Ancient Rome History at UNRV.com
  • Home
  • Daily Life
  • Economy
  • Government
  • Military
  • Provinces
  • Map
  • Forum
  • Donate
  • Contact
Ancient Rome History at UNRV.com
  • Daily Life
  • Economy
  • Government
  • Military
  • Provinces
  • Map
  • Forum
  • Donate
UNRV.com Roman History
  • Home
  • Daily Life
  • Economy
  • Government
  • Military
  • Provinces
  • Map
  • Forum
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Roman Provinces
  • Raetia

Raetia

A map of the Roman province of Raetia

Beginning around 800 BC the Raetians started to colonize the area now known as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and western Austria where the Helvetians were already prominent.

The Romans began incursions into Raetian territory in 107 BC by way of the St. Bernard Pass, but in light of the difficulty of the terrain, their conquest of the area was never decisive.

By 52 BC, the Germanic tribe assaults from the north caused the Helvetians to attempt to abandon their homes and migrate towards southern Gaul. Roman Legions, under the command of Julius Caesar, blocked their way and forced their return.

By 15 BC the Romans had pushed north over the Alps under Tiberius and Drusus, stepsons of Emperor Augustus. Their army defeated the Raetians, and Raetia was formally incorporated as a Roman province. However, further to the north and east the Germanic tribes had been steadily moving toward this new Roman territory, forcing it to build a series of defense works and continue to advance farther north.

The Romans built a road from the south over the Mountain passes to the north and along the east bank of the Rhine. Roman Villas and fortifications were built at present day Schaanwald and Nendeln to protect the road across the alpine passes from attack.

After the crushing and legendary defeat of Publius Quintilius Varus, and 3 full legions, by Arminius and the Cherusci in the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, Rome did not try to expand any further across the Rhine for some time. Later campaigns by Germanicus would bring relative peace to the area for some time, but always uneasy at best. To protect Roman colonies in Raetia, the Legions built and garrisoned a series of fortifications called Limes.

The Limes to the north and east in the Roman province of Germania Superior were a high spiked wooden fence with a ditch or moat. Just behind that was a thick stone wall with high wooden watch towers. Smaller fortifications housing the Auxiliary, Cohorts, and Alen, were established behind the wall. These troops called out only in case of serious attack by the German tribes. The Limes in Raetia was a single stone wall with manned watchtowers.

The inhabitants of the Liechtenstein valley and Raetia became quite romanized during the Imperial years. Roman divinities were worshiped instead of the old Celtic Gods. Commerce increased and agriculture flourished.

Vineyards were planted on the mountain slopes. Buildings were built with under the floor heating, running water and sewer disposal. Except for the occasional raid, life in the valley must have been peaceful and prosperous.

From AD 98-117 Roman legions pushed the "Pax Romana" beyond the Rhine to the Main and Danube Rivers. For a time the Germanic tribes were held at bay and an uneasy peace would exist between Rome and these tribes upon the death of Marcus Aurelius. That peace, however, would always be tenuous at best. Legio III Italica, recruited by Marcus Aurelius for the war against those tribes between 166 and 174 CE, was permanently stationed in Raetia. Numerous Auxiliaries were garrisoned among the limes and fortifications as well. Despite their best efforts, though, the Romans would be overrun by the great migrations of Germanic tribes by the late 4th and early 5th centuries.



Economy of Raetia

The land was very mountainous, and the inhabitants, when not engaged in predatory expeditions, chiefly supported themselves by cattle-breeding and cutting timber, little attention being paid to agriculture. Some of the valleys, however, were rich and fertile, and produced corn and wine, the latter considered equal to any in Italy. Augustus preferred Raetian wine to any other. Considerable trade was also carried on in pitch, honey, wax and cheese.



Tribes of Raetia

Helvetii - The major Celtic tribe living in Switzerland. Ariovistus' aid to the Sequani prompted them to want to move, something which Caesar didn't want to happen.

Tigurini - Neighbors and fellow travelers with the Helvetii on their failed migration. The Tigurini had joined the Cimbri and Teutones in the march against northern Italia during the late 2nd century BC, and fled from Sulla after those tribes' defeat by Marius.

