Emperor Septimius Severus honors Legio III Augusta (LIIIA) with the sobriquet "Pia Vindex" which means "Faithful Avenger". The origins of the Legion go back to the Civil War. In October 42BC, LIIIA probably fights for Antony & Octavian at the Battle of Philippi, defeating Brutus & Cassius (murderers of Caesar). In 36BC, it campaigns against Sextus Pompey, the son of Pompey the Great, in Sicily where he threatens Rome’s grain supply. In 14AD LIIIA builds road from Takapes/ Τακάπη /Gabes, on Byzacena’s (Tunisian) coast, via Ammaedara/ Haïdra (just over watershed & border in Numidian highlands but today, in Tunisia) to Tevesta/Theveste (Tebessa). From 17-24/25?AD, LIIIA suppresses the Takfarinat/Tacfarinas uprising. In 18, LIIIA units perform poorly & are annihilated. Its new commander, Lucius Apronius, punishes wayward legionaries w. decimation. In 21AD, L.IX (Hispana) assists LIIIA for a while but LIIIA extinguishes the rebellion. From 30AD, LIIIA is based at Ammaedara. Caligula (r.37-41AD) deprives it of its privileged senatorial command but, predictably, his underhand murder of the Mauretanian king, Ptolemaios (grandson of Antony & Cleopatra), sparks revolt. Claudius unleashes Suetonius Paulinus (later, Boudica’s nemesis in 60AD) to crush the rebellious Mauritanians. In 65, LIIIA sends vexillations to Egypt for Nero's planned Ethiopian campaign. The First Jewish War intervenes & the expedition into Africa’s heartland is aborted. Yet, for 6 years, LIIIA’s contingent remains in Alexandria while its sister unit, Legio III Cyrenaica, represses the troublesome Jews. In 68, LIIIA rebels against Nero & supports Galba, then Vitellius, &, secretly, Vespasian. In 70, Vespasian moves LIIIA to Lambesis to protect against Berber incursions. That same year the legate Festus, mindful of Balbus’s earlier trip, leads a LIIIA expedition through Hoggar Mountains to Gadoufaoua plain (~150km E. of Agades) w. its its extensive fossil graveyard of giant crocodiles (Sarcosuchus imperator). Perhaps some legionaries reach Timbuktu or the Niger River? In 115AD, LIIIA contingents fight in Trajan’s Parthian campaign. In 126, LIIIA vexillations reinforce III Cyrenaica or III Gallica. In 128AD, Hadrian address legionnaires, acknowledging their challenges & commending their morale. From 132-136AD, a vexillation of LIIIA help to suppress the Bar Kokhba revolt in Judea. Later, units participate in Lucius Verus’s Parthian campaign (161–166AD) & then Marcus Aurelius’ Marcomannic War (175AD) w. incursions into Hungary. In 193, Septimius Severus awards L.3 title Pia Vindex (‘The Faithful Avenger’) after it rebuffs rival claimant, Prescennius Niger. From 215-217, Caracalla uses LIIIA to help wage war against Parthia (216 AD). In 238, LIIIA refuses to join revolt of African governor, Gordianus, against Maximinus. With the limited troops at his disposal, Gordian’s son marches out to confront his father’s enemies but is soundly defeated. In Carthage, Gordian I hears that his son lies dead on the battlefield & hangs himself, abruptly terminating his 21-day reign. Meanwhile, in Italy, disgruntled officers murder Maximinus & the Senate immediately proclaims Gordian I's 13-year-old grandson Emperor Gordian III. The new Emperor immediately disbands LIIIA as punishment for not supporting his rebellious grandfather. In 253, natives take advantage of Roman tergiversation. Mountain-dwelling Berbers unite w. their desert neighbours, forming the Quinquagentiani (5 peoples) confederation. Hurriedly, Emperor Valerian re-activates LIIIA at Lambasis. The unit is bitterly engaged in an ensuing 7-9? year struggle. Although in 260, Gaius Macrinus Decianus erects a victory monument at Lambaesis, the insurgency simmers on. Finally, 297-298AD, Maximianus (one of tetrarchy of Emperors at that time) personally commands LIIIA & extirpates the rebels. In recognition, Diocletian (r. 284-305AD) awards LIIIA a new accolade as Constans, Perpetua, Pia Fidelis (Constant, Eternal, Loyal & Faithful). LIIIA survives until at least end of 4th century. Likely, Pegasus (winged horse) is an emblem of LIIIA.