The Unlucky Roman Legions: Legio XVII, XVIII, and XIX

Most of the famous ancient Roman Legions have gone down in history because of their glorious past, long and outstanding service, as well as other similar achievements. However, in the eyes of the Romans, some of the most notorious legions were those that brought out the strangest. So naturally, we should mention the Unlucky Roman Legions - three legions that lost in one of the Romans' most humiliating defeats - the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. All Unlucky Roman Legions were probably founded by Octavian in 41 BC to end Sextus Pompeius' occupation of Sicily. They then engaged in Octavian's fight with Mark Antony, culminating in victory at Actium. The unit name, sadly, has gone down in history. What we do know is their tragic fate.

Legions XVII, XVIII, and XIX were sent to the Rhine in 6 AD to secure the newly conquered province of Germany. Three years later, while trying to suppress a Cherusci uprising, the legion was ambushed and destroyed at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Their commander and governor, Publius Quintilius Varus, also perished in the fighting. While the three standard eagles were restored during the reigns of Tiberius (by Germanicus) and Caligula, the missionary symbols are still unknown. Furthermore, the Unlucky Roman Legions were both removed from the Roman army, and their numbers were never used.