Augusta Viromanduorum is an ancient

Gallo-Roman Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, language, morals and way of life in a uniquely Gaulish context ...

settlement, corresponding to the modern city of Saint-Quentin ( Aisne, Hauts-de-France).

Name

The settlement is mentioned as ''Au̓goústa Ou̓iromandúōn'' () by

Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importance ...

(2nd c. AD), ''Augusta Veromandorum'' in the Antonine Itinerary, ''Aug. Viro Muduorum'' on the ''

Tabula Peutingeriana ' (Latin for "The Peutinger Map"), also referred to as Peutinger's Tabula or Peutinger Table, is an illustrated ' (ancient Roman road map) showing the layout of the '' cursus publicus'', the road network of the Roman Empire. The map is a 13th-ce ...

'' (5th c.), ''Viromandensim oppidum'' by Gregory of Tours (6th c.), and possibly as ''Civitas Veromandorum'' by the ''

Notitia Galliarum The ''Notitia Galliarum'' (or ''Notitia provinciarum et civitatum Galliae'') is a Roman register of cities dating to the 4th–6th centuries AD., contains the text of the ''Notitia'' with a map. The Latin register is divided into two headings. Te ...

'' (ca. 400)., s.v. ''Augusta Viromanduorum'' and ''Viromandis''.

History

Augusta Viromandorum, was founded during the reign of Emperor

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

, just 11km away from Vermand, the main

oppidum An ''oppidum'' (plural ''oppida'') is a large fortified Iron Age settlement or town. ''Oppida'' are primarily associated with the Celtic late La Tène culture, emerging during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, spread across Europe, stretchi ...

of the

Viromandui The Viromanduī or Veromanduī (Gaulish: *''Uiromanduoi'') were a Belgic tribe dwelling in the modern Vermandois region (Picardy) during the Iron Age and Roman periods. During the Gallic Wars (58–50 BC), they belonged to the Belgic coalition of ...

. Closer to an important trade route between Italy and the port of Boulogne, Augusta Viromandorum soon replaced Vermand as the main settlement of the region. It reached a size of 40–60ha during the Roman era, in the average of Gallo-Roman chief towns. During the 4th century, the lack of archaeological evidence suggest that the settlement was deserted or its population considerably reduced. Some scholars have argued that Vermand replaced Augusta as the capital from this period up until the regional prominence shifted definitely to Saint-Quentin in the 9th century. This "fluctuation" of power could be explained by the insecurities of the period, which led the local inhabitants to seek for protection in the old oppidum situated nearby, since Saint-Quentin did not possess a

castrum In the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Roman Republic, Republican period of ancient Rome. As a po ...

. Malsy (2001) rejects this hypothesis, and Beaujard and Prévot (2004) doubt it.

References

Bibliography

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Name

History

References

Bibliography

Further reading