When was Raetia conquered by Rome?
Raetia was subjugated in 15 BC by Tiberius and Drusus. Before that conquest, the Rhaetian people had maintained their independence against neighboring Alpine peoples and the expanding Roman world.
Questions about Raetia
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the capital of the Roman province of Raetia?
The capital of Raetia was Augusta Vindelicorum, which is present-day Augsburg in southern Germany. Tacitus referred to it as "a colony of the province of Raetia" in his work Germania.
What is the origin of the Rhaetian people?
Ancient sources disagreed. Livy held that the Rhaetians were of Etruscan origin, a view supported by Niebuhr and Mommsen. A separate tradition reported by Justin and Pliny the Elder said they were Etruscans driven from the Po plain by invading Gauls, who then took the name "Raetians" from a leader called Raetus.
How large was Raetia's northern boundary extension beyond the Danube?
The Limes Germanicus marked the northern boundary of Raetia, stretching 166 km north of the River Danube. Under Augustus and Tiberius the boundary had been the Danube itself, before the frontier was extended.
How was Raetia divided under Diocletian?
Diocletian split Raetia into two units: Raetia prima, with a praeses based at Curia Raetorum (Chur), and Raetia secunda, governed from Augusta Vindelicorum (Augsburg). Raetia prima corresponded to the old Rhaetian heartland and Raetia secunda to the former Vindelicia.
What did Raetia produce and trade under Roman rule?
Raetia's economy centered on cattle breeding, timber, and trade in pitch, honey, wax, and cheese. Its valleys also produced wine that Augustus preferred above any other in the empire, and its road network connected Italy to the northern provinces via the Reschen Pass.