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Castra (Latin, singular castrum) were military forts of various sizes used by the Roman army throughout the Empire in Europe, Asia and Africa. The largest castra were permanent legionary fortresses.
Locations
The disposition of the castra reflects the most important zones of the empire from a military point of view. Many castra were disposed along frontiers particularly in Northern and Central Europe. Another focal point was the Eastern border, where the Roman Empire confronted one of its long-term enemies, the Persian Empire. Other castra were located in strategically important zones, as in Egypt, from which most of the wealth of the empire came. Finally, other castra were located in zones in which the Romans experienced local unrest, such as Northern Spain and Judea. Provinces where the Roman power was unchallenged, such as Italy, Gaul, Africa and Greece, were provided with few or no castra.
In the long history of the Roman Empire, the character of the military policy of the Roman Empire changed, and consequently the location and dimension of the castra changed. Under Emperors Gallienus and Aurelian (and later Diocletian), the Roman army was organized into a high-mobility central army (the comitatus) and in local troops (the limitanei). Some castra lost importance, others were built in new zones, and in general they lost the role of permanent quarter for huge corps of troops.
Castra by Roman province
Aegyptus
Africa
Arabia Petraea and its limes
- Betthorus (modern el-Lejjun in Jordan), legionary fortress on the Limes Arabicus where the Legio IV Martia was stationed in the 4th century.
Armenia
Britannia
- Alauna, Arbeia, Banna, Branodunum, Bremenium, Burrium, Camulodunum, Derventio Coritanorum, Derventio (Malton), Deva Victrix, Eboracum, Epiacum, Glevum, Isca Dumnoniorum, Isca Augusta, Condercum, Concangis, Corinium, Galava, Glannoventa, Leucarum, Lindum, Mamucium, Manduessedum, Mediobogdum, Navio, Morbium, Olicana, Pinnata Castra, Portus Adurni, Regulbium, Segedunum, Trimontium, Vindolanda, Vinovia, Viroconium, Voreda
- Also castra of unknown name:
- Bar Hill, Bearsden, Lunt Fort, Normandykes, Raedykes, Templeborough
Cappadocia
Commagene
Corsica
Dacia
See also: Roman army in Dacia and List of castra in Romania- Acidava, Ad Mutrium, Ad Pannonios, Agnaviae, Aizis, Altenum, Angustia, Apulum, Arcidava, Arcobara, Arutela, Auraria Daciae, Bacaucis, Berzovia, Buridava, Caput Bubali, Caput Stenarum, Castra Traiana, Castra Nova, Certinae, Cumidava, Dierna, Drobeta, Jidava, Largiana, Micia, Naissus, Napoca, Optatiana, Partiscum, Pelendava, Pons Aluti, Pons Vetus, Porolissum, Potaissa, Praetoria Augusta, Praetorium (Copăceni), Praetorium (Mehadia), Resculum, Romula, Rupes, Rusidava, Samum, Sucidava, Tibiscum, Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa
- Also castra of unknown Roman name:
- Albești, Bădeni, Băile Homorod, Boroșneu Mare, Brusturi, Brâncovenești, Bucium, Buciumi, Bulci, Bumbești-Jiu - Gară, Bumbești-Jiu - Vârtop, Băneasa, Bănița, Chitid, Cigmău, Cincșor, Cioroiu Nou, Colțești, Constantin Daicoviciu, Cornuțel, Cristești, Crâmpoia, Călugăreni, Desa, Duleu - Cornet cetate, Duleu - Odăi, Federi, Feldioara, Fizești, Fâlfani, Gherla, Gilău, Gresia, Hinova, Hoghiz, Hunedoara, Ighiu, Islaz, Izbășești, Izvoarele, Jac, Livezile, Luncani / Târsa, Moldova Nouă, Negreni, Ocna Sibiului, Olteni, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Orheiu Bistriței, Pietroasele, Pietroșani, Ploiești, Plosca, Poiana, Pojejena, Porceni, Purcăreni, Putineiu, Puținei, Roșiorii de Vede, Râu Bărbat, Răcarii de Jos, Războieni-Cetate, Reci, Salcia, Sfârleanca, Sighișoara, Slăveni, Stremț, Surducu Mare, Sânpaul (Harghita), Sânpaul (Mureș), Săpata de Jos, Sărățeni, Sfârleanca, Tihău, Titești, Târnăveni, Urlueni, Voinești, Voislova, Șinca Veche, Zăvoi
- Possible castra mentioned on Tabula Peutingeriana but not investigated:
- Ad Aquas/Aquae, Brucla, Gaganis, Masclianis, Petris, Salinae/Salinis
Dalmatia
Gallia
- Also castra of unknown name:
- Oudenburg
Germania
- Abusina, Augusta Vindelicorum, Bonna, Colonia Agrippinae, Flevum, Moguntiacum, Novaesium, Noviomagus, Traiectum, Vetera
- Also castra of unknown name:
- Saalburg
Hispania
Italia
- Castra ad Fluvium Frigidum, Castra Albana, Castra Nova equitum singularium, Castra of ancient Rome, Castra Peregrina, Castra Praetoria, Cremona, Emona, Castra Taurinorum, Placentia
Judaea
See also Syria Palaestina. Included here are the Galilee and Perea.
Mesopotamia
Moesia
See also: List of castra in Romania- Ad Stoma, Aliobrix, Altinum, Argamum, Arrubium, Axiopolis, Beroe, Callatis, Capidava, Carsium, Cius, Dinogetia, Drajna de Sus, Histriopolis, Halmyris, Libida, Novae, Noviodunum, Oescus, Ratiaria, Sacidava, Salsovia, Scupi, Singidunum, Stratonis, Tomis, Troesmis, Ulmetum, Viminacium
- Also castra of unknown name:
- Basarabi-Murfatlar, Tirighina-Bărboși, Cernavodă
Noricum
- Asturis (Zwentendorf), Cannabiaca (Zeiselmauer-Wolfpassing), Comagena, Lauriacum, Lentia
Osrhoene
Pannonia
Raetia
Maxima Sequanorum
Syria
See also
References
- "Roman Legionary Fortresses: Map". legionaryfortresses.info. Retrieved 11 April 2018.