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Rhaetia > Abusina (present Eining, Bavaria, Germany)
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History of Abusina, Rhaetia (Roman fort and vicus)
Abusina was located in the north-central Roman province of Rhaetia, near Rhaetia's northern border with Germania. Abusina was built on a strategically significant site near the Danube River's south bank, across from the Rhaetian Limes’ late 1st century eastern end on the Danube’s north bank. This site is in present Eining, Germany, about 32.5 Km or 19.5 English miles southwest of the present city of Regensburg, Germany. Abusina’s name was apparently derived from the River Abens, a nearby tributary of the Danube.
Abusina started as a small (about 1.8 hectares or 4.6 acres) wood and earth fort, built by the Roman army between 79 and 81 AD. The fort was rebuilt in stone around 120 AD, damaged and rebuilt at least three times between about 170 and 260, and finally abandoned by the Roman army around 450. A civilian "vicus" (village/town) grew up next to the fort during the 1st century; declined substantially during German raids/migrations and partial Roman civilian evacuations in Rhaetia in the 2nd and 3rd centuries; partly recovered during the 4th century; declined again during and after Roman army withdrawals in the 5th century; then later recovered, grew further; and gradually shifted a few hundred meters northward during and after the middle ages, to become the present town of Eining, Germany. Units based in Abusina, usually a cohort of infantry and/or cavalry, provided rapid armed preemptive and response action up to one long day’s march (about 48 Km or 30 English miles) from the fort. They also provided logistical support for the Roman Danube fleet. After about 170 AD, Abusina’s units were affiliated with Legio III Italica Concurs, based in Castra Regina (built circa 171-179 AD, present Regensburg). Timeline: 15 BC: Romans conquered the area that became the province of Rhaetia. The Danube River was Rhaetia’s first northern border. Circa 40 AD: Romans built the first Rhaetian Limes (wall, limites) along the Danube River south bank, mostly of earth and wood palisades. 79-80 AD: Cohors IV Gallorum (Infantry), under emperor Titus, per Procurator C. Saturius, built Abusina, a 1.8 hectare wood and earth fort, with dual defensive ditches. Other units (e.g., Cohors II Tungrorum milliaria equitata and Cohors IV Tungrorum milliaria equitata) temporarily stationed here for a few months to decades at a time, until the early or mid-5th century. Circa 80: Cohors III Britannorum was founded elsewhere. Circa 90-100: Romans moved/rebuilt the Rhaetian Limes (west of Abusina, to present Lorch, Germany) north of the Danube River, where they were Rhaetia’s northern border until 259-260. Circa 120: Abusina was rebuilt with stone (125 x 147 m). The adjoining civilian vicus had a travelers’ “hotel”. Circa 140-160: Romans strengthened the Rhaetian Limes by replacing the earth and wood palisade walls with stone walls. Circa 153: Cohors III Britannorum moved to Abusina, was merged with other units, to create Cohors III Britannorum Equitata auxiliary (6 centuries [480 infantry] and 6 sections [144 cavalry]). Circa 165: Emperor Marcus Aurelius founded Legio III Italica Concurs in northern Italy. Legio III Italica operated throughout Rhaetia and adjacent Germania. 165-175: First Marcomannic War. Circa 170: Abusina was heavily damaged by Marcommani attack(s), and was quickly rebuilt. Legio III Italica moved north from Upper Italia, and built a 11 hectare (27.5 acre) wood and earth fort about 500 meters north of Abusina. 171-9: Legio III Italica Concors built Castra Regina (present Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany [Bayern, Deutschland]) on the northernmost point of the Danube River, about 35 Km (19.5 English miles) northeast of Abusina. 178-180: Second Marcomannic War. Circa 182: Emperor Commodus (Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus, originally Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus) settled (bought) peace with the Marcommani. 233-235: Alamanni raided Rhaetia. Abusina was heavily damaged by Alamanni attack(s), and was quickly rebuilt. Other Germanic tribes raided and invaded Rhaetia and Germania Superior. 254-260: Germanic invaded and settled in “Agri Decumates” (much of northwestern Rhaetia and eastern Germania Superior). 259-260: Abusina was again heavily damaged by Alamanni attack(s), but was slowly and only partly rebuilt. A small stone fortlet (37 x 45 m) was built in SW corner of Abusina, and the remaining civilians moved within and partly rebuilt Abusina’s defensive stone walls. Romans lost Agri Decumates, abandoned the Rhaetian Limes north of the Danube. Rhaetia’s northern border west of Abusina returned to the Danube River. Alamanni raids continue in Rhaetia, but were less frequent and severe. Circa 280: Alamanni raids ended. Circa 350: Roman army increased military presence in Abusina, reoccupied the rest of the 1.8 hectare fort. Civilians moved out of the fort, rebuilt the vicus next to the fort. Circa 401: Romans withdrew from the Rhaetian Limes. Ca. 450. Roman army abandoned Abusina. Some Roman, Alamanni, and other (mostly Germanic) civilians remained in and near Abusina and its vicus. During the centuries that followed, the settlement's center moved a few hundred meters northward, and eventually became the present town of Eining, in Bavaria, Germany. Late 1800s. Abusina was excavated and party restored. It is considered the most complete Roman fort in Bavaria. |
Divinely Decadent Demi Domus
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Test Article II
Test Article III Insulae Etruscan Cities and Their Environment: Caere Etruscan Cities and their Environment: Pyrgi The Tribe of the Langobarden Information about Crete, Knossos, Rethymno and Chania A Woman Of Sparta Martialis, the poet of Epigrams Menerva on an Etruscan Mirror in the Badisches Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe, Germany Forum Romanum: Rostra, Curia, Decennalia Base and Lapis Niger The Southern part of the Campus Martius and the Circus Flaminius Area Forum Romanum: The Arch of Titus Forum Romanum: The Arch of Septimius Severus Forum Romanum: the Temple of Vesta and the Vestal Virgins An Introduction to the Classic Period Maya I ~*Roots*~ Ptah of MenNefer; A Creation Myth Khnum and the Potter´s Wheel The Architecture of Cicero's Villa in Tusculum The Maecenas Worship on the Esquiline Pompey Marcus Antonius Virgil Horace Propertius Villa Rustica - The Villa Buildings The Villa Rooms Heraklia's Oikos The Vintnery Ongoing Restoration of Shunet el-Zebib Quintus Ennius : a Greco-Roman «Republican» Poet on the Aventine A Tour of the Aventine Hill Shops and Craftsmen of the Aventine |
