This page created 8 April 2014, and last modified: 11 October 2014 (Froben edition picture added)

The Decima gemina is listed as one of the legiones comitatenses under the Magister Militum per Orientem. Its shield pattern is shown in various manuscripts as below:

The pattern has a yellow boss (white in M), encircled by a blue band and then a yellow band (white in M); the main field is blue and decorated (except in B) with 8 devices in black that resemble sprouting plants. The shield pattern is thus very similar to that of the previous unit listed under the same commander, that of Septima gemina, as can be seen below from the following patterns taken from the Paris manuscript:

Decima gemina is clearly a detachment of the Legio X Gemina, famed in Caesar's day, and long stationed in Vindomarae (Vienna), where a detachment is still recorded in the Notitia, under the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis. Septima Gemina, on the other hand, is clearly a detachment of Legio VII Gemina, founded in 68 AD, and long stationed in Leon, in Spain (and indeed, where a detachment is still recorded in the Notitia), so the fact they have very similar sheild patterns implies they had some more modern relationship together - perhaps being transferred at the same time into the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem, or perhaps slightly earlier, when other units that eventually found their way into the command were moved into Macedonia, such as the Secunda Flavia Constantia Thebaeorum, presumably under the Magister Militum per Thracias.

Also shown above is the only other similar pattern in the Notitia, that of the Iulia Alexandria, one of the legiones comitatenses under the Magister Militum per Thracias. The name of this unit suggests it was raised by the emperor Severus Alexander (whose powerful mother was named Julia) early in the 3rd century, and it may have got its pattern at the same time as the Septima Gemina and the Decima Gemina.

In addition to the detachment at Vindomarae, another detachment of Legio X Gemina under the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis is stationed at Arrabona, whose Prefect also commands a detachment of Legio XIIII Gemina.