ‘Rome’ Collection by Serge Averbukh, showcasing new media paintings of various artifacts and symbols of ancient Rome. Here you will find pieces featuring Standard of the Lark-crested Fifth Legion - Vexillum of Legio V Alaudae.
A Roman legion (from Latin legio "military levy, conscription", from legere "to choose") was the largest unit of the Roman army, evolving from 3,000 men in the Roman Republic to over 5,200 men in the Roman Empire, consisting of centuries as the basic units. Until the middle of the first century, ten cohorts (about 5,000 men) made up a Roman Legion. This was later changed to nine cohorts of standard size (with six centuries at 80 men each) with the first cohort being of double strength (five double-strength centuries with 160 men each). For most of the Roman Imperial period, the legions formed the Roman army's elite heavy infantry, recruited exclusively from Roman citizens, while the remainder of the army consisted of auxiliaries, who provided additional infantry and the vast majority of the Roman army's cavalry. (Provincials who aspired to citizenship gained it when honourably discharged from the auxiliaries). The Roman army, for most of the Imperial period, consisted mostly of auxiliaries rather than legions. Many of the legions founded before 40 BC were still active until at least the fifth century, notably Legio V Macedonica, which was founded by Augustus in 43 BC and was in Egypt in the seventh century during the Islamic conquest of Egypt.
Legio quinta alaudae ("Lark-crested Fifth Legion"), sometimes also known as Gallica, was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in 52 BC by the general Gaius Julius Caesar (dictator of Rome 49-44 BC).
Its emblem was an elephant, and their cognomen Alaudae came from the high crest on the soldiers' helmets, typical of the Gauls, which made them look like larks. The French word "Alouette" is a direct descendant of "Alauda", itself not a proper Latin noun, but a loan word from Gaulish, possibly the first reason for the legionary name. Its emblem was awarded in 46 BC for bravery against a charge of elephants in the Battle of Thapsus.
V Alaudae was the first Roman legion composed of provincial soldiers, as opposed to Roman citizens. Caesar paid the soldiers with his own resources, but the legion was later recognized by the Roman Senate. V Alaudae was raised to fight Vercingetorix in the Gallic Wars, and stayed in Gaul until 49 BC, when it was moved to Spain. The legion served with Mark Antony between 41 BC and 31 BC and probably fought in Actium. After Antony committed suicide, it was merged into Augustus' army in 30 BC. Legio V was involved in a mutiny on the Rhine in AD 14.
The legion suffered heavy casualties in the Batavian rebellion in the year 70 AD. It was destroyed in AD 86 at the battle of Tapae in Domitian's Dacian War.
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November 2nd, 2018
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