From then on the ninth legion would play a leading role in some of the great wars of antiquity. For awhile it was believed that this legion of men disappeared somewhere in northern britain under mysterious circumstances as if a legion of soldiers could disappear. It is an enduring mystery, the roman legion of the ninth vanished in the swirling mists of scotland long ago in the past. Nov 26, 2010 kevin macdonald has a movie about that same legion coming out next year. He carries a burden, though, for the ninth legion was led by his father.
It became one of romes most feared fighting units, and participated in every major roman conflict including the gallic wars, the civil war, and the fight between octavian and mark antony. Hollywood film the eagle on romes lost ninth legion. Aug 28, 2011 there were three or four legions in britain, keeping a hold on things. Sure its movie magic, but the effect is nothing but startling, in addition to slit. The battle of camulodunum, also known as the massacre of the ninth legion, was the major military victory of the iceni and their allies over an organised roman army during the revolt of boudica against the roman occupation of britain. The ninth roman legion or legio ix hispana spanish ninth legion, was a legion of the imperial roman army that took fought in various provinces. A roman regiment cursed by boadicea has inspired two new films, centurion. The eagle has fallen one of the greatest mysteries of. In the book, the ninth marches into scotland to put down a pictish rebellion only to be annihilated. That plan then was a line of forts, fortlets and signal stations that would ensure roman rule over the region and allow for quick reinforcement it. It caught the imagination of an entire generation of readers with its tale of the ninth legion, destroyed in the mists of scotland. The eagle, a 2011 film that tells the story of a young roman officer searching to recover the lost roman eagle standard of his fathers legion in the northern part of britain which later became scotland. Mar 16, 2011 the disappearance of romes ninth legion has long baffled historians, but could a brutal ambush have been the event that forged the englandscotland border, asks archaeologist dr miles russell, of.
It was founded by the young gaius octavius later to become augustus caesar in 4140 bc to fight during the period of civil war that started the dissolution of the roman republic. The expanding early roman republic found the greek phalanx formation too. A large vexillation of the legio ix hispana were destroyed by the rebels. The two lead actors in this film both had breakthrough roles playing dancers. The legion s fate is unknown but has been the subject of considerable interest and research. The last legion in the novel is a fictional twelfth legion legio xii draco, not the ninth. In 1954, rosemary sutcliff published a novel about roman britain. In 120 ad, the ninth legion of the roman army marched into the unconquered territory of northern britain. In 1954, childrens author rosemary sutcliff published the eagle of the ninth, an adventure novel in which. This is the first attested evidence for the existence of a ninth legion in the roman army.
During the chaotic latter period of the roman empire, army general titus returns home from fighting the goths, only to be plunged into further violent turmoil. The ninth hispana and twentysecond deiotariana were nowhere to be seen. In romanruled britain, a young roman soldier endeavors to honor his fathers. Jeremy brock has adapted the scr eenplay from rosemary sutcliffs classic novel the eagle of the ninth. Trimontium first began as a signal station in the campaign in 80 bce and was later expanded to a full fortressbuilt by the ninth legion. Kevin mcdonald, based on rosemary sutcliffes the eagle of the ninth is at least the third movie set in roman scotland. Raised by pompey in 65 bc, it had fought victorious campaigns across the empire, from gaul to africa, sicily to and spain and germania to britain. The eagle of the ninth, directed by kevin macdonald. Novel of the roman ninth legion4,000 soldierswho disappeared in caledonian.
The legion then helped maintain the roman empires grip of britain although it suffered a serious defeat during boudiccas rebellion in ad61. Its sudden disappearance from all records at the start of the second century ad has brought about various theories about its fate, including one that rosemary sutcliffe used for her famous novel, the eagle of the ninth. There are accounts of julius caesar establishing a ninth legion during his wars in gaul. Hollywood film the eagle on romes lost ninth legion solves the. The cast of director julie taymors stylized movie is. Various theories surround the fate of the ninth, which vanished from roman records after ad 120. Kevin macdonald has a movie about that same legion coming out next year. Mystery surrounds the unexplained disappearance of 5000 roman soldiers 2000 years ago. Legio ix hispania, or the spanish ninth legion, stamped its name in history when it apparently disappeared off the face of the earth in the 2nd century ad.
