Formed out of the legions of the late Republic as part of Augustus' new standing army, the Twentieth served on the western and northern frontiers - most notably in the suppression of the Pannonian revolt of AD6-9 - before being posted to the Rhine in the aftermath of the clades Variana. In AD43 it formed a part of Claudius' British invasion force and despite supplying troops for the continental ventures of emperors legitimate and otherwise on a number of occasions, as far as we know it never left. Its final end is unknown, the legion disappears from the historical and archaeological record at the end of the 3rd century.

The legion was stationed for much of its existence at Chester (or at least had Chester as its base - significant proportions were garrisoned elsewhere at various stages in its history). The city is famous for its Walls, largely medieval in date but following the line of the Roman walls on the north and east sides. The north wall particularly preserves a considerable amount of Roman masonry and it was here in the late 19th century that a remarkable collection of legionary tombstones was discovered reused within the walling. These tombstones, a centrepiece of the Grosvenor Museum, were the chief impetus to my epigraphic and prosopographic studies.

On this site you will find a history of the legion (still growing as I edit material down); a list of those known to have served with the legion, together with a searchable epigraphic index of sources; material on the legionary fortress at Chester and the other fortresses occupied by the legion; and a variety of studies on aspects of the history of the legion and the men who served in it.