Moesia Superior

  • Moesia Superior was a Roman Province located in the modern countries of southern Serbia and the northern Republic of Macedonia.

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.
    • c. 29 BCE Consolidation was completed by the later Proconsul of Macedonia, Licinius Crassus.
  • Timeline of this Province
  • Under The Republic:
  • After Augustus’ reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
    • 6 CE Officially becomes 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 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. Trajan was awarded the Title Dacicus Maximus and Trajan's Column was built in his honour in Rome, whilst he built a Monument in Moesia called the Tropaeum Traiani.
    • 238 CE Germanic Raids across the Danube.
    • 250 CE Goths invaded Eastern Moesia Superior, Moesia Inferior and Dacia.
    • 275 CE Dacia abandoned by Aurelian and Moesia became the Frontier and was refortified under Aurelian.
  • After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE):
  • After the death of Theodosius (395 CE), and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
    • Became part of the Eastern Roman Empire.
    • 441-443 CE The Huns invaded Moesia Superior and destroyed Belgrade (Singidunum).
  • Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Chief archeological Finds:
  • Historic Battle Sites:
  • Main Historical Sources for this Province:

2. Geography

  • Capital City:
    • Viminacium (nr Kostolac, Serbia) also called Municipium Aelium
  • Chief Cities:
    • Belgrade (Singidunum), Bela Palanka (Remesiana), Vidin (Bononia), Archaer (Ratiaria), Skopje (Skupe), Nish (Naissus)
  • Location Today:
    • Southern Serbia, Northern Republic of Macedonia.
  • Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Climate and Temperature Today:
    • Moderate Continental Climate varied by the local Plains and Mountains
      • Winter: Cold, with snow in the mountains from November to March. Rainfall all year round.
      • Summer: Hot, with some rainfall.
    • Winds: Predominantly westerly and northwesterly.
  • Main Geographical features:
    • Iron Gates
      • These are a series of Gorges on the Danube stretching 83 miles (134km), but in particular the last Gorge which was impassable.
  • Main Rivers:
  • Mountain Ranges:
    • Scardus Mountains to the West, Dinaric Alps, Carpathian Mountains, Balkan Mountains, Rilo-Rhodope Mountains
  • Islands:

3. Political Organisation

4. Military Organisation

5. Economy

  • Chief Exports:
    • Gold
    • Silver
  • Agriculture and Fishing:
  • Manufacturing:
  • Mines:
    • Gold Mines
      • The Gold Mines of Bosnia, between 54-68 CE, had an Annual output of 20,250,000 Denarii.
    • Silver Mines
      • The Silver Mines of Eastern Bosnia and Northwestern Serbia, Argentica (Srebrenica) and Domavia (nr.Gradina). They are in the mountains above the Jadar valley.
      • The Silver Mines in Serbia are in the Rudnik Mountain, Brskovo, Noco Brdo, Srebrenica, Trepca.
  • Mints:

6. Transport

  • Roads:
  • Waterways:
  • Ports:
  • Ancient Trade Routes:
    • Route from the Adriatic to Dacia
  • Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

  • Heavily fortified Frontier Province.
    • It protected the east from the Dacians.
    • It had 3 Legions and a Base for the Roman Navy on the upper Danube, the Classis Pannonica.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

  • Constantine I was born here at Naissus. He ended the persecution of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

 

Moesia Superior (capital Viminacium, Kostolac, Serbia)

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