{"id":10918,"date":"2024-01-24T12:04:42","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T19:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/?p=10918"},"modified":"2024-03-16T13:52:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-16T20:52:11","slug":"asturica-augusta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/index.php\/2024\/01\/24\/asturica-augusta\/","title":{"rendered":"Asturica Augusta, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Medieval<\/a>
Medieval walls of Astorga, constructed on the 3rd-4th century Roman circuit of walls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most Recent Visit:<\/strong> July 2022<\/p>\n

Located today among the modern city of Astorga, in the province of Le\u00f3n in northeastern Spain, was once the Roman settlement of Asturica Augusta. The area of the settlement was inhabited by the Amaci, a Celtic population that was incorporated into the tribal confederation of the Astures at some point prior to Roman contact. The name of the Astures was given due to their cultural group being centered around the Astura (modern Rio Esla) river valley. The Amaci were specifically part of what would be referred to by the Romans as the Astures Cismontini (or later the Astures Augustani), those residing on the nearer (southern) side of the Iuga Asturum (the modern Cordillera Cant\u00e1brica) mountain range. Though no archaeological evidence has been found to suggest habitation of the Amaci on the actual site of Asturica Augusta, there was certainly habitation elsewhere in the immediate vicinity.<\/p>\n

\"Funerary<\/a>
Funerary stele of the Cornicen Lucius Octavius Magio, son of Lucius. He was a native of Baeterrae Septimanorum (B\u00e9ziers, France) and member of the Pupina tribe. A veteran of Legio X Gemina, in the century of Titus Numisio. Dated to the 1st century CE. Museo Romano La Ergastula.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Astures are noted as having provided mercenaries in the armies of Hasdrubal Barca and Hannibal during the Second Punic War. After that, though, they don\u2019t seem to be involved in the early actions of the Romans to subdue the Cantabrian region of Hispania. By 29 BCE, however, the area of the Cantabrians and Astures remained the last subdued region in Hispania, and a series of campaigns were waged between 29 BCE and 19 BCE as the Cantabrian Wars to bring it under Roman hegemony. The main campaign against the Astures Cismontini occurred in 26-25 BCE as the Bellum Asturicum<\/em>, at which time a Roman camp for Legio X Gemina was likely established at or near the site of what would become Asturica Augusta. The Astures Cismontini largely surrendered following their defeat in 25 BCE, but it wouldn\u2019t be until 19 BCE that resistance in the mountains had largely been subdued.<\/p>\n

\"Funerary<\/a>
Funerary inscription of Licinia Procila, daughter of Sparsus. The monument was erected by Lucius Lusio and mentions the name of Asturica. Dated to the 2nd century CE. Museo Romano La Ergastula.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Asturica Augusta was founded in 14 BCE as part of the Augustan organization of Hispania following the Cantabrian Wars. The name reflects the Augustan foundation and the territory of the people in which it was established. It served as the chief city for the Astures and was the capital of the administrative unit of the Conventus Iuridicus Asturum<\/em> created toward the end of Augustus\u2019 reign. The location served to help protect roads in the region and in particular, the route from the gold mines of the nearby Mons Medullius (modern Las M\u00e9dulas) to the west and the roads from the silver mines to the south in the area of Augusta Emerita<\/a>. Chrysocolla and minium were also mined in the area and . Pliny the Elder, who was procurator of Hispania Tarraconensis in 73\/74 CE, wrote that Asturica Augusta was a magnificent city. Around the same time in 74 CE, the city along with all others in Hispania received Ius Latii<\/em> under Vespasian, and was enrolled in the Quirine tribe.<\/p>\n

\"Remains<\/a>
Remains of a Roman gate in the walls of Asturica Augusta.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Asturica Augusta seems to have been given municipium<\/em> at some point, though the exact timing is unclear. From the time of the Flavians (and Pliny\u2019s procuratorship) through the 2nd<\/sup> and 3rd<\/sup> centuries CE, the settlement seems to have flourished as gold mining . It was known particularly for its horse breeding. When gold mining in the region was drawn down in the late 3rd<\/sup> century CE, Asturica Augusta too experienced a decline in prosperity. During the reign of Caracalla, the city was apparently made capital of the new province of Hispania Nova Citerior Antonia. Under Diocletian, Austurica Augusta was reorganized into the province of Hispania Gallaecia. Around 409 CE, the Germanic Suebi people migrated into the area and established the Kingdom of the Suebi, including Asturica Augusta, and removing the city from the Roman hegemony. Conflicts with the Visigoths who later arrived in the region resulted in the sack of Asturica Augusta by Theodoric II in the middle of the 5th<\/sup> century CE. It was later incorporated into the Visigothic Kingdom in the late 6th<\/sup> century CE.<\/p>\n