A twelfth legion did exist under different names, but not as draco. Legio x fretensis tenth legion of the strait was a legion of the imperial roman army. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Novel of the roman ninth legion 4,000 soldierswho disappeared in caledonian. The theory that it was destroyed in action north of hadrians wall around 117 was popularized by a 1954 novel but was somewhat discredited when tile.
Oct 15, 2018 the question of what happened to the ninth legion is one of the great mysteries of history. Apr 23, 2010 it seems impossible that a whole legion of the roman army could disappear were talking about some 5,000 men. But there is more that the ninth was founded in hispania by pompei in 65 bc, a full seven years after the caesar theory. In the footsteps of the missing ninth legion hispana. Pompey had a ninth legion with him in hispania in 65 bc, and julius caesar inherited it as governor of cisalpine gaul in 58 bc. Then, around ad117, all mentions of the legion vanish. The cast of director julie taymors stylized movie is uniformly excellent.
In britannia in, a young roman officer named marcus flavius aquila and his freed slave esca search for the ninth legions gold eagle standard, which vanished with the legion years earlier. Sutcliff infuses her story with living description, such that flawlessly transports her readers to the harsh and beautiful britain under roman rule. The legion fought in various provinces of the late roman republic and early roman empire. The exact year of the disappearance is unknown although some historians. With anthony higgins, christian rodska, peter whitbread, patrick holt. After the destruction of the second temple, nine hundred jewish zealots hold out against a five thousand man roman legion on the mountaintop fortress of. Oct 12, 2018 could this unnamed legion have been the ninth. Centurion, a 2010 british movie which centered on the supposed disappearance of the ninth legion in caledonia in ad 117. Its disappearance has become one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the roman empire.
He is one of the stars of our collection and had the movie team contacted us he could well have been a film star as well. As a hollywood film dramatises an ancient tale, the 2,000 year riddle of romes lost ninth legion is solved at last. The tale of the ninth legion has now become the subject of a big screen movie, but what exactly happened to them continues to puzzle historians. The last legion, 2007 film that uses the premise of the missing ninth legion still existing somewhere in britain, however it certainly was no longer in existence by the mid2nd century, long before this movie is set. Among those discovered are some mentioning a legio ix a ninth legion.
From campaigning in northern scotland to the persian gulf, these devastating battalions extended and cemented roman power. The other part of this legend springs from the 1954 book the eagle of the ninth by rosemary sutcliff. Yet of these legions there was one whose end is shrouded in mystery. When corrupt roman leader tiberius arrives with a giant army to claim the silk road, huo an teams up his army with an elite legion of defected roman soldiers led by general lucius to protect his country and his new friends.
The disappearance of romes ninth legion has long baffled historians, but could a brutal ambush have been the event that forged the englandscotland. It seems impossible that a whole legion of the roman army could disappear were talking about some 5,000 men. And i must say, if you really want to see this movie, save yourself an hour and a half, and just watch the trailer. X fretensis is then recorded to have existed at least until the 410s. This is the story of romes most mysterious vanished legion. But this is what seems to have happened to the ninth legion. The term legion also denotes the military system by which imperial rome conquered and ruled the ancient world. In britannia in, a young roman officer named marcus flavius aquila and his freed slave esca search for the ninth legion s gold eagle standard, which vanished with the legion years earlier.
Im a big fan of medieval and roman films, but this one really just falls short on everything. Most popular roman legion movies and tv shows imdb. If there are any great movies about roman legion you. Centurion is a 2010 british historical actionwar film directed by neil marshall, loosely based on the disappearance of the roman empires ninth legion in. In 120 ad, the warriors of the ninth roman legion marched into unconquered northern britainand disappeared. The eagle movie official website buy now focus features. Later that century in around 165 ad, the emperor marcus aurelius commissioned a pair of columns listing every roman legion and its location throughout the empire.
The play is often considered the bards worst, though some scholars doubt that he wrote it. Bill has an uncanny theory about what mightve happened, and seeing how the doctor just happens to have a time machine. The film trods similar ground to neil marshalls centurion in that both films are about the fabled ninth roman legion, which disappeared in the mists of scotland. The eagle of the ninth is the perfect book for those mizzly days between winter and spring. The mysterious disappearance of the famous ninth legion has always sparked off the interest of historians.
