![[The Theban Legion]](http://saints.sqpn.com/wp-content/gallery/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints/the-theban-legion.jpg "The Theban Legion")
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A Roman imperial legion of 6,600 soldiers, all of whom were Christians; they had been recruited from the area around Thebes in Upper Egypt, were led by Saint Maurice, and served under Emperor Maximian Herculeus. Around the year 287, Maximian led the army across the Alps to Agaunum, an area in modern Switzerland, in order to suppress a revolt by the Bagandre in Gaul. In connection with battle, the army offered public sacrifices to the Roman gods; the Theban Legion refused to participate. For refusing orders, the Legion was decimated – one tenth of them were executed. When the remainder refused to sacrifice to the gods, they were decimated again. When the survivors still refused to sacrifice, Maximinian ordered them all killed. Martyrs.
Known members of the Legion include
- Saint Alexander of Bergamo
- Saint Candidus the Theban
- Saint Chiaffredo of Saluzzo
- Saint Exuperius
- Saint Innocent the Theban
- Saint Maurice
- Saint Secundus the Theban
- Saint Ursus the Theban
- Saint Victor of Agaunum
- Saint Victor of Xanten
- Saint Victor the Theban
- Saint Vitalis of Agaunum
Other profiled saints associated with the Legion include
- Saint Antoninus of Piacenza (martyred soldier; associated by later story tellers)
- Saint Adventor of Turin (not a member; associated by later story tellers)
- Saint Cassius (may have been a member)
- Saint Florentius the Martyr (may have been a member)
- Saint George of San Giorio (not a member; associated by later story tellers)
- Saint Gereon (not a member, but another soldier who was martyred for refusing to make a sacrifice to Roman gods)
- Saint Octavius of Turin (not a member; associated by later story tellers)
- Saint Secundus of Asti (not a member, but linked due to art work)
- Saint Solutor of Turin (not a member; associated by later story tellers)
- Saint Tiberio of Pinerolo (may have been a member)
- Saint Verena (wife of a member of the Legion)
- martyred c.287 in Agaunum (modern St-Maurice-en-Valais, Switzerland
- a basilica was built in Agaunum to enshrine the relics of the Legion
Additional Information
- Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Agaunum
- Kirken i Norge
- Legione Tebea
- New Catholic Dictionary
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
- Pictorial Lives of the Saints
- Wikipedia
MLA Citation
- “Martyrs of the Theban Legion“. Saints.SQPN.com. 23 April 2013. Web. 21 May 2013. <>