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[1706]
(CIL III 504, 507 = 7261, 509) the legionary nickname Fulm(inata) appears. The inscription CIL III 6097, which came from Patrae as well, might have given us the name of the legionary tribune in control of the division of land, had it been preserved better.
In which area Legio XII Fulminata was garrisoned after the reorganisation of the army’s deployment across the empire in Augustus’ reign, has not come down to us, but all indications point to an Eastern province. Perhaps the legion belonged to the army of Egypt while that still consisted of three legions (Strab. XVIII 1.12, p.797; 1.30 p.807) or even the Syrian one at about 750 AUC (4 BCE) (Josephus, Ant. XVII 10.9; Bell. II.3.1; 5.1). But when, possibly only a little later, the Syrian army was increased in size to four legions and the Egyptian one decreased to two (see colum 1235), Legio XII Fulminata became part of the former without doubt. But still, during the next two generations there are no indications as to the disposition of this legion. Only at the foundation of the colony of Ptolemais by Claudius do we seem to see settlers from the ranks of the legion (coins from Ptolemais with the legionary numerals III, VI, X and XII on vexilla depicted on them, see col. 1252), the same happens during the deduction to Tarentum in 60 CE (CIL IX 6156, col. 1263 f.) and the inscription from Smyrna, CIL 414, of a soldier of the legion from Florence, still in active service, probably dates to the first half of the 1st century as well. At the first division of the legions in the Orient between Corbulo and Ummidius Quadratus in 55 CE, the legion must have stayed in Syria; the second time, in 62 CE, it was deployed with the army of Caesenius Paetus, who was in command of the war in Armenia, (Tac. Ann XV 6). The legion’s legatus at the time was Calavius Sabinus (Ann. XV 7). Under his command the legion participated in the campaign of 62 CE and the disgraceful surrender of Rhandeia (Ann XV 10ff) and was thereafter sent back to Syria by Corbulo who took command of operations in the Orient again (Ann. XV 26). Its encampment was located at Rhapaneae (Joseph. Bell. VII 1.3).
When the governor of Syria, Cestius Gallus, marched his army against the unruly Jews in the Fall of 66 CE, he brought the entire Legio XII along when he broke camp from Antioch (Jos. Bell II 18.9, “Anabaloon de apo tes Avtiocheias to men doodekaton tagma pleres, apo de toon loipoon ana dischilious epilektous..)”; its legate Caesennius Gallus led several large operations during the campaign (Joseph. Bell. II.18.11; 19.1). Suetonius claim (Vespasian 4, “..legatum..Syriae consularem..rapta aquila fugaverunt”, source for Orosius VII 9.2) that the legion lost its eagle to the pursuing Jews during the shameful retreat from Jerusalem, has often been taken for granted. But since Josephus tells us nothing of this, while he does elaborate on the Roman losses as a whole (Bell.II 19.7-9), this is not sure at all (Ritterling, Westd.Ztschr.XII 233.80). The army of three legions which took the field against the Jews under Vespasian’s command..,
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