{"id":5505,"date":"2019-04-03T20:27:59","date_gmt":"2019-04-04T03:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/?p=5505"},"modified":"2025-02-22T08:27:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T15:27:59","slug":"alba-augusta-helviorum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/index.php\/2019\/04\/03\/alba-augusta-helviorum\/","title":{"rendered":"Alba Augusta Helviorum, Gallia Narbonensis"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Shops<\/a>
Shops along the forum area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most Recent Visit:<\/strong> June 2018.<\/p>\n

Tucked into a fertile agricultural valley about 7 kilometers to the west of the Rh\u00f4ne, along the L’Escoutay River, a tributary of the Rh\u00f4ne, are the remains of the Roman town of Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em>. The archaeological site is located just to the north of the present-day town of Alba-la-Romaine, which draws its name from the ancient city and its Roman heritage. Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em>, as the final part of the name suggests, was located in the territory of the Helvii, which generally corresponds to the territory of the modern French department of Ard\u00e8che. Not much is known of the history of the site or of the Helvii prior to their contact with the Romans. The general area of Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em> seems to have had a related oppidum<\/em> prior to the founding of a settlement on the present site of the archaeological area, though.<\/p>\n

From 121 to 120 BCE, Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus carried out a campaign against the Allobroges and Averni first as consul and then as proconsul of Gaul. At the time, the Helvii seem to have been allied with the Averni, but following the defeat of the latter, the Helvii entered into an alliance with Rome. It seems to be around this time that settlement started in the immediate area of Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em>. Though the settlement at the site of Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em> does not seem to have been urbanized during this period, there was heavy Roman influence, and it is noted that the leader of the Helvii, Gaius Valerius Caburus, was given Roman citizenship in 83 BCE by Gaius Valerius Flaccus, proconsul of Gallia Transalpina at the time. Caburus\u2019 son, Gaius Valerius Procillus, was highly regarded by Caesar during his Gallic Campaign.<\/p>\n

\"Stretch<\/a>
Stretch of the cardo maximus near the forum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the Sertorian War of 80 BCE to 72 BCE, it seems that the Helvii supported Sertorius, and as consequence, when he was defeated, the Helvii lost some of their land to Massilia, though it does not seem to have included the area of Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em>. Despite their support of Sertorius, the Helvii remained staunch Roman allies. During Julius Caesar\u2019s Gallic Campaign, the Helvii provided support to Caesar by blocking the attempts of Vercingetorix to attack through their territory. The Helvii were ultimately defeated, with Caburus\u2019 other son, Gaius Valerius Donotaurus being killed in the battle, and ended up being forced into providing troop levies to Vercingetorix at Alesia. Following Massilia\u2019s support of Pompey against Caesar and subsequent capture by the latter, the territory of the Helvii that was previously ceded to Massilia<\/a> was returned by Caesar.<\/p>\n

Whether or not a Roman settlement was organized on the site of Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em> immediately following the Gallic Wars is unclear, but as the name of the city suggests, a colony was established under Augustus as the capital of the Helvii. The fertile valley in which Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em> is located proved to be conducive to agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of grapes for the production of wine. Pliny the Elder notes that a variety of grape that blossoms in one day being created at Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em>, which eventually was spread elsewhere in the province of Gallia Narbonensis, called carbunicam<\/em>. The cultivation of this grape and production of wine here likely contributed greatly to the city\u2019s prosperity throughout the 1st<\/sup> century CE. Like many of the other Roman settlements in the area, Alba Augusta Helviorum<\/em> was sacked by the Alemanni in the waning years of the 3rd<\/sup> century CE, which eventually lead to it\u2019s almost complete abandonment in the middle of the 4th<\/sup> century CE and the transfer of the area\u2019s population center to nearby Viviers<\/a>.<\/p>\n