Raetia

Raetia or Rhaetia was a province of the Roman Empire named after the Rhaetian people. It bordered the country of the Helvetii to the west, Noricum to the east, Vindelicia to the north, Transalpine Gaul to the southwest, and Venetia et Histria to the south. This area included parts of modern-day eastern and central Switzerland, southern Germany, Vorarlberg and most of Tyrol in Austria, and part of northern Lombardy in Italy.

The capital of Raetia was Augusta Vindelicorum, which is present-day Augsburg in southern Germany. The northern border of Raetia was originally the River Danube, but later it was marked by the Limes Germanicus, a long wall stretching north of the Danube. Raetia was connected to Italy across the Alps using the Reschen Pass and the Via Claudia Augusta road.

History

See also: Switzerland in the Roman era

The Raetians were one of the strong and brave tribes in the Alps. Some old writers thought they came from a group of people called the Etruscans, but others believe they were driven into the mountains by another group called the Gauls and mixed with Celtic tribes who already lived there.

The Romans first heard about the Raetians a long time ago, but they did not become part of the Roman Empire until around 15 BC when leaders named Tiberius and Drusus brought them under Roman control. At first, Raetia was its own area of the Roman Empire. Later, a place called Vindelicia was added to it. For a time, the area was protected by local soldiers instead of a big Roman army.

As time went on, the way Raetia was governed changed. By the time of the Western Roman Empire, the land had become less settled, but a group called the Ostrogoths helped bring some life back to the area. Part of Raetia continued to be its own region for many years before it became part of a larger area called the Duchy of Swabia in the year 917 AD.

Economy

The land in Raetia was very mountainous, so people mainly raised cattle and cut down trees for a living. They didn’t focus much on farming, but some valleys were rich and grew wine that was very good, even liked by Augustus. There was also a lot of trade in items like pitch, honey, wax, and cheese.

Geography

Raetia was an area ruled by the Romans, with important towns like Tridentum (Trento) and Curia (Chur). Two major Roman roads crossed this land. One road, called the Via Claudia Augusta, went from Verona through Tridentum, over the Reschen Pass and the Fern Pass, ending in Augusta Vindelicorum (Augsburg). The other road started at Brigantium (Bregenz) on Lake Constance, passed through Chur and Chiavenna, and reached Como and Milan.

The Rätikon mountains are named after Raetia.

Important cities

• Alae (Aalen)
• Arbor Felix (Arbon)
• Abodiacum (Epfach)
• Aquileia (Heidenheim an der Brenz)
• Augusta Vindelicorum (Augsburg)
• Ausugum (Borgo Valsugana)
• Bauzanum or Pons Drusi (Bolzano)
• Belunum (Belluno)
• Bilitio (Bellinzona)
• Brigantium (Bregenz)
• Cambodunum (Kempten im Allgäu)
• Castra Batava (Passau)
• Castra Regina (Regensburg)
• Clavenna (Chiavenna)
• Clunia (probably Feldkirch or Balzers)
• Curia (Chur)
• Endidae (Neumarkt)
• Feltria (Feltre)
• Foetes (Füssen)
• Guntia (Günzburg)
• Gamundia Romana (Schwäbisch Gmünd)
• Oscela (Domodossola)
• Parthanum (Partenkirchen)
• Sebatum (San Lorenzo di Sebato/St. Lorenzen)
• Sorviodurum (Straubing)
• Sublavio (Ponte Gardena/Waidbruck)
• Tridentum (Trento)
• Veldidena (Wilten district of Innsbruck)
• Vipitenum (Vipiteno/Sterzing)