Alpes Poenninae

• The Alpes Poenninae (also known as the Alpes Graie or Alpes Atrectianae) was a Roman Province which controlled the Great St Bernard Pass.

1. History

• Pre-Roman history:
  • The name for the Roman Great St. Bernard Pass (Elev: 8,100 ft or 2,469m) was Peonninus Mons.
  • It was also known as the Grey Alps (Alpes Graie). Livy suggests this was unlikely to be the route Hannibal took to invade Italia in 218 BCE, and that he probably crossed further to the south.
  • 390 BCE The Boii and Lingones invaded Italia via this Pass
  • 100 BCE Ivrea was built to contain a cavalry unit, defending the invasion route over the pass into Italy.
  • 57 BCE Julius Caesar failed to capture this Pass from the direction of Gaul, which was defended by three Gallic tribes.
  • 43 BCE Brutus, after murdering Julius Caesar, was forced to pay a toll of one Denarius per soldier, when he used the Roman Great St. Bernard Pass to escape from Italia with his army.
• Acquisition by Rome:
• After Augustus’ reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE)
  • 25 BCE Marcus Terentius Varro Murena defeated the Salassi. Strabo states that 2,000 men were killed and 40,000 of the remaining population taken to Eporedia (Ivrea) and sold to become Roman Slaves.
  • He then built the fortified military town of Aosta (Augusta Praetoria Salassorum). 3,000 Roman veterans were retired here.
  • Alpes Poenninae became part of the ‘Tres Alpes’ (The Three Alps) Provinces, along with Alpes Cottiae and Alpes Maritimae.
• Timeline of this Province:
• After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE)
• After the death of Theodosius (395 CE) and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
• Famous Persons from this Province:
• Chief archeological Finds:
  • Ruins of Aosta ‘Augusta Praetoria Salassorum’.
• Historic Battle Sites:

2. Geography

• Capital City:
  • Aosta (Augusta Praetoria Salassorum)
• Chief Cities:
  • Ivrea (Eporedia), Martigny (Octodurum), Bourg Saint Pierre.
• Location Today:
  • Val d’Aosta, Italy and Canton Valais, Switzerland.
• Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Alpes Cottiae (South) Gallia Narbonensis (West) Raetia (North) Regio XI Transpadana, in Italia (East)
• Climate and Temperature Today:
  • Winters: Snow in the Roman Great St. Bernard Pass can lie up to 32 ft (10m) deep, and temperatures can drop to -30°C.
• Main Geographical features:
  • Roman Great St. Bernard Pass
    • The Pass lies above the treeline at an elevation of 8,100 ft (2,469 m).
    • The rocks are covered in Lichen, and nearby are Moss and Alpine flowers, such as Forget-me-nots.
• Main Rivers:
• Mountain Ranges:
  • Alps
• Islands: None

3. Political Organisation

• Province Type:
  • Imperial Procuratorial
• Governor:
  • Procurator who was a Sexagenarii and on occasion was promoted from being SubPrefect of the Italian Fleets.
• Tribes and Population:
  • The Salassi
• Language:
  • Celtic and Latin

4. Military Organisation

• Legions:
  • Aosta, along with the other Italian Passes, was defended by a cohort of the Praetorian Guard.
• Navy: 
• Defensive Works:
  • Roman Great St. Bernard Pass
    • This was defended by Cohorts of the Praetorian Guard.
• Main Threats:
  • Invasion Route. In 390 BCE The Boii and Lingone invaded via this route.
  • 2,000 years later, in May 1800 CE, Napoleon crossed the Alps with an army of 40,000 using the Great St. Bernard Pass.

5. Economy

• Chief Exports:
  • Supplied infantry towards the Roman Alpine Regiments
• Agriculture and Fishing:
• Manufacturing:
• Mines:
• Mints:

6. Transport

• Roads:
  • Via of the Alpes Poenniae:
    • Milan–Aosta–Roman Great St. Bernard Pass–Bourg Saint Pierre–Martigny–Lyon
• Waterways:
• Ports:
• Ancient Trade Routes:
  • Roman Great St. Bernard Pass connected Italy to Gaul.
• Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

• Part of the ‘Tres Alpea’ (The Three Alps)
  • Meaning the three Alpine Provinces of Rome: Alpes Cottiae, Alpes Maritimae and Alpes Poenninae.
• A Defensive Province guarding one of the ancient invasion routes into Italia.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

Great St. Bernard Pass, Switzerland