Fighting Augustus' Cantabrian War, this unit garrisoned Spain, then helped put down the Civilis Revolt before being sent to Britain in AD 122 after the disappearance of the 9th Hispana Legion. It was the last legion to leave Britain.

Like the 6th Ferrata, originating from the republican 6th Legion that had marched for Pompey the Great, this legion was under Octavian's control by the 42 BC Battles of Philippi. As part of Octavian's new standing army, this second 6th served in the Cantabrian Wars in Spain from 29 BC, during which it may have gained its Victrix title.

Stationed in Nearer Spain until AD 70, the legion supported the grab for imperial power by its province's governor, Galba, and would have supplied centurions for the new 7th Legion raised by Galba in eastern Spain for his march on Rome. In AD 70, the 6th Victrix marched to the Rhine to join Petilius Cerialis in putting down the Civilis Revolt. It was thereafter stationed in Lower Germany at Novaesium, modern- day Neuss.

The legion transferred to Vetera during the Dacian Wars, during which the Rhine legions were reduced to provide units for Trajan's Dacian invasions. It was still at Vetera in AD 122, when it was ordered to transfer urgently to Britain to replace the destroyed 9th Hispana Legion.

The 6th Victrix was subsequently based at Eboracum, today's York, for almost 300 years. In 401, the legion was ordered by Stilicho, Master of Combined Forces, to join him in Italy for the last-ditch defense of Italy against Alaric and his Visigoths. The last legion to leave Britain, it never returned. It seems to have been destroyed in the battles leading up to Alaric's sacking of Rome in the year 410.