Until further evidence arises, the fate of the ninth legion remains shrouded in mystery. The disappearance of romes ninth legion has long baffled historians, but could a brutal ambush have been the event that forged the. From campaigning in northern scotland to the persian gulf, these. A movie happened to the ninth legion, and because people in the u. It is highly unlikely that such a crack unit of the roman army as the legio ix hispana would simply evaporate. For 2,000 years historians have debated the the fate of the ninth legion who were stationed in york, britain. The legion fought in hispania, gaul and greece and in 43. While the ninth is called the dragon legion as in the novel, it was the hispanic legion legio ix hispana in real life. Seems to be superstition, legends, and old cults, and maybe just a little bit of good luck, romuluss mentor ambrosinus is revealed to be merlin in the last few. A bbc dramatisation captivated a fresh generation in. The eagle of the ninth updated roman signal station. One of these was the hispania ix, or, ninth spanish legion called the ninth roman legion in the film.
The legions of rome were the nucleus of romes military might for centuries. The ninth was formed in 65bc and fought in hispania and gaul before taking part in claudiuss invasion of britain in ad43. Did, perhaps, the roman emperor marcus aurelius not wish to add such a tragic defeat and demise of this legion to their histories. Could the rebellion of the scottish tribes have brought about its dissolution and led to the consolidation of a very strong border in the north, or is the explanation a totally different one, one in which the pictish tribes play a lesser part. A list of the best roman legion movies ever made, ranked by movie fans with film trailers when available.
After this date, the ninth legion went on to live in mysterious infamy. But new evidence this week has revealed that life for a soldier in the roman ninth legion. Not only were 5,000 legionaries lives presumably forfeited, were told in the eagle, so too was the troops standard, a golden eagle that symbolized everything rome stood for. What do we know of the ninth legion and why did it disappear. The roman eagle found in silchester hampshire sometime after the disappearance of the 9th legion.
In fact, the last certain piece of evidence relating to the existence of the legion from anywhere in the roman empire comes from york where an inscription, dating to ad 108, credits the ninth with. This roman legion movie list is ordered by popularity, so only the greatest movies about the roman legion are at the top of the list. The question of what happened to the ninth legion is one of the great mysteries of history. The 9th legions name disappears from the roman military rolls. It was 20 years earlier that romes 5,000strong ninth legion, under the command of flavius and carrying their golden emblem, the eagle of the ninth, marched north into caledonia. Centurion kicks off british sword and sandals film wave. Theres another movie, centurion, from 2010, that relates a more fanciful portrayal.
Legion, a military organization, originally the largest permanent organization in the armies of ancient rome. In 120 ad, the roman ninth legion marched into caledonia, they, along with their precious golden eagle standard, were never seen again. Romes ninth legion marches north carrying its revered eagle emblem and vanishing into the mists. In 140 ad, the roman empire extends all the way to britain though its grasp is incomplete. In the year ad 140, twenty years after the ninth legion disappeared in the north of britain, marcus flavius aquila, a young roman. The legions of rome were the nucleus of rome s military might for centuries. The ninth legion appears in the movie, as the titular legion luckily, my shield will protect me. The memorial to a soldier of the 9th killed in a great battle though this could have been the earlier battle with boudicca. In 1954, childrens author rosemary sutcliff published the eagle of the ninth, an adventure novel in which the heroic legion was massacred by pict hordes in. There were three or four legions in britain, keeping a hold on things. For centuries, historians have puzzled over the disappearance of a legion of 5,000 battlehardened roman soldiers in northern britain around. Oct 23, 2009 the ninth legion called the dragon legion. The legion which disappeared from the history books and was lost without trace. The disappearance of romes ninth legion has long baffled historians.
The legendary ninth legion legio ix hispana the spanish legion was one of the oldest and most feared units in the roman army by the early 2nd century ad. Legio nona hispana ninth spanish legion was a roman legion which operated from the 1st century bc until mid2nd century ad. Legio ix hispana 9th legion spanish, also written legio nona hispana or legio viiii hispana, was a legion of the imperial roman army that existed from the 1st century bc until at least ad 120. The film trods similar ground to neil marshalls centurion in that both films are about the fabled ninth roman legion. Hollywood film the eagle on romes lost ninth legion solves. Based on the legend of the ninth legion, an army of 3000 unstoppable roman warriors who vanished without trace, centurion is the tale of.
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