LEGIO V ALAUDAE - LEGION V LARKS - LEGIONE V ALLODOLA

The legio V ALAUDAE was rised (enroled) by Caius Iulius Caesar in Gallia Transalpina in the end the Gallic War (about autumn 51 B.C.).
The legionares of this legio was all Galli (Celts). We don't know well if they are people of Gallia Celtica, Gallia Belgica, Gallia Narbonese or Gallia Aquitania. Problably (but this is only me personal opinion) in this legio there was many Edui (celtic people that first in omnia Gallia was called allied and friens od roman people).
Caesar gave to V legio two years of salary and left it in Gallia.
At the end of year 49 b.C. the dictator Caius Iulius Caesar went to Africa to fight against the exercitus of the Pompeius's fans (bellum Africum). The V legio was one of the veteranes legiones.
For few months the V legio was trained to fight against elephants and become specialized because allied of the pompeianus dux Metellus was the numidian king Giuba I. In the numidian forces there was many aphrican elephants and was used as force of terrible collision.
In the 6 april of 48 b.C. during the great land battle of TAPSUS the V legio Alaudae (name of the little bird called larks, italian allodola) was locate in the center of the caesarianus exercitus to fight against the numidian elephants.
Caesar defeated Metellus.
The legionares of the Alaudae asked to their dux of change their symbol (vexillum) to remember their exploit.
Caesar conferred then this vexillum for their bravery.

NOTA BENE
1) The milites of the V legio Alaudae was never auxiliares ma always legionares romani. They was roman citizens but perhaps cives sine sufragio.
2) If I remember well the cognomen Caesar in the punic language means "elephant". Caesar therefore is very happy to see that the symbol or vexillum of a roman legion remembered to people his cognomen.
3) Some news of this article are written in the BELLUM AFRICUM of unknown author.


October, 23, 43 b.C. First battle of FILIPPI (PHILIPPI)
The legion V Alaudae takes part to the first battle of Filippi (near odiern greek city of Kavalla, or odiern Felibe in Macedonian). The commanders of the legion was the triumviri Marcus Antonius and Caius Iulius Caesar Octavianus.

November, 16, 43 b.C. Second battle of FILIPPI (PHILIPPI)
The legion V Alaudae takes part to the second battle of Filippi (near odiern greek city of Kavalla, or odiern Felibe in Macedonian). The commanders of the legion was the triumviri Marcus Antonius and Caius Iulius Caesar Octavianus.

43 b.C.
In the successive reorder of the republican army the legion was given to triumvir Marcus Antonius allocates it in the East.

31 b.C. The battle of AZIO
The legio V Alaudae is one of the Antonius’s legions but it not fought because the land battle not happened. It assisted from the coast thunravelled one of triumvir Marcus Antonius’s fleet.

About 30 b. C.
The legio V Alaudae is approximately transferred from Caius Iulius Caesar Octavianus in Spain.

18 bC.
The Legio V Alaudae was trasferred to the frontier of the Reno

14 A.D.
The Legio V Alaudae is situated in Castra Vetera (odiern Xanten), situated on the left side of the Low Reno, center of the command of the Germany inferior.

54 A.D
The Legio V Alaudae is situated in Castra Vetera (odiern Xanten), situated on the left side of the Low Reno, center of the command of the Germany inferior.

My search finish here and I not searched what happened after to this legion.