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The Twelfth Legion Fulminata or Legio XII Fulminata is the last remnant of the once powerful Roman military, and currently is stationed in San Francisco, California, maintaining a base near the city of New Rome. New Rome and the legion collectively makeup Camp Jupiter, the last vestige of the Roman Empire. Most of the legion's soldiers are either demigods, or descended from demigods, and most of New Rome's civillian population consists of ex-legionnaires and their children.
History[]
The Twelfth Legion was first established by C. Julius Caesar, a legacy of Venus, in 58 BC, and would accompany the Roman general during the Gallic Wars from 58 to 50 BC. The legion was given many nicknames throughout its years of service, the most notable being Fulminata, or "bearing lightning", named so as the power of the legion's eagle standard came from Jupiter himself. The Twelfth was active throughout the span of the Roman Empire, notably during the Jewish Rebellion (in which it lost its eagle at the battle of Beth Horon in 66 A.D., but somehow recovered it so Michael Varus could lose it again in Alaska), the miraculous Siege of Alesia (52 BC) and the Battle of Pharsalus (when Caesar defeated his rival Pompey the Great) in 48 BC, being last mentioned in historical records 500 A.D, presumably when they went underground. The Twelfth Legion was active throughout Trajan's Dacian Wars, having been noted for gallantry in the battle for Adamclisi. Also being noted for action in Lucius Verus' war against Parthia in 162 A.D., the Twelfth Legion later occupied the frontier of the Euphrates River until the start of the 5th Century. In later centuries it came to be commonly known as the Legio Fulminatrix, the Thunderer Legion.
After the fall of Rome, the Twelfth was given secret orders by Jupiter himself to, in Hazel's words, "stay alive, recruit demigods and their children, keep Rome going." The legion, albeit several hundred strong, not only has survived, but has rekindled Roman culture within Camp Jupiter, and defends New Rome populated by legion veterans, their descendants, minor gods, spirits, and fauns, complete with a senate house, a forum, a model of the Colosseum, and a model of the Circus Maximus. There is also Temple Hill covered with temples to the Roman gods including Jupiter, Mars Ultor, Bellona, and Pluto. There are also shrines to the gods Neptune and Janus, though Neptune isn't respected in the Roman culture and is considered bad luck. Over the centuries, the legion continues its historic rivalry with the Greek demigods, leading to several devastating wars and the gods working to keep the two apart.
In modern times, the legion becomes involved in the Second Titan War, Second Giant War and the Demigod Civil War. The threat of Gaea rising causes Hera/Juno to work to bring the Greeks and Romans together with an exchange of leaders, namely Jason Grace and Percy Jackson. The Fifth Cohort's honor is restored when Percy, Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque recover the legion's lost eagle while Percy's role in defending New Rome causes him to be lifted on a shield as the new praetor, resulting in Neptune gaining more respect. Due to Gaea's machinations, the Greeks and the Romans are brought to the brink of destroying each other before the return of the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood by praetor Reyna Ramírez-Arellano ends the rivalry between the two sides for good.
However, Triumvirate Holdings, led by former Roman Emperors turned gods Nero, Commodus, and Caligula make their move mere months after Gaea's defeat. Camp Jupiter and the Romans take heavy casualties before Commodus, Caligula, and Tarquin are killed with the help of a mortal Apollo, Diana and the Hunters of Artemis. Nero is subsequently defeated by the Greeks, bringing an end to the Great Imperial War. Under the leadership of Frank and Hazel, the legion works to fulfill Jason's work of honoring all of the gods by building them temples on Temple Hill.
Known Praetors[]
- Michael Varus (former praetor, deceased)
- Jason Grace (former praetor, deceased)
- Percy Jackson (former praetor)
- Reyna Ramírez-Arellano (former praetor)
- Frank Zhang (current praetor)
- Hazel Levesque (current praetor)