Germania Superior

  • Germania Superior was a Roman Province located on the Upper Rhine with the capital at Mainz.
  • The Province lay to the west of the River Rhine on the southern Rhine corridor.

1. History

  • Pre-Roman history:
  • Acquisition by Rome:
    • 58-51 BCE Julius Caesar‘s Gallic Wars brought the area of France up to the Rhine under Roman control.
    • It was known as the ‘Upper Rhine’ although today it is now known as the Middle Rhine.
  • Timeline of this Province:
  • Under The Republic:
  • After Augustus’ reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
    • With the Rhine as the Frontier, eight Legions were concentrated at Mainz, Cologne, Neuss and Xanten, next to or near the four permanent Roman bridges at Mainz, Koblenz, Cologne and Xanten.
    • The Rhine was then divided into two military groupings:
      • The Army of the lower Rhine (Germania Inferior).
      • The Army of the middle Rhine (Germania Superior).
    • They were to act as a forward base for the future occupation of Germania, east of the Rhine between 12 BCE-9 CE.
    • 12 BCE A Legionary double fortress had been built at Mainz with a system of Forts built all the way to Xanten (Castra Vetera) on the Rhine in Holland.
    • 12 BCE Augustus ordered Generals Tiberius and Drusus the Elder to invade Germania. The Legions in Germania Superior and Germania Inferior were launched in an invasion of Germania across the Rhine. The Province of Germania was created between 12 BCE-9 CE.
    • 6 CE By this date the Legions had occupied the area between the Rhine and the Elbe.
    • 9 CE The disaster of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest where three Legions were lost convinced Augustus to give up colonising Germania. Germania Superior became more heavily fortified with the creation of a defensive wall known as the Limes Germanicus.
    • 69-70 CE The Batavian Revolt: All the Rhine forts were destroyed initially by Germanic attacks, then by Civil War between the Legions. Afterwards, the Forts were all rebuilt and connected by Roman Roads.
    • c. 70 CE A Roman road was constructed to connect the Legions at Mainz with the Legion at Augsburg in Raetia.
    • 83-85 CE Domitian attacked the Chatti near Frankfurt.
    • 90 CE Germania  Superior was officially recognised as a separate Imperial Province, and its borders were expanded considerably into Gallia Lugdunensis.
    • 90 CE Completion of the Limes Germanicus: This was a cleared zone of Ditch and Embankment, Wooden Palisades and Watchtowers linking all the Forts. By 150 CE, The Towers and Forts had been rebuilt in stone.
    • c.70-260 CE, the occupation of the Agri Decumates: This area was the gap between the Rhine and the Danube. The area extended between the right bank of the Rhine, to include the Black Forest area, the river Main and the sources of the Danube and Rhine rivers. It was militarised to prevent a build-up of hidden attacking Germanic Tribes, trying to cross this weak point into the Roman Empire.
    • 260 CE, The Alemanni invaded the Agri Decumates in 259 CE, and the area was evacuated and abandoned after 260 CE.
  • After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE):
    • Became part of ‘Provincia Maxima Sequanorum’.
  • After the death of Theodosius (395 CE) and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
    • 411  CE Temporarily lost to the Burgundians in the Vandal invasions, but recovered later.
    • 443 CE Given to the Burgundians as part of the Kingdom of Burgundy. The Burgundians were now Allies of Rome with Foederati status, whilst fighting alongside the Roman General Aetius against the Visigoths.
  • Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Chief archeological Finds:
  • Historic Battle Sites:
  • Main Historical Sources for this Province:

2. Geography

  • Capital City:
  • Chief Cities:
  • Location Today:
    • Rhone to the Rhine Corridor: southwestern Germany, western Switzerland, Jura and Alsace-Lorraine in France.
  • Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Climate and Temperature Today:
  • Main Geographical features:
  • Main Rivers:
  • Mountain Ranges:
    • Black Forest and Jura Mountains, on opposing sides of the Rhine.
  • Islands: None

3. Political Organisation

4. Military Organisation:

5. Economy

  • Chief Exports:
    • Germania Superior was populated by the military and therefore was a Tax Importing Region.
    • It received exports from other Provinces to support the Legions.
  • Agriculture and Fishing:
  • Manufacturing:
  • Mines:
  • Mints:

6. Transport

7. Relationship with Rome

  • The Province was a Military Frontier with Germania and was constantly at war with the Germanic Tribes.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

 

Gemania Superior

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