They were ordered to Cisalpine Gaul around 58 BC by Julius Caesar and marched with him throughout the entirety of the Gallic Wars, especially during the famous battles of Gergovie and Alesia after which it ended the war gloriously. It won the "Gallica" title and the esteem of all: "Caesar had with him his oldest legions, of incomparable courage: the VII, the VIII, IX then another XI… but which, after eight years of campaigning, did not, compared to the others, have the same reputation for proven solidity" They stood with him at the Battle of Pharsalus. The legion was also present in Egypt, when Caesar captured Egypt for Cleopatra. In 46 BC, the legion took part in the Battle of Thapsus near what is now Bakalta, Tunisia shortly before their disbandment. In 44 BC, Augustus reconstituted the legion that had helped him attain the control of the Roman Empire. In 43 BC it took part in the siege of the Battle of Mutina by Marc Antony, defended by the troops of Decimus Brutus, which earned Legio VIII Gallica the nickname "Mutinensis".
In imperial service
Augustus first transferred the legion to Tunisia. In or before 9 AD the legion was transferred to Poetovium. The legion must have won a victory around this time that earned them the cognomen Augusta. At least a detachment also stayed in Burnum, Illyricum where their stamped tiles have been found. Around 45 under Nero, the VIII Augusta took part in the suppression of the Thracian uprising, and founded its castrum at Novae where the Danube has its most southern bend and from where the legion controlled a long section of the river. The legion received the title "BIS AUGUSTA" for their actions in Thrace. After Nero's death in 69 it gave up this title and in the confusion of the Year of the Four Emperors, the legion voted for Otho and sent a detachment of 2000 men to Italy. On Otho's death soon afterwards, the Danube legions voted for Vespasian and went with him to Mirebeau-sur-Bèze in Gaul where it built its new base in 70 to oppose the revolts of the Treveri and especially the Ubii and Lingones against Rome. After restoration of Rome`s rule in the North in or before 86, the legion moved to its new headquarters at Argentoratum in Germania Superior, where the main part of the unit was stationed until the 5th century. The legion also fought the Parthian Empire with Septimius Severus, who ruled from 193 until 211, and with his successors. Records indicate that they were still active during the first years of the fourth century at the Rhine frontier. This means that the history of the legion covers more than 400 years of almost continuous service. In 371 it was again stationed in Argentoratum, according to an inscription. Later, the Roman generalStilicho, was compelled to move the German legions back to Italy to defend it against the Visigothic invasion. According to Notitia Dignitatum, around 420 an Octaviani unit was under the Magister Peditum of Italia; it is possible that this unit was the old VIII Augusta, which was originally a comitatensis unit but had been promoted to palatina status.
Attested members
Epigraphic inscriptions
- ri G̣allorum tribunus militum legionis VIII Augustae. Cohort of Gauls, military of the Eighth Legion Augusta. Brougham. CIL VII 300 = RIB 782.
