Moesia Inferior

• Moesia Inferior was a Roman Province which was located in the modern country of Bulgaria.

1. History

• Pre-Roman history
  • Inhabited by the Moesi, a grouping of Thracian , Dacian and Illyrian Tribes.
  • 82-44 BCE Moesia formed part of the Dacian and Getae Empire of King Burebista until his assassination.
• Acquisition by Rome
  • 75 BCE A Roman Army under the ProConsul of Macedonia was victorious in conquering the region.
• Timeline of this Province
• Under The Republic:
• After Augustus reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
  • c. 29 BCE Consolidation was completed by the later Proconsul of Macedonia, Liciunus Crassus.
  • 6 CE Officially became a Province, but not yet divided.
  • 41 CE onwards, Charax, the Roman Fortress in the Crimea Chersonesus Taurica was supplied and controlled by Legions from from Moesia Inferior.
  • 56 CE Tyras at the mouth of the R. Dniester in the Black Sea, was annexed to Moesia by Nero.
  • 86 CE King Duras of Dacia attacked Moesia.
  • 87 CE Domitian repulsed him and divided the Province along the River Cebrus:
    • Up River: Moesia Superior
    • Down River: Moesia Inferior
  • 87-89 CE Domitian then invaded Dacia, but was unable to hold it against King Decebalus.
  • 101-105 CE Starting from Moesia, Trajan finally conquered Dacia and it remained a Roman Province until 275 CE. He was awarded the Title Dacicus Maximus and Trajan's Column built in Rome. Also, a Monument was built in Moesia in Tropaeum Traiani
  • 238 CE Germanic Raids across the Danube.
  • 250 CE Goths invaded Moesia.
  • 251 CE  July Battle of Abritus where the Emperor Decius was killed with his son by the Scythians.
• After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE):
  • Moesia Superior became Moesia Prima.
  • Moesia Inferior became Moesia Secunda and Scythia Minor.
  • 378 CE Battle of Adrianople where Valens was defeated by a Gothic Army led by Fritigern. Although Adrianople is in Thracia, the Battle marked a turning point for the Western Roman Empire as Gothic Tribes were allowed to settle in Moesia Inferior and Thracia.
• After the death of Theodosius (395 CE), and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
  • Moesia Inferior became part of the Eastern Roman Empire.
• Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Ovid
    • The Roman Poet was banished to Tomis (Constanta) in 9 CE where he wrote ‘Tristia’. He remained there until his death in 17 CE.
• Chief archeological Finds:
  • Tropaeum Traiani, Tomis
• Historic Battle Sites:
  • Battle of Abritus (251 CE)
• Main Historical Sources for this Province:

2. Geography

• Capital City:
  • Tomis (Constanta)
• Chief Cities:
  • Oescus (Colonia Ulpia, Gigen), Novae (nr Svishtov), Nicopolis ad Istrum (Nikup), Marcianopolis (Devnya), Odessus (Varna), (all in Bulgaria). Noviodunum (in Roumania)
• Location Today:
  • Bulgaria
• Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Dacia, Moesia Superior, Thracia, Black Sea coast (Euxine).
• Climate and Temperature Today:
  • Temperate Continental Climate.
    • Cold winters with snowfall from December to March, and Hot Summers.
    • Rainfall throughout the year with frequent summer showers.
• Main Geographical features:
  • The Danube Plain
    • From the Iron Gates to the Danube Delta and the Black Sea.
• Main Rivers:
  • The Danube was the northern boundary,
  • River Ciabrus (R. Tsibritsa) formed the boundary with Moesia Superior.
• Mountain Ranges:
  • Haemus Mountains (to the south).
• Islands:

3. Political Organisation

• Province Type
  • Imperial Propraetorial
• Governor:
  • Propraetor
• Tribes and Population:
  • Thraco-Dacian Tribes
  • Thraco-Illyrian Tribes
• Languages:
  • Ancient Greek
  •  And a Dialect which was half Thracian and half Dacian.

4. Military Organisation

• Legions:
• Novae (Ruins, Svishtov, Bulgaria):
  • Legio I Italica (70 CE onwards)
• Durostorum (Silistra, Bulgaria):
  • Legio XI Claudia (104-c. 400 CE).
  • The legions were also responsible for Units based at Charax in the Crimea and controlled the Danubian Navy.
• Noviodunum (Isaccea, Romania):
  • Legio I Jovia (c.284-c.400 CE)
• Capidava (Ruins near Dobruja, Romania):
  • Legio II Herculea (c.284-c.400 CE)
• Sexaginta Prista (Ruse, Bulgaria): (meaning city of 60 Ships)
  • Legio I Italica (c.400 CE)

• Navy:
• Noviodunum (Isaccea, Romania):
  • Classis Moesica (Fleet of the Lower Danube) from c. 10 CE onwards.
• Defensive Works:
  • Limes Moesiae
• Main Threats:
  • Germanic Invasions from the North across the Danube.

5. Economy

• Chief Exports:
  • Moesian Wheat
  • A Source of Legionary Recruits for the Roman Army
• Agriculture and Fishing:
  • Wheat
  • Citrus Orchards
• Manufacturing:
• Mines:
• Mints:

6. Transport

• Roads:
  • Roman Military Road
    • It followed the southern bank of the Danube between Moesia Inferior and Raetia (Switzerland).
• Waterways:
  • River Danube
• Ports:
  • Tomis (Constanta) and the three Legionary Fortresses were all located on the Danube.
• Ancient Trade Routes:
  • Danube to the Black Sea.
  • A north-south trade road linking Thracia from the North.
• Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

• Moesia Inferior was a key heavily fortified Frontier Province.
  • It had 3 Legions and a Navy, the Classis Moesica.
  • It defended Thracia and controlled the Crimea, (Chersonesus Taurica), and its entrance to the Dniester.
  • It was used as a launch base for the invasion of Dacia (101-106 CE).
  • During the Crisis of the Third Century (235-284 CE) Moesia Inferior was continually overrun by Germanic Invasions.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

Moesia Inferior (capital Tomis, Constanta)