List of castra

The list of castra used by the Roman army in the Republic and Empire includes castra in various places of Europe, Asia and Africa. The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position.

Locations

The disposition of the castra reflects the most important zones of the empire from a military point of view. Many castra were disposed along the Northern European frontier, in Central Europe, and in modern Bulgaria and Romania, Another focal point was the Eastern border, where the Roman Empire confronted with its longest enemy, the Persian Empire. Other castra were located in strategically important zones, as in Egypt, from which most of the wealth consumed in the empire came. Finally, other castra were located in zones in which the Romans experienced local unrest, such as Northern Spain and Judea. Provinces where the Roman power was unchallenged, such as Italy, Gaul, Africa and Greece, were provided with few or no castra.

In the long history of the Roman Empire, the character of the military policy of the Roman Empire changed, and consequently the location and dimension of the castra changed. Under Emperors Gallienus and Aurelian (and later Diocletian), the Roman army was organized into a high-mobility central army (the comitatus) and in local troops (the limitanei). Some castra lost importance, others were built in new zones, and in general they lost the role of permanent quarter for huge corps of troops.

Castra by Roman province

Aegyptus

Alexandria, Babylon, Coptos, Nicopolis (Egypt)

Africa

Ammaedara, Lambaesis, Thamugas, Theveste

Armenia

Satala

Britannia

Alauna, Arbeia, Banna, Bremenium, Burrium, Camulodunum, Derventio (Malton), Deva Victrix, Eburacum, Epiacum, Glevum, Isca Dumnoniorum, Isca Augusta, Condercum, Concangis, Corinium, Galava, Glannoventa, Leucarum, Lindum, Mamucium, Manduessedum, Mediobogdum, Morbium, Olicana, Pinnata Castra, Portus Adurni, Segedunum, Trimontium, Vindolanda, Vinovia, Viroconium, Voreda

Also castra of unknown name:

Bar Hill, Bearsden, Lunt Fort, Normandykes, Raedykes

Cappadocia

Melitene

Commagene

Samosata, Zeugma

Corsica

Aleria, Aurelianus

Dacia

Acidava, Ad Mutrium, Ad Pannonios, Agnaviae, Aizis, Altenum, Angustia, Apulum, Arcidava, Arcobara, Arutela, Auraria Daciae, Bacaucis, Berzovia, Buridava, Caput Bubali, Caput Stenarum, Castra Traiana, Castra Nova, Certinae, Cumidava, Dierna, Drobeta, Jidava, Largiana, Micia, Naissus, Napoca, Optatiana, Partiscum, Pelendava, Pons Aluti, Pons Vetus, Porolissum, Potaissa, Praetoria Augusta, Praetorium (Copăceni), Praetorium (Mehadia), Resculum, Romula, Rupes, Rusidava, Samum, Sucidava, Tibiscum, Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa

Also castra of unknown name:

Albești, Bădeni, Băile Homorod, Boroșneu Mare, Brusturi, Brâncovenești, Bucium, Buciumi, Bulci, Bumbești-Jiu - Gară, Bumbești-Jiu - Vârtop, Băneasa, Bănița, Chitid, Cigmău, Cincșor, Cioroiu Nou, Colțești, Constantin Daicoviciu, Cornuțel, Cristești, Crâmpoia, Călugăreni, Desa, Duleu - Cornet cetate, Duleu - Odăi, Federi, Feldioara, Fizești, Fâlfani, Gherla, Gilău, Gresia, Hinova, Hoghiz, Hunedoara, Ighiu, Islaz, Izbășești, Izvoarele, Jac, Livezile, Luncani / Târsa, Moldova Nouă, Negreni, Ocna Sibiului, Olteni, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Orheiu Bistriței, Pietroasele, Pietroșani, Ploiești, Plosca, Poiana, Pojejena, Porceni, Purcăreni, Putineiu, Puținei, Roșiorii de Vede, Râu Bărbat, Răcarii de Jos, Războieni-Cetate, Reci, Salcia, Sfârleanca, Sighișoara, Slăveni, Stremț, Surducu Mare, Sânpaul (Harghita), Sânpaul (Mureș), Săpata de Jos, Sărățeni, Sfârleanca, Tihău, Titești, Târnăveni, Urlueni, Voinești, Voislova, Șinca Veche, Zăvoi

Possible castra mentioned on Tabula Peutingeriana but not investigated:

Ad Aquas/Aquae, Brucla, Gaganis, Masclianis, Petris, Salinae/Salinis

Dalmatia

Delminium, Burnum, Ragusia or Laus, Tilurium

Gallia

Argentoratum, Castra Constantia, Lugdunum

Also castra of unknown name:

Oudenburg

Germania

Abusina, Augusta Vindelicorum, Bonna, Colonia Agrippinae, Flevum, Moguntiacum, Novaesium, Noviomagus, Traiectum, Vetera

Also castra of unknown name:

Saalburg

Hispania

Asturica Augusta, Castra Servilia, Legio, Lucus Augusti, Tarraco

Italia

Aquileia, Castra Albana, Cremona, Emona, Castra Taurinorum, Placentia

Iudaea

Aelia Capitolina, Raphana

Mesopotamia

Nisibis, Singara, Ziata

Moesia

Ad Stoma, Arrubium, Altinum, Argamum, Axiopolis, Beroe, Callatis, Capidava, Carsium, Cius, Dinogetia, Libida, Histriopolis, Halmyris, Oescus, Novae, Noviodunum, Ratiaria, Sacidava, Salsovia, Scupi, Singidunum, Stratonis, Tomis, Troesmis, Ulmetum, Viminacium

Also castra of unknown name:

Basarabi-Murfatlar, Tirighina-Bărboși, Cernavodă

Ad Moesiam

Also castra of unknown name:

Drajna de Sus

Noricum

Asturis (Zwentendorf), Cannabiaca (Zeiselmauer-Wolfpassing), Comagena, Lauriacum, Lentia

Osrhoene

Circesium

Pannonia

Aquincum, Brigetio, Carnuntum, Mursa, Poetovio, Sirmium, Taurunum, Vindobona

Raetia

Brigantium, Castra Regina, Batavis, Castra Maiense

Maxima Sequanorum

Augusta Raurica, Vindonissa

Syria

Apamea, Bostra, Dura, Emesa

See also

• List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia
• List of castra in Romania (Romanian version)

External links

• Roman castra from Romania - Google Maps / Earthde:Legionslager