Troesmis
Encyclopedia
Troesmis was an ancient town in Scythia Minor
. It was situated in what is now Romania
near Igliţa-Turcoaia
.
Between 107 and 161, it was the home of the Roman Legio V Macedonica
. Notitia Dignitatum
shows that during 337-361, it was the headquarters of Legio II Herculia
.
to Desire More by ottoman empire for farming activities. In 1882 Desire More has started escavations, and the stones from the ancient site were sold as construction materials in Galați
and Brăila
. Suspected by the local Muslim villagers that the scope of the excavation is a treasure hunt, a local revolt is started. With the help of Engelhardt, the French representaive in Danube Commission
, armed intervention stop the revolt. 24 epigrafic inscriptions were sent to France. Four of the inscriptions are published by Theodore Mommsen in 1864.
and Legio I Italica
.
The research was continued by Gr. G Tocilescu
, destroying ancient site walls, in order to find and save inscriptions.
Scythia Minor
Scythia Minor, "Lesser Scythia" was in ancient times the region surrounded by the Danube at the north and west and the Black Sea at the east, corresponding to today's Dobruja, with a part in Romania and a part in Bulgaria....
. It was situated in what is now Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
near Igliţa-Turcoaia
Turcoaia
Turcoaia is a commune in Tulcea County, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Turcoaia....
.
Between 107 and 161, it was the home of the Roman Legio V Macedonica
Legio V Macedonica
Legio quinta Macedonica was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied by consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Octavian in 43 BC, and it was stationed in Moesia at least until 5th century. Its symbol was the bull, but the eagle was used as well...
. Notitia Dignitatum
Notitia Dignitatum
The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. One of the very few surviving documents of Roman government, it details the administrative organisation of the eastern and western empires, listing several thousand offices from the imperial court down to the provincial...
shows that during 337-361, it was the headquarters of Legio II Herculia
Legio II Herculia
Legio II Herculia was a Roman legion, levied by Emperor Diocletian , possibly together with I Iovia, to guard the newly created province of Scythia Minor. It was stationed at Capidava...
.
Destruction of the site
The site was concesionedConcession (contract)
A concession is a business operated under a contract or license associated with a degree of exclusivity in business within a certain geographical area. For example, sports arenas or public parks may have concession stands. Many department stores contain numerous concessions operated by other...
to Desire More by ottoman empire for farming activities. In 1882 Desire More has started escavations, and the stones from the ancient site were sold as construction materials in Galați
Galati
Galați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
and Brăila
Braila
Brăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A...
. Suspected by the local Muslim villagers that the scope of the excavation is a treasure hunt, a local revolt is started. With the help of Engelhardt, the French representaive in Danube Commission
Commissions of the Danube River
See Internationalization of the Danube River for events before 1856.The Commissions of the Danube River were authorized by the Treaty of Paris after the close of the Crimean War...
, armed intervention stop the revolt. 24 epigrafic inscriptions were sent to France. Four of the inscriptions are published by Theodore Mommsen in 1864.
Research
French Government sent, in 1861-1867, a team of archeologists lead by Boissiere and Ernest Desjardins. The French team has discovered 55 Latin inscriptions referring the history of Troesmis, Legio V MacedonicaLegio V Macedonica
Legio quinta Macedonica was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied by consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Octavian in 43 BC, and it was stationed in Moesia at least until 5th century. Its symbol was the bull, but the eagle was used as well...
and Legio I Italica
Legio I Italica
Legio prima Italica was a Roman legion levied by emperor Nero on September 22, 66 . There are still records of the I Italica in the Danube border in the beginning of the 5th century...
.
The research was continued by Gr. G Tocilescu
Grigore Tocilescu
Grigore George Tocilescu was a Romanian historian, archaeologist, epigrapher and folkorist, member of Romanian Academy....
, destroying ancient site walls, in order to find and save inscriptions.