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[1565]
Thus the veterana legio quinta, which was mobilized in 47 BC by Caesar for the campaign in Africa (bell. Afric. 1) and which must previously had been stationed in Messana (bell. Afric. 28; bell. civ. III 101, 2), can only be the Alaudae, because, as one of the units belonging to the Caesarian army in Gallia, it was certainly referred to as veterana, and there is no other legion numbered V which fought in the ranks of his army during the Gallic wars. And the events of 44 BC in Italia prove this: the leg. Alaudarum, which was already in September 44 BC under the command of Antonius and which was composed of mobilized veterans,* as Cicero’s multiple taunts show (Phil. I 20. V 12. XIII 3, 37; ad Attic. XVI 8, 2), can only be the leg. V, which after the defeat of Antonius at Mutina alone formed the core of his army (Cic. ad famil. X 33, 3. 34, 1) and it must be distinguished from the three legions seconded from Macedonia (v. Domaszewski Arch. epigr. Mitt. XV 184; N. Heidelb. Jahrb. IV 162f.). This legion, completely loyal to Antonius, had fought under him at Philippi and belonged to the eight old legions, which after the division of forces after this battle went with him to the east (Appian. bell. civ. V 3). That the legion remained in Antonius‘ army until his defeat at Actium is confirmed by the Parthian cognomen Arsaces of one of the veterans of this legion: C. Valerius C. f. Aem(ilia) Arsaces legione V Alaudae sibi et Valeriae C(ai) l(ibertae) Urbanae concubinae suae**… CIL IX 1460.
After the creation of the standing imperial army after 30 BC Augustus took over the old legion of his father, complete with its number and title, and incorporated it into his regular army. The opinion of Riese Korr.-Bl. d. röm.-germ. Komm. 1917 38-41, that the leg. V Alaudae of the Imperial army is identical with V Macedonica (which only temporarily changed its name because of the antiquarian whims of the emperor Claudius, while the second V legion of the imperial army on Rhine had no title at all) is based on erroneous assumptions. The legio V which distinguished itself in the battle of Thapsus while fighting against the opposing elephants – to such an extent that the right to bear the image of an elephant on its signa was bestowed on it (Appian. bell. civ. II 96 to pempton telos, aitêsan antitachthênai tois elephasi, kratêsai panu karterôs kai nun ap' ekeinou tôde tô telei elephantes es ta sêmeia epikeintai „… the fifth legion asked to be deployed opposite the elephants and soundly defeated them (and as a result this legion bears elephant on its standards even now).“ see also bell. Afric. 84) –
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