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Find sources: "Germania Superior" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Provincia Germania Superior Province of the Roman Empire 83–475 The province of Germania Superior within the Roman Empire, c. 125 Capital Mogontiacum Historical era Antiquity • Established after the Gallic wars 83 • Gallic Empire 260–274 • Frankish Empire 475 Succeeded by Frankish Empire Today part of  France  Germany   Switzerland The Roman empire in the time of Hadrian (ruled 117-138 AD), showing, on the upper Rhine river, the imperial province of Germania Superior (Franche-Comté/Alsace-Lorraine/Baden-Württemberg), and the 2 legions deployed there in 125. Northern part of the province with the Limes Germanicus. Germania Superior ("Upper Germania") was an imperial province of the Roman Empire. It comprised an area of today's western Switzerland, the French Jura and Alsace regions, and southwestern Germany. Important cities were Besançon (Vesontio), Strasbourg (Argentoratum), Wiesbaden (Aquae Mattiacae), and Germania Superior's capital, Mainz (Mogontiacum). It comprised the Middle Rhine, bordering on the Limes Germanicus, and on the Alpine province of Raetia to the south-east. Although it had been occupied militarily since the reign of Augustus, Germania Superior (along with Germania Inferior) was not made into an official province until c. 85 AD.[1] Contents 1 Origin 1.1 Initial Roman involvement 1.2 Limit of the empire 1.3 Defensive strategy 2 End of the province 3 Governors of Germania Superior 4 Civitates 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links Origin[edit] Initial Roman involvement[edit] Main article: Lesser Germania Further information: Romanization (cultural) The terms, "Upper Germania" and "Lower Germania" do not appear in the Gallic Wars of Julius Caesar,[citation needed] yet he writes about reports that the people who lived in those regions were referred to as Germani locally, a term used for a tribe that the Romans called the Germani Cisrhenani, and that the name Germania seems to have been adopted to designate other indigenous tribes in the area.[2][3] Lower Germania was occupied by the Belgae. Upper Germania was occupied by Gaulish tribes including the Helvetii, Sequani, Leuci, and Treveri, and, on the north bank of the middle Rhine, the remnant of the Germanic troops that had attempted to take Vesontio under Ariovistus, but who were defeated by Caesar in 58 BC. The Romans did not abandon this region at any time after then. During a 5-year period in the initial years of his reign (28–23 BC), as Cassius Dio tells us (53.12), Octavian Caesar assumed direct governorship of the major senatorial provinces on grounds that they were in danger of insurrection and he alone commanded the troops required to restore security. They were to be restored to the senate in 10 years under proconsuls elected by the senate. Among these independent provinces were upper Germania. Apparently it had become a province in the last years of the republic. Tacitus also mentions it as the province of Germania Superior in his Annales (3.41, 4.73, 13.53). Cassius Dio viewed the Germanic tribes as Celts, an impression given perhaps by Belgica, the name assigned to lower Germania at the time. Dio does not mention the border, but he views upper Germany as extending to the source of the Rhine. It is not clear if he was aware of the Upper Rhine in Switzerland, upstream from Lake Constance. Today the section of the Rhine running through upper Germania is called the middle Rhine. Limit of the empire[edit] Augustus had planned to incorporate all of central Germania in one province, Germania Magna. This plan was frustrated by the Germanic tribesmen at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Augustus decided to limit the empire at the Rhine-Danube border. Thereafter continual conflict