Rhaetians - Are considered a possible Etruscan tribe from northern Italy. They settled near several Alpine Lakes and the Graubünden Alps.

Roman Empire Wall Map
$59.99 incl. shipping

Find Out More

  • Featured
    Pages
  • Further
    Reading
  • Discussion
    Board
The Roman Twelve Tables of Law
The Twelve Tables

The Twelve Tables are the first attempt to make a law code, and remained the only attempt for nearly one thousand years.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Roman prisoner shackle
Roman Prisons

Typically, Roman prisons were not used to punish criminals, but instead served only to hold people awaiting trial or execution.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Ancient Rome addressing the common people (plebs)
Tribunes of the Plebs

The Tribune of the Plebes (tribunus plebis) was a magistracy established in 494 BC. It was created to provide the people with a direct representative magistrate.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Roman Emperor Augustus
The Deeds of the Divine Augustus

A copy of the acts of the Deified Augustus by which he placed the whole world under the sovereignty of the Roman people.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
The Government of the Roman Empire: A Sourcebook by Dr Barbara Levick
The Government of the Roman Empire: A Sourcebook
by Dr Barbara Levick

This book reveals how an empire that stretched from Glasgow to Aswan in Egypt could be ruled from a single city and still survive more than a thousand years.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Empire of Honour: The Art of Government in the Roman World by J. E. Lendon
Empire of Honour: The Art of Government in the Roman World
by J. E. Lendon

This second edition includes a new introduction that explores the consequences for government and the governing classes of the replacement of the Republic by the rule of emperors.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Roman Government's Response to Crisis, A.D.235-337 by Ramsay MacMullen
Roman Government's Response to Crisis, A.D.235-337
by Ramsay MacMullen

During the period, the government of the Roman empire met the most prolonged crisis of its history and survived. This text is an early attempt at an inclusive study of the origins and evolutions of this transformation in the ancient world.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Swords Against The Senate: The Rise Of The Roman Army And The Fall Of The Republic by Erik Hildinger
Swords Against The Senate: The Rise Of The Roman Army And The Fall Of The Republic
by Erik Hildinger

Swords Against the Senate describes the first three decades of Rome's century-long civil war that transformed it from a republic to an imperial autocracy, from the Rome of citizen leaders to the Rome of decadent emperor thugs.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Augustus, First Roman Emperor: Power, Propaganda and the Politics of Survival by Matthew D. H. Clark
Augustus, First Roman Emperor: Power, Propaganda and the Politics of Survival
by Matthew D. H. Clark

Rome's first emperor, Augustus, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, has probably had the most lasting effect on history of all rulers of the classical world. This book focuses on his rise to power and on the ways in which he then maintained authority throughout his reign.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
How Did the Political Structure in Rome influence U.S. Political Structure?
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DISCUSSION
When was Rome the Most Just and Fair?
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DISCUSSION
Heads of State in Ancient Rome
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DISCUSSION
Would the Republic Have Survived Had They Served a 2nd Course?
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DISCUSSION
Can Anyone Tell Me About The 1st Triumvirate?
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DISCUSSION
Did the Emperors Bring About the Need for a Split Empire?
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DISCUSSION

Categories

  • Architecture
  • Clothing
  • Economy
  • Gladiators
  • Government
  • Medicine
  • Military
  • Religion
  • Slavery



Newest Updates

Multiple pages on Roman Gods have been combined into one single page.
04 September 2020
The "Roman Colosseum" page has been re-written and expanded.
28 August 2020

Popular Search Terms

  • Germania
  • Pax Romana
  • Roman Architecture
  • Roman Gods
  • Roman Numerals
  • Roman Colosseum
  • Pompey
  • Praetorian Guard
  • Roman Legion
  • Tacitus
  • Newsletter

    UNRV.com
    United Nations of Roma Victrix (UNRV) represents the all encompassing power of Rome in the ancient world. United and Romanized, through conquest, or absorbed through its culture, Rome still stands today as a legacy to the achievement of mankind, and its failures.
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Privacy & Cookie Policies
    • Contact
    © Copyright 2020 UNRV.com. All rights reserved.