Roman Britain's Missing Legion: What Really Happened to IX Hispana?

by Simon Elliott

“Examines all the possible fates of the famous IX legion . . . takes you on a fascinating detective journey through all the corners of the Roman Empire.” — History . . . The Interesting Bits!

Legio IX Hispana had a long and active history, later founding York from where it guarded the northern frontiers in Britain. But the last evidence for its existence in Britain comes from AD 108. The mystery of their disappearance has inspired debate and imagination for decades. The most popular theory, immortalized in Rosemary Sutcliffe’s novel  The Eagle of the Ninth , is that the legion was sent to fight the Caledonians in Scotland and wiped out there.

But more recent archaeology (including evidence that London was burnt to the ground and dozens of decapitated heads) suggests a crisis, not on the border but in the heart of the province, previously thought to have been peaceful at this time. What if IX Hispana took part in a rebellion, leading to their punishment, disbandment and  damnatio memoriae  (official erasure from the records)? This proposed ‘Hadrianic War’ would then be the real context for Hadrian’s ‘visit’ in 122 with a whole legion, VI Victrix, which replaced the ‘vanished’ IX as the garrison at York. Other theories are that it was lost on the Rhine or Danube, or in the East. Simon Elliott considers the evidence for these four theories, and other possibilities.

“A great and fascinating read . . . a page turner . . . The book offers some interesting and intriguing ideas around the fate of the Ninth.” — Irregular Magazine

“An historical detective story pursued with academic rigour.” — Clash of Steel



“A seminal and landmark study.” — Midwest Book Review

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Military History, Historical

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2021

Reviews

[Selkis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Roman Britain's Missing Legion from Netgalley - many thanks to both the author and the publisher!

The book explores what happened to Legio IX Hispana which mysteriously disappeared in Roman Britain.
It is extremely well-researched and goes into so much detail about Roman military history, the structure of the legions, the events that happened in Britain. I especially enjoyed the first chapters. For me, as a layperson, they were extremely helpful to understand the later arguments.
The author describes all the available evidence and explores all sides of the argument, something I really enjoyed.
While I'm glad that I got a chance to read the book, I have to say that some prior historical knowledge about the Romans and the Britains is needed. At times I struggled and had to do some research online to keep up with the events described. That's not the book's fault, but it's something to keep in mind before picking it up.

Overall, it's was a very informative, pleasant read and I can definitely recommend it to people who are interested in Roman military history.

[Andrew Tollemache · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book that Simon Elliot sets up as a detective story into what happened to the IX Legio Hispana a.k.a The Lost Ninth Legion. Back in the late 18th century a British historian writing about the Roman occupation of Britain noted that we have no record of when the 9th Legion left Britain. IN the book he noted that we can ID the arrival and departure of every other legion but not the 9th. Since then authors have been speculating on what happened to the 9th in academic works, novels and movies (Tatum Channing's "The Eagle" is a decent effort here).
Elliot addresses all the main theories: (1) Lost in the North, that the legion was destroyed in Britian either in a disaster along the Scottish border. Hadrian's Wall would be built right around the same time. Or was it lost in a forgotten/erased rebellion around London. There are archaelogical indications London was hit by made made fire early 2nd C AD and the findings of the Wallbrok skulls in London in which several hundred decapitated skulls have been found mostly of men aged 18-30 (2) IN the South which ould be lost in some rebellion or fighting along the Rhine or Danube and (3) Lost in the East, which refers to the legion being lost decades later than thought but in the eastern side of the Roman Empire, possibly in one of the Jewish uprisings in Palestine or against the Persians or Pathans near Armenia.

Elliot still holds to the most popular theory that the 9th was losing in Britain sometime between 10 and 20AD. Its in this period when the last record of the legion, a tile stamped with the legion's sigil from around 8AD in York and the arrival of a new legion to York in 20AD.
I think he is close and that his sub theory that the legion was involved in or led in an uprising of its own and was elmininated in physically and from the record by Roman authorities. Destroyed legions, lost in battle were not erased from the Roman record. Varus lost 3 legions in the Teutoburg Forest in 9AD and there is plenty of Roman records of that at the time and for decades after.

All in all, great book

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is NOT the book to start your voyage into Roman History. I would definitely say you need a good, in-depth knowledge of Rome and its history to truly get your head around this book.

Well researched and evidenced book for the well-informed layperson or even academics. Weight is given to both sides of the argument over various pieces of evidence. The various suppositions of what happened to the legion are discussed in full and I'd say the introduction and initial chapters are a great way to understand Roman military history in general.

This was a great read for me to unfurl my dormant historian mind! I'm not an academic but I do have a BA in Classical History so this was right in my wheelhouse!

