List of castra
The list of castra used by the Roman army in the Republic and Empire includes castra in various places of Europe, Asia and Africa. The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position.
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 the Northern European frontier, in Central Europe, and in modern Bulgaria and Romania, Another focal point was the Eastern border, where the Roman Empire confronted with its longest enemy, the Persian Empire. Other castra were located in strategically important zones, as in Egypt, from which most of the wealth consumed in 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
- Alexandria, Babylon, Coptos, Nicopolis (Egypt)
- Ammaedara, Lambaesis, Thamugas, Theveste
- Satala
- Alauna, Arbeia, Banna, Bremenium, Burrium, Camulodunum, Derventio (Malton), Deva Victrix, Eburacum, Epiacum, Glevum, Isca Dumnoniorum, Isca Augusta, Condercum, Concangis, Corinium, Galava, Glannoventa, Leucarum, Lindum, Mamucium, Manduessedum, Mediobogdum, Morbium, Olicana, Pinnata Castra, Portus Adurni, Segedunum, Trimontium, Vindolanda, Vinovia, Viroconium, Voreda
- Also castra of unknown name:
- Bar Hill, Bearsden, Lunt Fort, Normandykes, Raedykes
- Melitene
Commagene
- Samosata, Zeugma
- Aleria, Aurelianus
- 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 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
- Delminium, Burnum, Ragusia or Laus, Tilurium
- Argentoratum, Castra Constantia, Lugdunum
- Also castra of unknown name:
- Oudenburg
- Abusina, Augusta Vindelicorum, Bonna, Colonia Agrippinae, Flevum, Moguntiacum, Novaesium, Noviomagus, Traiectum, Vetera
- Also castra of unknown name:
- Saalburg
- Asturica Augusta, Castra Servilia, Legio, Lucus Augusti, Tarraco
Italia
- Aquileia, Castra Albana, Cremona, Emona, Castra Taurinorum, Placentia
Iudaea
- Aelia Capitolina, Raphana
- Nisibis, Singara, Ziata
- Ad Stoma, Arrubium, Altinum, Argamum, Axiopolis, Beroe, Callatis, Capidava, Carsium, Cius, Dinogetia, Libida, Histriopolis, Halmyris, Oescus, Novae, Noviodunum, Ratiaria, Sacidava, Salsovia, Scupi, Singidunum, Stratonis, Tomis, Troesmis, Ulmetum, Viminacium
- Also castra of unknown name:
- Basarabi-Murfatlar, Tirighina-Bărboși, Cernavodă
Ad Moesiam
- Also castra of unknown name:
Drajna de Sus
- Asturis (Zwentendorf), Cannabiaca (Zeiselmauer-Wolfpassing), Comagena, Lauriacum, Lentia
Osrhoene
- Circesium
- Aquincum, Brigetio, Carnuntum, Mursa, Poetovio, Sirmium, Taurunum, Vindobona
- Brigantium, Castra Regina, Batavis, Castra Maiense
Maxima Sequanorum
- Augusta Raurica, Vindonissa
- Apamea, Bostra, Dura, Emesa
See also
External links
