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It included most of the territory of modern eastern Serbia, Kosovo, north-eastern Albania, northern parts of North Macedonia (Moesia Superior), Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobruja and small parts of Southern Ukraine (Moesia Inferior).
Moesia, province of the Roman Empire, in the southeastern Balkans in what is now Serbia, part of Macedonia, and part of Bulgaria. Its first recorded people were the Moesi, a Thracian tribe.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
For the bulk of the Roman occupation, Moesia was home to four legions: Legio I Italica at Novae, Legio XI Claudia at Durostorum in Inferior, Legio IV Flavia at Singidunum (Belgrade) and Legio VII Claudia at Viminacium in Superior.
- Dacians Invade Moesia
- Trajan's Dacian Wars
- Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis
- Legio Xi Claudia Pia Fidelis
- Legio I Italica
- Legio IV Flavia Felix
Except for brief raids into Moesia, the territory of Dacia had never been a place of contention for Rome. However, in the years following the death of Roman emperor Nero (r. 54-68 CE), the Roman Empire was in turmoil. It was, in the words of the historian Tacitus (c. 56 - c. 118 CE), divided against itself. Among the German tribes who seized the op...
A decade later, Trajan and his legions returned to Moesia when Decebalus resumed the war, attacking Moesia. Most of what is known of the emperor’s time in Dacia comes from Trajan's Column, a spiral relief of 155 scenes located in the Roman Forum. Already displeased with the terms of Domitian’s treaty, Trajan prepared his legions to counter. Again, ...
Legio VII Claudia (emblem: bull; birth sign: Leo) was raised by Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE) for his campaign in Gaul. However, there are some historians who claim a 7th legion was founded by Pompey in 55 BCE. Regardless, a 7th legion fought with Caesar against the Helvetii in the Gallic Wars in 58 BCE, singlehandedly capturing Aquitaine. Considered ...
The Legio XI Claudia (emblem: Neptune; birth sign: Gemini) was formed by Julius Caesar in 58 BCE and fought with him against the Helvetii in the Gallic Wars and against Pompey in the Civil Wars. Like the 7th, it was temporarily disbanded in 45 BCE but reconstituted by Octavian in 42 BCE, fighting with him at Phillippi, Perusia, and Actium. After th...
The Legio I Italica (emblem: bear; birth sign: Capricorn) was formed by Emperor Nero around 66 CE for his aborted campaign in Parthia. Because the legion was to be equipped in the manner of a Macedonian phalanx, he referred to it as the "Phalanx of Alexander." In 67 CE, he sent it to Lugdunum (modern Lyon) in Gaul to face the governor Gaius Vindex’...
The Legio Flavia Felix (emblem: lion; birth sign: Capricorn) was founded by Vespasian from soldiers of Legio IV Macedonica who had been disgraced during the Batavian Revolt. It was stationed at the capital city of Burnum in Dalmatia where it replaced XI Claudia. In 88 CE, the legion was part of the Roman victory at Tapae. After the Dacian campaign ...
- Donald L. Wasson
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.
Moesia Superior was divided in two, northern part forming the province of Moesia Prima including cities Viminatium and Singidunum, while the southern part was organised as the new province of Dardania with cities Scupi and Ulpiana.
The remains of Viminacium, the capital of the Roman province of Moesia Superior, are located in the territories of the villages of Stari Kostolac and Drmno, about 12 km from the town of Kostolac and about 90 miles southeast of modern Belgrade.