[Tony Stacey]

This is another superb history book from net galley.
This is proper history for grown ups, background is set out, evidence is examined, conclusions are reached. But it is not polemical, contrary views to the author's are also examined and given the weight they deserve.
It far more than a history of a mystery, it is a good solid introduction to the Roman military machine, the empire and their enemies.

[Robert Neil Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a historical mystery? And for military historians, there are fewer mysteries more prominent and perplexing than the sudden ‘disappearance’ from the record of the Roman IX Hispana Legion in 108AD. Was it destroyed in battle or more prosaically by an administrator’s pen? Roman military historian, Simon Elliott, endeavours to find out, analysing the four main theories for what happened to the 9th before delivering his own solution.
Elliott circles in on the IX Legion through a description of the typical Roman Legion’s organisation and the roles played by the legionaries. A second chapter fills in the background of early Roman Britain and the progress of the Roman Legions into northern Scotland. Elliott then tackles his first theory, and the most popular, that the IX Legion was destroyed fighting in the north. As with all the theories he presents, Elliott works his way through the key evidence for and against the thesis before delivering his verdict. Staying in Britain, Elliott examines the theory that a Hadrianic war in London led to the Legion’s destruction, perhaps in a mutiny that led to the Legions erasure from history. Was the IX Legion transferred to Northern Europe then disappeared in the various wars along the Rhine or Danube? This seems to be the weakest of the theories presented by Elliott. His final search takes Elliott into the east and more wars to consider against extremely dangerous enemies, especially the Parthians. In his conclusion, Elliott brings his theories together and offers his own solution, which is… that would be telling, but this reader was quite surprised, particularly after reading Duncan Campbell’s brilliant, and still very recent, analysis of the problem in The Fate of the Ninth.
Historians of the ancient world are often fickle about their evidence, the paucity of which requires careful handling like fine porcelain. That is as it should be because minor errors can easily undermine or skew historical interpretations. Proofreading is essential. Unfortunately, the lack of proofreading in Roman Britain’s Missing Legion over simple matters creates doubts over the more complex arguments that Elliott presents; for example, Septimius Severus died in 211 not 213. Mistakes relating to some of the seemingly inconsequential background information can also be misleading: Elliott’s claim that the Caledonians attacked the legionary fortress of Inchtuthil during Agricola’s campaigns is baseless but sets up a scenario where the IX Legion could have been operating in the far north of Scotland and therefore more easily lost that way. That is careless writing, as is the resort to bullet points and summaries and introductions within chapters. It all feels a bit perfunctory, which is a shame because Elliott is obviously a knowledgeable Roman military historian, and he works his way through the four theories on the fate of the IX Legion with admirable clarity for the most part. Readers who want to skim through the mystery and gain useful background knowledge will enjoy this book, but it should have been much better.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was an excellent book.

It was packed with details and I felt it really gave you an insight in to the period too as well as following the author’s thought process and discoveries as he tried to uncover the mystery of Legio IX Hispana.

I really liked the approach taken, it was well researched, the theories were supported and it was a very readable book too. Plenty to keep me engaged and intrigued to see what might be uncovered. He did a great job setting the scene too.

It is 5 stars from me for this one, I really enjoyed it, it was well developed and I really enjoyed finding out more about Roman Britain's Missing Legion - very highly recommended!!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Roman Britain's Missing Legion is an appealing military history book combining the best parts of historical mystery and meticulously researched exposition presented and set out by Dr. Simon Elliott. Due out 22nd March 2021 from Pen & Sword, it's 208 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The book is meticulously written, with numerous quotes throughout. It is not annotated, and there are no chapter notes in the eARC which I received for review. I found that the narrative flowed quite a bit better because I wasn't constantly stopping my reading to check references. The author has cited both period and modern scholarly research to support the narrative. There are numerous notes, timelines, and an index. The bibliography notes alone will keep keen readers reading for ages. Probably the most engaging part of the book for me were the numerous photos of buildings and artifacts which give a comprehensive context for the history. I enjoyed the photos (black and white) as well as the numerous timelines and data tables which are included.

The author has a casual academic style of writing; accessible and careful, but not overly convoluted or impenetrably difficult to read. He manages to convey a wealth of information without being pedantic or preachy. I imagine he would be a capable and talented teacher. I envy his students. He writes clearly and concisely with a logical progression and a clear threads to follow which interweave the real and imagined history, backed by a plethora of sources. Where actual contemporaneous sources shade into speculation, he says so clearly and unambiguously.

This would be a great choice for libraries, military historians, ancient historians, students of Roman/Empire history, early British history, and similar.

