Editing Legio II Parthica (section)

==Parthian campaign and Castra Albana (197–4th century)==

Together with its twin legions [[Legio I Parthica|I ''Parthica'']] and [[Legio III Parthica|III ''Parthica'']], the Second Parthian legion was levied for the attack on the eastern frontier. The campaign was a success and [[Ctesiphon]], the Parthian capital was taken and sacked. After this war, II ''Parthica'' returned to [[Italia (Roman province)|Italia]] in 198 and was stationed near Rome, in ''[[Castra Albana]]''<ref>For this reason the legionaries were also known as Albani</ref> ([[Albano Laziale]]) &ndash; it was the first legion stationed in Italia for several centuries. Since it was not garrisoning a [[Roman province]], it functioned both as a reserve that could be used in afflicted parts of the [[Roman Empire|Empire]], as well as a security element against possible internal rebellions. Emperors in the 3rd century were very likely to have problems with usurpers, and Severus, by stationing the II ''Parthica'' near the capital, was aware of it.

Nevertheless, the legion served in the Severan campaign in Britain of 208&ndash;211 and afterwards, under [[Caracalla]] against the Germanic tribe of the [[Alamanni]] in 213. Next, the legion was again sent to Parthia and their commander [[Macrinus]] was responsible for Caracalla's murder in that region in 217. In the following year, however, the II ''Parthica'', stationed in [[Apamea (Syria)|Apamea]] ([[Syria (Roman province)|Syria]]), abandoned Macrinus and sided with [[Elagabalus]]; the Second supported Elagabalus' rise to purple, defeating Macrinus in the [[Battle of Antioch (218)|Battle of Antioch]]. The new emperor awarded the legion with the cognomina ''Pia Fidelis Felix Aeterna'' (forever faithful, loyal and pious).

===Under Severus Alexander and Maximinus===

In 231, the legion fought under [[Alexander Severus]] against the [[Sassanid Empire]], and returned with the emperor to the German provinces. The legion was at ''Moguntiacum'' (modern [[Mainz]]), when Alexander was assassinated in 235. In the following fight for the power, the II ''Parthica'' sided with [[Maximinus Thrax]]. In 238, the [[Roman senate]] declared Maximinus ''persona non grata'' and nominated [[Gordian III]] as emperor. Maximinus then marched on Rome to fight for his rights, taking the II ''Parthica'', among other legions, with him to be stationed again at Castra Albana. What happened next is a good example of the political power of the legions in the 3rd century. The II ''Parthica'' weighed the chances of its commander and, concluding that supporting him was not a good move, they killed Maximinus before he could harass the senate. As a reward, they were pardoned for supporting a public enemy and allowed to return to their base and families in the Alban Hills.

===Whittling away===
In the next decades they were used as reinforcements in several provinces within the empire and continued to be used as pawns in the constant battles for the imperial throne of the 3rd century. Emperor [[Gallienus]] (253-268) awarded the legion with the titles ''V Fidelis V Pia'' and ''VI Fidelis VI Pia'' (respectively, "Five" and "Six times loyal and faithful").<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Oman|first=C.|date=1918|title=On the Coins of Severus and Gallienus Commemorating the Roman Legions|jstor=42678499|journal=The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society|volume=4| issue=18 |pages=80–96, ref. 90–91}}</ref>

Where the legion was based when it received these titles from Gallienus is uncertain. Other things being equal one would have thought that [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]], father and co-regent with Gallienus, would have wanted to take it to the east with him in the late 250s and that it would have been involved in his defeat and capture by King [[Shapur I|Sapor]] of the Persians at [[Edessa]] in 260. Since it continued as a functioning unit and avoided the subsequent pitfalls of over-identification with the rebellion of the [[Macrianii]] and [[Palmyra]]'s bid for autonomy under [[Zenobia]], and given the honorific title appearing on coins of Gallienus, it is probable that it was under the command of Gallienus, not his father. However unlikely, it is possible that it would have returned to Europe as part of the army of the Macrianii and was forgiven by Gallienus after the latter were defeated. Besides an inscription from Macedonia giving thanks to the god Jupiter for the safety and well-being, "pro salute et incolumitate," of Gallienus, and an inscription from Rome dating to AD 242 giving thanks to the legion's "Genius Gordiana and to Fortuna" for keeping safe emperor Gordian and his spouse, there is little known regarding its fortunes in this period.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

===Under Constantine I===
The II Parthica was in Italy at the end of the third century, but was almost certainly disbanded by Constantine I the Great after his victory at the Milvian bridge in 312, as we know that this emperor disbanded the imperial guard as a punishment for its support of the usurper Maxentius, and it is likely that this also meant the end of II Parthica.