Viminacium – History and Research

Abstract

The legionary fort in Viminacium was most likely established at the beginning of the 1st century CE, as the Romans reached this part of the Danube Valley. It seems that organising the military on the Danube occurred simultaneously with the establishment of the province of Moesia, in the year 15 CE. The Romans’ tendency to establish legionary forts on the Danube and to obtain a border that would be more secure was motivated by the need to protect the Roman provinces in the south of the Balkans from plunderers from the north. Subordinating free tribes that used to dwell between the province of Macedonia and the Danube occurred over the three final decades of the 1st century BCE and ended with a gradual movement of legions from Macedonia towards the north and the establishment the province of Moesia. This stretched from the river Sava to the Black Sea. It soon became apparent that the province was too big to be effectively controlled and, as a result, in the year 86 CE, it was divided into two parts: Upper and Lower Moesia.