Colonia (Roman)
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A Roman colonia (plural coloniae) was originally a Roman outpost established in conquered territory to secure it. Eventually, however, the term came to denote the highest status of Roman city.
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[edit] History
Rome's first colonies were established at Ostia, Antium, and Tarracina in the late fourth century B.C. In this first period of colonization, which lasted down to the end fo the Punic wars, colonies were primilarily military in purpose, being intended to defend Roman territory. There were colonies of citizens and colonies of Latins, which differed in size, constitution, and region. Colonies of citizens were settled on coast and known as coloniae maritimae. These were small (three hundred families), close to Rome, and enjoyed no civic life of their own. Sherwin-White suggested that they were similar to the Athenian cleruchy. [1]
[edit] Examples
Some examples are:
| Modern name | Latin name | Modern country | Roman province | Foundation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| York | Eboracum | England | Britannia / Britannia Inferior / Britannia Secunda | ? Caracalla |
| Lincoln | Lindum Colonia or Colonia Domitiana Lindensium | England | Britannia / Britannia Inferior / Flavia Caesariensis | 71, by Domitian |
| Colchester | Colonia Claudia Victricensis | England | Britannia / Britannia Superior / Maxima Caesariensis | 49, by Claudius |
| Jerusalem (on the site of) | Colonia Aelia Capitolina | Israel | Judaea | After Bar Kokhba's revolt, by Hadrian |
| Cologne | Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis | Germany | Germania Inferior | 50 |
| Sétif | Sitifis Colonia | Algeria | Mauretania | 1st century |
| Patras | Colonia Augusta Achaica Patrensis | Greece | Achaia | After the battle of Actium by Augustus |
