The Legion XII, which later became known as the Fulminata ("lightning bearer"), was raised by Caesar in 58 BC in preparation for battle against the Nervians. It received this nickname in reference to its emblem, a thunderbolt; another cognomen of this legion, also attested by Mark Antony's legionary denarii, was Antiqua ("the ancient one").
It served under Caesar's command in the wars against the Pompeians, then switched to Antony's side. Legio XII survived Actium and Octavian's subsequent reforms, and served for several centuries in the East, where it was still guarding the Euphrates crossing near Melitene at the beginning of the fifth century.
