Destroyed in the Bar-Kokhba Revolt (AD 132-135)
This revolt began in Judea in AD 132, and the Romans did suffer substantial losses during the conflict. If you believe the Nijmegen evidence, the Ninth would have left the area in around AD 130 and was perhaps dispatched to Judea to deal with the rebellion, but suffered heavy losses. Legion XXII Deiotariana was in Judea; while it is possible that both legions were destroyed, it would rank as the biggest Roman military disaster in over 100 years, and would surely be better documented.
Wiped out by the Parthians (AD 161-166)
According to Cassius Dio, a Parthian army killed an unnamed Roman legion in Armenia. The pair of legions permanently stationed in the region survived until the 3rd century, so neither unit was involved. The theory is that the Ninth was the destroyed army but there isn’t a shred of evidence to suggest it was in the East at that time.
So What Happened?
Aside from the Nijmegen evidence which appears flimsy at best, there is nothing else to suggest the Ninth ever left Britain. During the reign of Hadrian (AD 117-138), huge numbers of Roman soldiers died in Britain. Although the full extent of the losses is unknown, chronicles from the 3rd century suggested the British couldn’t be kept under control by the Romans when Hadrian took the throne.
A tombstone from Italy tells us that 3,000 men were sent to the island as reinforcements and Hadrian visited Britain himself with the Sixth Legion. These soldiers immediately went to York which says that the Ninth suffered substantial losses. Remember, the Ninth Legion was the most northerly and exposed of the Roman fighting units. As a result, it isn’t a surprise to learn that its destruction in Britain was its likeliest fate.
With the province in chaos and the Romans always bombarded with rebels, it isn’t difficult to imagine that the Ninth was gradually worn down and eventually destroyed over the course of a few years. It is extremely unlikely that the legion could survive until the 160s AD without any records. The Nijmegen stamps are the only evidence and are riddled with flaws. The tile marks are more likely to date to the 80s AD.
The problems faced by the Ninth possibly led to a decision that changed the course of history. When Hadrian visited Britain and witnessed the situation faced by his men, he realized that the construction of a wall was the best way to gain a level of stability. As well as keeping invaders out, the wall prevented insurgents from gaining support up north. From this point onwards, the cultures on either side of the barrier developed in very different ways and varying rates.
Although we’ll never know the fate of Legio IX Hispania for sure, evidence suggests it perished in Britain. As a result, the legacy of the lost legion is the creation of a permanent border that has divided the island ever since. The loss of the Ninth possibly led to the origins of what became the independent kingdoms of Scotland and England.
Sources For Further Reading:
BBC News – The Roman Ninth Legion’s Mysterious Loss
The Guardian – The Roman Ninth Legion’s Guilty Secret
Rosemary Sutcliff – The Eagle of The Ninth
History Extra – What Happened to Britain’s Lost Roman Legion?