prevailed along it, forcing the Romans to conduct punitive expeditions and fortify Germania Superior. By 12 BC, major bases existed at Xanten (Castra Vetera) and Mainz (Mogontiacum), from which Drusus operated. A system of forts gradually developed around these bases. In 69–70, all the Roman fortications along the Rhine and Danube were destroyed by Germanic insurrections and civil war between the legions. At the conclusion of this violent but brief social storm they were rebuilt more extensively than before, with a road connecting Mainz and Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum). Domitian went to war against the Chatti in 83–85, who were north of Frankfurt (in Hesse named after them). At this time the first line, or continuous fortified border, was constructed. It consisted of a cleared zone of observation, a palisade where practicable, wooden watchtowers and forts at the road crossings. The system reached maximum extent by 90. A Roman road went through the Odenwald and a network of secondary roads connected all the forts and towers. Germania Superior and Germania Inferior in the 3rd century. Defensive strategy[edit] The plan governing the development of the limes was relatively simple. From a strategic point of view, the Agri Decumates, or region between the Rhine and Danube, offers a bulge in the line between the Celts and the Germanics, which the Germanics had tried to exploit under Ariovistus. The bulge divided the densely populated Celtic settlements along the entire river system in two. Invading forces could move up under cover of the Black Forest. Roman defensive works therefore cut across the base of the bulge, denying the protected corridor and shortening the line. The key point was the shoulder of the bulge at Mogontiacum (Mainz) where the masse de manoevre or strategic reserves were located. The forts through the forest were relatively lightly defended and on that account were always being burned by the Alamanni. They gave advance notice, however. On being notified, the legions would strike out in preventative and punitive expeditions from Mainz or Strasburg, or Augsburg on the other side. The entire system could only succeed if heavy troop concentrations were kept at Mainz. Fixed defenses alone are not much of a defense, in either ancient or modern times. Other forces are required for attack. At best the fixed defenses serve to warn or delay until a counterattack can be launched. For more complete details on the development of the limes, or frontier, see under Limes Germanicus. In the subsequent peaceful years, the limes lost its temporary character. Vici, or communities, developed around the forts. By 150, the towers and the bases had been rebuilt in stone. The soldiers now lived in good stone barracks within walls decorated by frescoes. Germanic civilization had changed as well. Where Caesar had described burning the wretched brush hovels of the Suebi who had come to fight for Ariovistus, the Chatti and the Alamanni now lived in comfortable Romanized villages around the limes. Germania Superior was reestablished as an Imperial Roman province in 90, taking large amounts of territory from Gallia Lugdunensis. One of its first and most famous governors was the future Emperor Trajan, who ruled the province from 96 until his accession in 98. The Helvetii settlement area became part of the province of Germania Superior. End of the province[edit] Post 400, as Rome slowly was losing control over its northernmost provinces over a period of 50 years, the southern (Swiss) parts of Germania Superior were incorporated into the Provincia Maxima Sequanorum before they became part of Burgundy in the early 5th century. The northern parts became part of Alemannia. Governors of Germania Superior[edit] Gaius Silius AD 14–16 Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus 29–39 Pomponius Secundus 50-54[citation