Dacia Ripensis
Encyclopedia
Dacia Ripensis was the name of a Roman province
(part of Dacia Aureliana
) first established by Aurelian
circa 283 AD, south of the Danube River, after he withdrew from Dacia Traiana.
replaced Dacia Aureliana with two provinces, but by 285, there were two: – Dacia Mediterranea
with its capital at Serdica and Dacia Ripensis, with its capital at Ratiaria
. Later, these two "Dacias" along with Dardania, Lower Moesia, and Prevalitana constituted the Diocese of Dacia
.
Ratiaria
was established as the capital of Dacia Ripensis (it was previously a colony founded by Trajan
located within Moesia Superior) and served both as the seat of the military governor (or dux
) and as the military base for the Roman legion
XIII Gemina
.
According to Priscus
, Dacia Ripensis was a flourishing province during the 4th and 5th centuries AD. During the early 440s, however, the Huns
captured the province (prior to this, there were conflicts between the Romans and the Huns whereby the latter group captured Castra Martis
through treacherous means). Even though the province recovered briefly from Hunnic rule, it was eventually decimated by the Avars
in 586. On a more specific note, Aurelian developed Dacia Ripensis on a stretch of the Danube specifically between Moesia Superior and Moesia Inferior.
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
(part of Dacia Aureliana
Dacia Aureliana
Dacia Aureliana was a province of the Roman Empire found by Emperor Aurelian, after his retreat from Dacia Traiana in 271. Between 271/275 and 285, it occupied most of what is today Bulgaria. Its capital was in Serdica...
) first established by Aurelian
Aurelian
Aurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...
circa 283 AD, south of the Danube River, after he withdrew from Dacia Traiana.
History
It is unclear whether Aurelian or the Emperor DiocletianDiocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
replaced Dacia Aureliana with two provinces, but by 285, there were two: – Dacia Mediterranea
Dacia Mediterranea
Dacia Mediterranea is a part of the former Dacia Aureliana divided by Constantine the Great.Serdica is the province capital....
with its capital at Serdica and Dacia Ripensis, with its capital at Ratiaria
Ratiaria
Ratiaria was a city founded by Moesi, a Daco-Thracian tribe, in 4th century BC, along the river Danube. The city had a gold mine in the vicinity, which was exploited by the Thracians.It is located 2 km west of present village Archar in Vidin Province, northwestern Bulgaria...
. Later, these two "Dacias" along with Dardania, Lower Moesia, and Prevalitana constituted the Diocese of Dacia
Diocese of Dacia
The Diocese of Dacia was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, in the area of modern Serbia and western Bulgaria. It was subordinate to the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum...
.
Ratiaria
Ratiaria
Ratiaria was a city founded by Moesi, a Daco-Thracian tribe, in 4th century BC, along the river Danube. The city had a gold mine in the vicinity, which was exploited by the Thracians.It is located 2 km west of present village Archar in Vidin Province, northwestern Bulgaria...
was established as the capital of Dacia Ripensis (it was previously a colony founded by Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
located within Moesia Superior) and served both as the seat of the military governor (or dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
) and as the military base for the Roman legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
XIII Gemina
Legio XIII Gemina
Legio tertia decima Gemina was one of the most prominent Roman legions. It was one of Julius Caesar's key units in Gaul and in the civil war, and was the legion with which he famously crossed the Rubicon on January 10, 49 BC. The legion appears to have still been in existence in the fifth century...
.
According to Priscus
Priscus
Priscus of Panium was a late Roman diplomat, sophist and historian from Rumelifeneri living in the Roman Empire during the 5th century. He accompanied Maximinus, the ambassador of Theodosius II, to the court of Attila in 448...
, Dacia Ripensis was a flourishing province during the 4th and 5th centuries AD. During the early 440s, however, the Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
captured the province (prior to this, there were conflicts between the Romans and the Huns whereby the latter group captured Castra Martis
Castra martis
Castra Martis was a Roman fortress in the Roman province of Dacia ripensis on the modern site of Kula, in Vidin Province in Bulgaria. It used to protect the road through Vrashka Chuka pass in the western Balkan mountains....
through treacherous means). Even though the province recovered briefly from Hunnic rule, it was eventually decimated by the Avars
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
in 586. On a more specific note, Aurelian developed Dacia Ripensis on a stretch of the Danube specifically between Moesia Superior and Moesia Inferior.
Famous individuals
- Roman Emperor Lucius Domitius Aurelianus, commonly known as AurelianAurelianAurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...
, was probably born in Dacia Ripensis, at that time still named MoesiaMoesiaMoesia was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans, along the south bank of the Danube River. It included territories of modern-day Southern Serbia , Northern Republic of Macedonia, Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudja, Southern Moldova, and Budjak .-History:In ancient...
. - Roman Emperor GaleriusGaleriusGalerius , was Roman Emperor from 305 to 311. During his reign he campaigned, aided by Diocletian, against the Sassanid Empire, sacking their capital Ctesiphon in 299. He also campaigned across the Danube against the Carpi, defeating them in 297 and 300...
was born in Dacia Ripensis. - Palladius of RatiariaPalladius of RatiariaPalladius of Ratiaria modern Archar Bulgaria was a late 4th century Arian Christian theologian, based in the Roman province of Dacia in modern Bulgaria....
, late 4th century ArianArianArian may refer to:* Arius, a Christian presbyter in the 3rd and 4th century* a given name in different cultures: Aria, Aryan or Arian...
Christian theologian.