Noviodunum, known also as Noviodunum ad Istrum, was a fort, city and a port in the Roman province of Moesia located on the lower Danube near the present town of Isaccea. The fort was part of the Moesian Limes frontier defensive system on the Danube.
| Noviodunum | |
|---|---|
 Wall section of the fort. | |
  Location within Romania | |
| Alternative name(s) | Noviodunum ad Istrum |
| Known also as | Castra of Isaccea |
| Attested by | |
| Place in the Roman world | |
| Province | Moesia |
| Administrative unit | Moesia Inferior |
| Directly connected to | |
| Structure | |
| — Stone structure — | |
| Stationed military units | |
| — Legions — | |
| — Classis — | |
| Moesica | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 45°16′12″N 28°29′30″E / 45.27000°N 28.49167°E |
| Place name | La pontonul vechi |
| Town | Isaccea |
| County | Tulcea |
| Country |  Romania |
| Reference | |
| RO-LMI | TL-I-s-A-05804[2] |
| RO-RAN | 159696.05[2] |
| Site notes | |
| Recognition |  National Historical Monument |
| Discovery year | 1955[2] |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Website | www |
History edit
The strategic position of this settlement allowed the Romans to supervise and control the border of the entire Moesian Limes along this section of the Danube.
Noviodunum passed under Roman control with the annexation of Thrace in 46 AD and then being attached to the Roman province of Moesia.
It became an important port of Classis Flavia Moesica[3] and a military centre of the region starting from Domitian–Trajan, after the conquest of Dacia. Here some vexillationes of Legio V Macedonica were detached,[4] at least until the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Then followed vexillationes of Legio I Italica,[5] and then from the Diocletian Legio I Iovia.[6]
It was probably destroyed during the second half of the 3rd century during the period of heavy invasions of Goths and Heruli. It was rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (after 324), during the military campaigns and placed under the command of Dux Scythiae.[7] In 369, on the opposite bank of the Danube was fought a great battle between the Emperor Valens and Athanaric and its Tervingi.
Between 434 and 441 AD, the city with its naval base was occupied by the Huns and then went back under Roman rule and then be part of the Byzantine Empire.
The area has been subject to recent excavations, which have highlighted the importance.[8]
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Istoria Bizantului - Limesul dunarean in vremea lui Constantin cel Mare
- ^ a b c "Situl arheologic de la Isaccea - "Noviodunum - La Pontonul Vechi"". National Archaeological Record of Romania (RAN). ran.cimec.ro. 2009-09-10. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
- ^ AE 1962, 166; IScM-5, 283a-e; AE 1961, 120 e AE 1950, 175 speaking about an liburna Armata.
- ^ IScM-5, 284.
- ^ IScM-5, 271.
- ^ AE 1974, 568.
- ^ IScM-5, 285; Notitia Dignitatum, Oriens, XXXIX.
- ^ Photos of Noviodunum
References edit
- Barnea, Ion. Dinogetia et Noviodunum, deux villes byzantines du Bas-Danube RESEE, 9, 1971, 3, 343-362.
- Baumann, Victor Henrich. Atti del IV Convegno di Studi italo-romeno, Bari, 2004, 113-132
- Golvin, Jean Claude. I Romani e il Mediterraneo. Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato. Roma, 2008. ISBN 978-88-240-1142-6
- Reddé, Michael. Mare nostrum - les infrastructures, le dispositif et l'histoire de la marine militaire sous l'empire romain. Ecole Française de Rome. Parigi, 1986. ISBN 978-2-7283-0114-0
- Saddington, Denis B.. Classes. The Evolution of the Roman Imperial Fleets in Paul Erdkamp (a cura di), "A Companion to the Roman Army", Blackwell Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4051-2153-8
- Starr, Chester G.. The Roman Imperial Navy: 31 B.C.-A.D. 324. 2nd. edition. Cornell University Press, 1960. ISBN 978-0-89005-544-1
External links edit
Media related to Noviodunum (castra) at Wikimedia Commons- Roman castra from Romania - Google Maps / Earth
