III Augusta The Imperial 3rd Legion "Augusta" was probably formed by Gaius Vibius Pansa, under his consular power, in 43 B.C. or possibly by Octavian (later the Emperor Augustus) in 41-40 B.C. It served in Africa from at least 30 B.C. and was reconstituted by Augustus in 25 B.C. gaining the title "Augusta." The III Augusta legion formed the backbone of the rebellion of Clodius Macer in the spring of 68. The 3rd also held the title "Pia Fidelis" (Faithful Duty) and used the pegasus as its emblem. Following the general pacification of Africa, the 3rd legion was used primarily as engineers. It was responsible for the construction, during service, of over 500 settlements and extensive roadways. After the defeat of Carthage and the destruction of the main pirate fleets of Mare Nostrum, no great military threats assailed Rome's interests in North Africa. On the whole, only one legion protected the entire geographical expanse from Tingitania to the borders of Aegyptus: the IIIrd Legion "Augusta" aided by Moorish cavalry and sometimes levies of troops from Numidia. From the end of the first century A.D., when legio III Augusta was transferred to Lambaesis from Theveste, find-spot of 90% of the Numidian military epitaphs, the base was not threatened and the men posted there were not required to be in a constant state of readiness for combat. During the reign of Emperor Septimus Severus, there were small outbreaks of trouble, from warring tribes and African nomads, but these were mostly raids and were put down effectively by cohorts stationed nearby. The power of the legion, its unassailable disciplined ranks, the skill of its commanders were enough to daunt any ideas of victory among the Africans. Capellianus, the Governor of Numidia, had a personal grudge against Gordian I (it seems that he had sued Capellianus over some matter.) and moved quickly to crush the revolt. He moved his III Augusta legion and auxiliaries against the Gordians in Carthage. The younger Gordian tried to organize the few regular troops at Carthage and the enthusiastic citizenry into a fighting force, but they were completely overwhelmed by the disciplined legion of Capellianus just outside of Carthage. The younger Gordian was believed slain in the battle (although his body was never found), and his eighty-year-old father, who awaited the outcome of the battle in Carthage, committed suicide by hanging immediately afterward (April 12, 238). It was disbanded that year because of the battle and it was not until 253 that the legion was reinstated, by Valerian.