needed] Hordeonius Flaccus c. 69[4] Gaius Dillius Vocula 69–70 Appius Annius Gallus 70–72 Gnaeus Pinarius Cornelius Clemens 72–75 Quintus Corellius Rufus 79–83 Lucius Antonius Saturninus 87–89 Gaius Octavius Tidius Tossianus Lucius Javolenus Priscus 89–92 Sextus Lusianus Proculus 93–96[5][6] Marcus Ulpius Traianus 96–97; better known as Trajan Lucius Julius Ursus Servianus 97/98 Ignotus 110–112 Kan[us Junius Niger] 116–118[7] Gaius Quinctius Certus Poblicius Marcellus Between 121 and 128 [...]ius Celer 128/129-130/131 Tiberius Claudius Quartinus 133/134-134/135 Titus Caesernius Statianus c. 149 - c. 152[8] Gaius Popilius Carus Pedo c. 152 - c. 155 Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus c. 155 - c. 158 Gaius Aufidius Victorinus c. 162 - c. 166 Lucius Victorinus Flavius Caelianus c. 166 - c. 169 Caerellius Priscus, name uncertain; possibly c. 174 - c. 177 Publius Cornelius Anullinus c. 177 - c. 180 Marcus Helvius Clemens Dextrianus From 187[9] Gaius Caesonius Macer Rufinianus c. 200 - c. 203[9] Titus Statilius Barbarus c. 203[9] Quintus Aiacius Modestus Crescentianus c. 206 - 209[9] [...] Avitius Attested 28 March 213[9] Quintus Junius [...] Quintianus Attested October 213[9] Claudius Aelius Pollio c. 218[9] Maximus Attianus Attested 28 March 229[9] Sextus Catius Clementinus Priscillianus c. 231[9] Civitates[edit] Ladenburg (Lopodunum) = Civitas Ulpia Sueborum Nicretum; Wimpfen = Civitas Alisinensium; Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt Rottenburg (Sumelocenna) = Civitas Sumelocennensis; Rottweil (Arae Flaviae) Baden-Baden (Aquae) = Civitas Aquensis; Mainz (Mogontiacum) = Civitas Aresacium; Worms (Borbetomagus) = Civitas Vangionum; Speyer (Noviomagus) = Civitas Nemetum; Wiesbaden (Mattiacorum) = Civitas Mattiacorum; Heddernheim (Nida) = Civitas Taunensium; Dieburg = Civitas Auderiensium See also[edit] List of Germanic peoples Alamanni Heremus Helvetiorum Notes[edit] References[edit] ^ Rüger, C. (2004) [1996]. "Germany". In Alan K. Bowman; Edward Champlin; Andrew Lintott (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History: X, The Augustan Empire, 43 B.C. - A.D. 69. 10 (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 526–528. ISBN 0-521-26430-8. ^ Schulze, Hagen (1998). Germany: A New History. Harvard University Press. p. 4. ISBN 0-674-80688-3. OCLC 39042956. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (2003) [1st pub. 1996]. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Oxford Reference Online (online ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. p. 641. doi:10.1093/acref/9780192830982.001.0001. ISBN 9780192830982. Retrieved 2016-10-01. ^ Unless otherwise noted, governors from 69 to 112 are taken from Eck, Werner (1982). "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139". Chiron. 12: 281–362. ISBN 3406078524. ISSN 0069-3715. OCLC 932001499. ^ Weiß, Peter (2004). "Ein neuer Legat Domitians von Germania superior in einem Militärdiplom: Sex. Lusianus Proculus". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. Band 147: 229–234. ^ Eck, Werner (2004). "Diplome, Konsuln und Statthalter: Fortschritte und Probleme der kaiserzeitlichen Prosopographie". Chiron. 34: 25–44, here page 37. ^ Unless otherwise noted, governors from 116 to 135 are taken from Eck, Werner (1983). "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139, II". Chiron. Munich: Verlag C. H. Beck. 13: 147–237. ISBN 3406093337. ISSN 0069-3715. OCLC 932001499.CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link) ^ Unless otherwise noted, governors from 149 to 180 are taken from Alföldy, Géza (1977). Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter den Antoninen [Consuls and Senators under the Antonine Emperors]. Volume 27 of Antiquitas: Abhandlungen zur Alten Geschichte [Antiquitas: Essays on Ancient History] (in German). Bonn: Rudolf Habelt Verlag. