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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 Alverius of Agaunum

Saint Candidus the Theban

Saint Chiaffredo of Saluzzo

Saint Constantius the Theban

Saint Exuperius

Saint Fortunato

Saint Innocent of Agaunum

Saint Martiniano of Pecco

Saint Maurice

Saint Sebastian of Agaunum

Saint Secundus the Theban

Saint Ursus the Theban

Saint Victor of Agaunum

Saint Victor of Cologne

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 Attilio of Trino (martyred soldier; associated by some, but not all, later lists)

Saint Bessus

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 Gusmeo of Gravedona sul Lario (may have been a member)

Saint Matthew of Gravedona sul Lario (may have been a member)

Saint Octavius of Turin (not a member; associated by later story tellers)

Saint Pons of Pradleves (escaped the massacre to become an evangelists in northern Italy)

Saint Quiricus of Murisengo (martyred in northern Italy at about the same time)

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)