BattlefieldsDestruction of the Ninth Legion (Possible)
Roman Period

Destruction of the Ninth Legion (Possible)

108–120
Stirlingshire, Scotland
Also known as: Loss of Legio IX Hispana · Ninth Legion's Last Stand
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Stirlingshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Legio IX Hispana (possible)
Forces
Northern tribes: c.8,000-15,000.
VS
Victor
Northern British tribes (possible)
Forces
Rome (Legio IX Hispana): c.5,500
Outcome
Legio IX Hispana disappears from the record; possibly destroyed in Britain or transferred east
The Battle

History & Significance

The disappearance of the Ninth Legion from the historical record has fascinated historians for centuries. The last definite record of the legion in Britain is a tile stamp at York around 108 AD; they are absent from a list of legions compiled around 165 AD. One theory — popularised in fiction — is that they were destroyed in Scotland in a major disaster. Modern scholarship favours a transfer east and subsequent destruction in the Jewish revolt or Parthian War, but the mystery remains unresolved. The legend has inspired the novel "The Eagle of the Ninth".

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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