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978-3-7749-1334-9. OCLC 299616620. Retrieved 12 April 2017. ^ a b c d e f g h i Leunissen, Paul M.M. (1989). Konsuln und konsulare in der zeit von Commodus bis Severus Alexander: 180-235 n. Chr. Dutch Monographs on Ancient History and Archaeology. VI. Amsterdam: Verlag J.C. Gieben. pp. 245–247. ISBN 90-6053-028-6. OCLC 803822187.CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link) Further reading[edit] Valerie M. Hope: Constructing Identity: The Roman Funerary Monuments of Aquelia, Mainz and Nimes; British Archaeological Reports (16. Juli 2001) ISBN 978-1-84171-180-5 External links[edit] The Fleets and Roman Border Policy LIMES GERMANIAE SUPERIORIS Germany. v t e  Alsace topics Administrative divisions Bas-Rhin (Strasbourg) (Unterelsaß) Arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg Arrondissement of Molsheim Arrondissement of Saverne Arrondissement of Sélestat-Erstein Arrondissement of Strasbourg Haut-Rhin (Colmar) (Oberelsaß) Arrondissement of Altkirch Arrondissement of Colmar-Ribeauvillé Arrondissement of Mulhouse Arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller Language Alsatian French Culture Coat of arms Flag Anthem People Demographics Kelsch Musée alsacien Hagenau Strasbourg Politics Regional council of Alsace (1982–2015) Alsace independence movement Grand Est (since 2016) European Collectivity of Alsace (since 2021) Religion (according to the 1801 Concordat in Alsace-Moselle, including Lorraine) Catholic Church Archdiocese of Strasbourg Immediately subject to the Holy See (Lorraine: Diocese of Metz) Protestantism Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine Protestant Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine Protestant Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine Judaism History of the Jews in Alsace consistories Sports RC Strasbourg Alsace SIG Strasbourg SC Schiltigheim FC Sélestat Sélestat Alsace Handball FC Vendenheim Étoile Noire de Strasbourg Internationaux de Strasbourg Rallye de France Alsace Rallye Alsace-Vosges See also: Alsace de Bagnolet (Paris) History Germania Superior (Pagus Alsatiae) (83–475) Argentoratum Route Romane d'Alsace Alemanni (circa 213–496) Alamannia (3rd-century–911) Duchy of Alsace (circa 630–699) Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg (982–1803) County of Ferrette (11th-century–14th-century) Salm (1165−1793) Landgraviate of Alsace (1186–1646) Lower Alsace Upper Alsace Further Austria (13th-century–1648) Décapole (1354–1679) County of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1456–1736) Upper Rhenish Circle (1500-1679) Left Bank of the Rhine (1814-1871) Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine (1871–1918) Gau Baden-Elsaß (1940–1945) Alsace (1945–2016) Grand Est (2016–) v t e Germanic peoples Ethnolinguistic group of Northern European origin primarily identified as speakers of Germanic languages History Nordic Bronze Age Pre-Roman Iron Age Roman Iron Age Germanic Iron Age Viking Age Early culture Architecture Art Calendar Clothing Family Festivals Funerary practices Anglo-Saxon Norse Law Anglo-Saxon Norse Literature Anglo-Saxon Norse Mythology Continental Frankish Norse Names Gothic Paganism Anglo-Saxon Gothic Norse Scripts Gothic alphabet Runic Symbology Warfare Anglo-Saxon Gothic and Vandal Viking Languages Germanic parent language Proto-Germanic language East Germanic languages West Germanic languages North Germanic languages Ancient tribes Alemanni Brisgavi Bucinobantes Lentienses Raetovari Adrabaecampi Angles Anglo-Saxons Ambrones Ampsivarii Angrivarii Armalausi Auiones Avarpi Baemi Baiuvarii Banochaemae Bastarnae Batavi Belgae Germani cisrhenani Atuatuci Caeroesi Condrusi Eburones Paemani Segni Morini Nervii Bateinoi Betasii Brondings Bructeri Burgundians Buri Cananefates Caritni Casuari Chaedini Chaemae Chamavi Chali Charudes Chasuarii Chattuarii