Five stars. This book is clearly the product of a prodigious amount of research by an author who is a bona fide expert in this field.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The missing IX Legion (Legio IX Hispana) of the Roman Empire has captured the attention of historians and non-historians alike. Movies like ‘The Eagle’ and ‘The Legion’ put forward the popular idea that the legion disappeared in the northern regions of Britannia (modern Scotland). Before reading this book, I did not know the full extent of the possibilities for the legion’s disappearance.
The author has an interesting style of writing. He speaks about each theory individually and doesn’t give his final opinion until the end of the book (so you could just read the end, if you wanted to). For each theory, he describes the theory and the evidence that might support it and then ends the section by speaking about the probability of that theory being correct. Some of these discussions are a bit technical and don’t allow for a quick read, but the author is obviously thorough and well-read, making these discussions very informative. While discussing the various theories, the author also adds a great deal of information about Roman society and military practice.
The author clearly lays out the various theories and systematically proves his final argument, and the scholarship is evident throughout the writing. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to study about not just Roman Britain but Roman society as a whole.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a highly scholarly study of the famous 9th Legion, which disappeared without a trace. Did it cross Hadrian’s Wall into Scotland and lose to Northern tribes? Get disbanded after a revolt in London? Or even get transferred to the eastern frontier during fighting later in the empire’s history than was previously thought? “Roman Britain’s Missing Legion” reads like a thesis exploring four possible fates of the 9th Legion, evidence for and against each theory, and provides a fairly neutral view of each before presenting Elliott’s personal conclusions. Definitely more for the serious Roman military scholar than the casual reader, this was heavy going, but interesting.

I received an Arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

There have been more than one movie/fiction book based on this intriguing story of a missing legion in Ancient Britain. Now get the unvarnished, researched, and well laid out responses to the various theories on what happened to the men of the 9th.

My degree is in Classical History and I've always been fascinated by Roman Civilisation so this was a great book for me. However, the general layperson with an interest in Rome may find it a bit to dry for them. There is plenty of information on the structure the Roman military, the logistics of looking after so many people and the circumstances of their arrival in Britain.

Both sides of these theories are discussed, including their pitfalls and their possibilities.

Wonderful resource!

[Mike Hanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly, the scholarship is comprehensive and timely. The various tmeframes and locations leave little else to wonder about. All well done.

That said, I suggest that in order to rule out the destruction of the 9th on the Rhine or Danube, the lengthy exposition of the Marcomanni wars were overly lengthy and complex.

I feel the same about the discussion abound various of the Jewish Wars, or interactions with the Parthians.

It might have been better to condense both of these investigations. Simply explaining the total lack of either physical, or literary evidence would have sufficed.

The conclusion to the book is unsatisfactory, and wholly not the fault of the author. Pending an archaeological miracle, the fate of the 9th seems to remain an unhappy mystery.

[William S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Book But

Overall this is a good book but when the author talked about the food that the legions carried he said that they carried corn. That would actually be impossible as corn is an American crop and would not be known to the Europeans until the colonization of South America. That glaring mistake has unfortunately made me question other things presented as fact. That was an error that should have been caught by the author or the editors.
The idea of a “lost legion” is interesting but i like to look at the most likely explanation and that is the legion just faded into obscurity along with the empire it served. But this is a decent account of the late Roman Empire.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read Simon Elliott's work before, so I was sure "Roman Britain's Missing Legion" would be well-written, informative, and very, very interesting. It was! The evidence in this book is fascinating, and the way it is presented makes this a fast read. I guess we will never truly be certain what happened to "Legio IX Hispana", but this book offers some intriguing potential fates.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Dr. Elliott's book. His scholarship and research is deep. Having been a fan of the "Lost Ninth" for some years, I liked his treatment of the various threads in his tale. While we know so much about Roman Britain, the empty windows are still many and wide. We'll probably never discover what happened to the Ninth, but Elliott's text gives us plenty to think about.

[Simon Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read; the arguments are well thought through and the author comprehensively looks at all options.

One thing it’s lacking though is maps! The book covers pretty much the entire Roman Empire from east to west and some maps showing the various places mentioned (and there are a lot) would have been very helpful to the reader.

[Wade Grassman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative speculative history.

[Paul Triller · Rating 4 out of 5]

More academic than a mystery-solver. But if you are a Roman/British history buff....you'll love the depth of the research.

[Dean Dibling]

No maps

This seems like a thorough examination of possible places for the IXth Legion to have disappeared, but the book sorely needs maps! The author describes the localities and wider geographic positions, but without maps, I found it hard to follow.

[wally walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting investigation into Roman history