What happened to the Roman Ninth Legion ?

I thought the eagle of the ninth was just a story

I thought the Ninth was in Teutoburg Forest, under P. Quinctilius Varus

I thought the Ninth was in Teutoburg Forest, under P. Quinctilius Varus Ralph Graves' "The Lost Eagles" is probably not related, but it's the ancient Rome novel I always think of. I read it several times in mid-adolescence, including once out loud to my younger sister. I only reply because it sang so sweetly in my head full of memories, your mention of Quintilius Varus. I'm probably way off. Great book about tribune son Severus Varus, true tale or not. So sad, too. As an adult, I don't think I could take the sad parts anymore. "Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions!" So, older Varus must b... [More]

Astarel I think I know the book you mention I didn't read it but I know it was about the Teutoberg forrest and that battle took place in nine AD. The movie The Eagle is base on Mary Suttecliff Eagle of the Ninth book.

Astarel I think I know the book you mention I didn't read it but I know it was about the Teutoberg forrest and that battle took place in nine AD. The movie The Eagle is base on Mary Suttecliff Eagle of the Ninth book. Hey, thanks. Interesting it was written by a woman. I'm going to see about reading it before the movie gets to DVD. (On Severus Varus, that's NEPHEW, not son--before somebody reads what I wrote and spanks me.)

Marcos Anthony Toledo, you are correct! 17th, 18th and 19th Legions was annihilated in 9AD, was founded in 41BC. It was said that Augustus would wander the palace grounds crying out loud, "Quintilius Varus give me back my Legions!" It is also said that there were survivors of the massacre, though not many. I would imagine that they were incorporated into other Legions. Perhaps that could be what happened to the 9th, if indeed the were annihilated in Scotland?

I always figured as thier time in Briton wore on and more and more of the 9th were killed in skirmish after skirmish , destabilizing the unit, it just sort of eventually dissolved, with survivors wandering away, maybe trying to get back to thier own people or simply going "native" and assimilating into the local society. That is not a scenario that would look good in the histories and would explain why we know nothing of thier ultimate fate. Just as the Spanish Armada left behind thier legacy in some darker skinned, dark eyed people in Wales, might not the Ninth have also left thier genetic fo... [More]

I think the 9th made good fertilizer, but maybe that's just my rye sense of humor!

They survived and Took over a small tribe. In a quest to unite Germania, they started mining iron and coal to make steel walls and weapons. It then became the nation of Gothia.Or maybe thats my imagination.

I once read that the Roman Ninth Legion was probably disbanded because some high ranking officers, known to be in the Hispania Ninth Legion, later get mentioned in other Legions in Germany and the Balkans. http://thelastdaysofthunderchild.blogspot.com/#en http://thelastdaysofthunderchild.blogspot.com/2011/04/boadicea-boudicca-british-warrior-queen.html#en