Chatti Chauci Cherusci Cimbri Cobandi Corconti Cugerni Danes Dauciones Dulgubnii Favonae Firaesi Fosi Franks Ripuarian Franks Salian Franks Frisiavones Frisii Gambrivii Geats Gepids Goths Crimean Goths Greuthungi Gutones Ostrogoths Thervingi Thracian Goths Visigoths Gutes Harii Hermunduri Heruli Hilleviones Ingaevones Irminones Istvaeones Jutes Juthungi Lacringi Lemovii Lombards Heaðobards Lugii Diduni Helisii Helveconae Manimi Nahanarvali Marcomanni Marsacii Marsi Mattiaci Nemetes Njars Nuithones Osi Quadi Reudigni Rugii Rugini Saxons Semnones Sicambri Scirii Sitones Suarines Suebi Sunici Swedes Taifals Tencteri Teutons Thelir Thuringii Toxandri Treveri Triboci Tubantes Tulingi Tungri Ubii Usipetes Vagoth Vandals Hasdingi Silingi Vangiones Varisci Victohali Vidivarii Vinoviloth Warini Christianization Gothic Christianity Christianization of the Franks Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England Christianization of Scandinavia Christianization of Iceland Category v t e Ancient Roman sites in Germany Germania (Germania Superior, Germania Inferior) Cities Trier Mainz Cologne Xanten Barricades Limes Germanicus Camps Flevum Roman camp Bentumersiel Marching camp Ermelo Marching camp Holsterhausen Aliso Cohort camp Haltern Roman camp Olfen Shore fort Beckinghausen Roman fort Bielefeld-Sennestadt Roman camp Oberaden Roman camp Kneblinghausen Roman camp Anreppen Roman camp Porta Westfalica Roman camp Hedemünden Roman camp Limburg Roman camp Oberbrechen Waldgirmes Forum Roman camp Dorlar Roman camp, Marktbreit Marching camp Hachelbich Marching camp Wilkenburg v t e Provinces of the early Roman Empire (117 AD) Achaea Aegyptus Africa proconsularis Alpes Cottiae Alpes Maritimae Alpes Graiae et Poeninae Arabia Petraea Armenia Asia Assyria Bithynia and Pontus Britannia Cappadocia Cilicia Corsica and Sardinia Crete and Cyrenaica Cyprus Dacia Dalmatia Epirus Galatia Gallia Aquitania Gallia Belgica Gallia Lugdunensis Gallia Narbonensis Germania Inferior Germania Superior Hispania Baetica Hispania Lusitania Hispania Tarraconensis Italia † Iudaea Lycia et Pamphylia Macedonia Mauretania Caesariensis Mauretania Tingitana Mesopotamia Moesia Inferior Moesia Superior Noricum Pannonia Inferior Pannonia Superior Raetia Sicilia Syria Thracia † Italy was never constituted as a province, instead retaining a special juridical status until Diocletian's reforms. v t e Roman governors Achaea Aegyptus Africa proconsularis Alpes (Alpes Cottiae, Alpes Maritimae and Alpes Poeninae) Arabia Petraea Armenia Asia Assyria Bithynia and Pontus Britannia Cappadocia Cilicia Corsica and Sardinia Crete and Cyrenaica Cyprus Dacia Dalmatia Epirus Galatia Gaul (Gallia Aquitania, Gallia Belgica, Gallia Lugdunensis and Gallia Narbonensis) Germania (Germania Inferior and Germania Superior) Hispania (Hispania Baetica and Hispania Tarraconensis) Iudaea Lusitania Lycia et Pamphylia Macedonia Mauretania (Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana) Mesopotamia Moesia (Moesia Inferior and Moesia Superior) Noricum Pannonia (Pannonia Inferior and Pannonia Superior) Raetia Sicilia Syria Thracia Authority control General Integrated Authority File Other Historical Dictionary of Switzerland Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Germania_Superior&oldid=1008913845" Categories: States and territories established in the 80s States and territories disestablished in the 5th century Germania Superior Germany in the Roman era Ancient Switzerland 80s establishments in the Roman Empire 470s disestablishments in the Roman Empire 475 disestablishments Former states and territories of Rhineland-Palatinate Hidden categories: CS1: long volume value CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors CS1 German-language sources (de) Articles with short description Short description matches Wikidata 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