Click here for a map of II AVG's operational areas in mainland Europe.	Click here for II AVG in Britain.

In 21, the Second was involved in a military action against two Gallic rebels named Julius Sacrovir and Julius Florus, which had affected large parts of Gaul. This victory was commemorated with a triumphal arch in Orange.

In 43, the emperor Claudius invaded Britain with II Augusta, VIIII Hispana, XIV Gemina and XX Valeria Victrix; the commander of the Second was Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the future emperor Vespasian. It was apparently split into several smaller detachments, which were stationed in several forts in the south-west of Britain. In 48, however, the legionary base at Exteter was built and the legion was again concentrated on one place. Nineteen years later, it moved to Gloucester.

The legion's behavior during the revolt of queen Boudicca remains unexplained. When governor Suetonius Postumius asked for help, the prefect of the camp, a man named Poenius Postumius, ignored this request (and later committed suicide). Its unclear why there was no legate (commander) who could make the decision.

In the civil war of the year 69, a part of II Augusta sided with the emperor Vitellius. At least one subunit took part in his march on Rome, and fought in the battle at Cremona against the legions of Otho. Later, these soldiers were defeated by those of Vespasian, and returned to Britain in 70. It is possible that the main body of the legion had always been loyal towards Vespasian.

During the reign of Vespasian, II Augusta was still in Britain, although it was transferred to Caerleon in Wales. When Gnaeus Julius Agricola was governor of Britain (77-83), it remained in Caerleon, as a strategic reserve in Wales and England. It was only in 139 that it was on the move again: soldiers of II Augusta were working in Scotland, building the Antonine wall (between Edinburgh and Glasgow). In 142, this work was finished. However, this line of fortification did not serve very long, and the Romans fell back on Hadrian's wall (between Newcastle and Carlisle).

In the years between 155 and 158, a widespread revolt occurred in northern Britain, requiring heavy fighting by the British legions. They suffered severely, and reinforcements had to be brought in from the two Germanic provinces.

In 196, governor Decimus Clodius Albinus of Britannia attempted to become emperor. The British legions were ferried to the continent, but were defeated by the lawful ruler Lucius Septimius Severus. When they returned, they found the province overrun by northern tribes. Punitive actions did not deter the tribesmen, and in 208, Septimius came to Britain, in an attempt to conquer Scotland. II Augusta moved to the north, where it shared a large fortress with VI Victrix, at Carpow on the river Tay.

Under Caracalla or Heliogabalus, II Augusta received the surname Antonina, which meant that the soldiers were particularly dear to the emperor (both used Antoninusas throne name). During or the reign of Severus Alexander, the conquests were given up and the second legion returned to Caerleon. The legion was still there in 255.

It is remarkable that almost no subunits of II Augusta fought outside England. It may be assumed that they were sent to the Rhine or Danube or beyond, but there is not much evidence. However, the presence of a subunit during Domitian's war against the Chatti in 83 seems to be certain. In the third century, a subunit may have fought in Armorica in western Gaul.

In the fourth century, the Second legion Augusta was part of the coastal defense of Kent (at Richborough). It is possible that II Brittannica originated from a mobile unit of II Augusta.

The badges of the Second legion Augusta were the Capricorn, the winged horse Pegasus and the war god Mars. In the late third century, only the Capricorn remained.

Special thanks to livius.org for providing the above history on Legio II AVG