In 94-95AD Publius Aelius Hadrianus served as a Tribune in this legion, he later became ‘Emperor Hadrian’ (117-138AD).
The Second Auxiliary (Adutrix) Legion (Legio II Adjutrix Iterum Pia Fidelis) was formed under Emperor Vespasian in the year 70. “Auxiliary” (Adjutrix – assistant) – indicates a military unit created at a difficult time to provide assistance to existing troops.
The Legion totaled up to 5,000 legionnaires and up to 300 cavalrymen. The emblem of the legion is the capricorn and they were awarded the pegasus by Vespasian. Also connected to this legion are a trident with dolphins entwined about it from a grave stelae.
The personnel of the legion were originally composed of sailors and marines, stationed in Ravenna. This naval base on the Adriatic supported the proclamation of Vespasian as emperor (70-79AD).
The first campaign in which the legion took part was the suppression of the Batavian uprising. For its reliability, the Legion received the title of Pia Fidelis (“Faithful and Faithful”), to which was later added Iterum (“Twice Faithful and Faithful”).
The legion was commanded by Quintus Petillius Cerial Cesius Rufus, who immediately after the suppression of the Batavian uprising, went with the legion to Britain with the rank of provincial governor. For several years, Legion II Adutrix was in Britain, participating in the suppression of the Venusian uprising and pacifying the tribes of Scotland and Wales.
In 77-83AD, the legion under the command of Gnei Julius Agricola fought with the Ordovician tribe on the island of Mona (Anglesey). In 87AD, the legion was transferred to Dacia (eastern europe), where it took part in the wars of Domitian (81-96AD) on the Danube against the Sueves, Sarmatians, Dacians, Marcomancers and Quads.
In 94-95AD, Publius Aelius Hadrianus, who later became ‘Emperor Hadrian’ (117-138AD), served as a tribune in the legion. During his service in the legion, he met with the centurion Quintus Marcius Turbon, who later became the Praetorian (emperors body guard) prefect of Hadrian.
During the Dacian Wars of Trajan (98-117), the legion was stationed in Singidun (modern Belgrade), and after the campaign ended, remained in Aquinas (modern Budapest). Here they remained for many years, participating in hostilities on the banks of the Danube.
In 118AD, the legion took part in the Hadrian war with the Sarmatians. Parts of the legion fought against the Moors under Antoninus Pius (138-161AD), against the Parthians under Lucius Vera (161-169AD) and participated in the Markoman War (166-180AD) under Marcus Aurelius (161-180AD).
In 191AD, the consul Septimius Severus became the legate of Pannonia and commander of the Danube legions. After the assassination of Emperor Pertinax by the Praetorians in 193AD, the II Adiutrix supported Septimius Severus in his struggle to become emperor. The former Praetorian Guard was disbanded. New Praetorians were recruited from the soldiers of the faithful and reliable Danube legions.