The Tropaeum Alpium (

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

'Trophy of the Alps', French: ''Trophée des Alpes''), is a

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

trophy A trophy is a tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as a recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics. In many sports medals (or, in ...

(''tropaeum'') celebrating the

emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

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 Pri ...

's decisive victory over the tribes who populated the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

. The monument's ruins are in

La Turbie La Turbie (; oc, A Torbia; in Italian "Turbia" from ''tropea'', Latin for trophy) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. History La Turbie was famous in Roman times for the large monument, the Trophy of Augus ...

(

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

), a few kilometers from the

Principality of Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Liguria ...

Construction

The Trophy was built c. 6 BC in honor of Augustus to celebrate his definitive victory over the 45 tribes who populated the

. The Alpine populations were defeated during the military campaign to subdue the Alps conducted by the Romans between 16 and 7 BC. The monument was built of stone from the Roman quarry located about 800 metres away, where traces of sections of carved columns are visible in the stone. The monument as partially restored is 35 meters high. When built, according to the architect, the base measured 35 meters in length, the first platform 12 meters in height, and the rotunda of 24 columns with its statue of an enthroned Augustus is 49 metres high.

Inscription

One of the stones of the tower contained the names of the tribes. The inscription was only preserved in fragments, but could be reconstructed thanks to the transcription of

Pliny the Elder Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic '' ...

, albeit with minor corrections. It reads: · TRUMPILINI
·

CAMUNNI The Camuni or Camunni were an ancient population located in Val Camonica during the Iron Age (1st millennium BC); the Latin name ''Camunni'' was attributed to them by the authors of the 1st century. They are also called ancient Camuni, to distingu ...

VENNONETES The Vennones or Vennonetes were a Rhaetian tribe dwelling in the northern Alps, between Chur and Lake Constance, during the Iron Age and the Roman era. Name They are mentioned as ''Ouénnōnes'' (Οὐέννωνες) by Strabo (early 1st c. ...

VENOSTES The Venostes were a Celtic or Rhaetian tribe dwelling in the present-day Vinschgau Valley (Val Venosta) during the Iron Age. Geography The Venostes dwelled in the Vinschgau valley. They were located south of the Focunates, west of the Isarci, ...

· ISARCI
·

BREUNI The Raeti (spelling variants: ''Rhaeti'', ''Rheti'' or ''Rhaetii'') were a confederation of Alpine tribes, whose language and culture was related to those of the Etruscans. Before the Roman conquest, they inhabited present-day Tyrol in Austria, ...

GENAUNES The Genauni (Gaulish: ''*Genaunoi'', earlier *''Gēnomnoi'', 'the natives') or Genaunes were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the eastern valley of the Inn river, in Tyrol, during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Genau ...

FOCUNATES The Focunates were an ancient Alpine tribe dwelling near present-day Innsbruck (Tyrol) during the Iron Age. Name They are mentioned as ''Focunates'' by Pliny (1st c. AD).Pliny. ''Naturalis Historia''3:20 Geography The Focunates lived west o ...

VINDELICI The Vindelici (Gaulish: ) were a Gallic people dwelling around present-day Augsburg (Bavaria) during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as by Horace (1st c. BC), as (; var. ) by Strabo (early 1st c. AD), as and (va ...

:
·· COSUANETES
··

RUCINATES The Rucinates (Gaulish: *''Rucinatis'') or Rucantii (Gaulish: *''Rucantioi'') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in near the confluence of the Isar and Danube rivers during the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''R̔oukántioi'' (Ῥουκά� ...

··

LICATES The Licates (Gaulish: *''Licatis'' 'those of the Licca' or 'those of the rock') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper valley of the Lech river during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Likátioi'' (Λικάτι ...

··

CATENATES The Catenates or Cattenates were a Gallic tribe dwelling between the Isar and Inn rivers during the Iron Age. Name They are mentioned as ''Catenates'' (var. ''catte-'') by Pliny (1st c. AD).Pliny. ''Naturalis Historia''3:20, s.v. ''Cat(t)enat ...

AMBISONTES The Ambisontes (Gaulish: 'those around the Isontia') were a Gauls, Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper Salzach valley during the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Ambisontes'' by Pliny the Elder, Pliny (1st c. AD), and as ''Ambēsóntio ...

· RUGUSCI
· SUANETES
·

CALUCONES The Calucones were a Gallic or Rhaetian tribe dwelling around present-day Chur (eastern Switzerland) during the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Calucones'' (var. ''Callucones'', ''Allucones'') by Pliny (1st c. AD), and as ''kaloúk ...

· BRIXENETES
·

LEPONTII The Lepontii were an ancient Celtic people occupying portions of Rhaetia (in modern Switzerland and Northern Italy) in the Alps during the late Bronze Age/Iron Age. Recent archeological excavations and their association with the Golasecca culture ...

UBERI The Uberi were a Celtic tribe dwelling near the source of the Rhône river, in the modern-day Canton of Valais (Switzerland), during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Along with the Nantuates, Veragri and Seduni, the Uberi were part of the Vallen ...

NANTUATES The Nantuates or Nantuatae (Gaulish: ''Nantuatis'', 'those of the valley') were a Gallic tribe dwelling around present-day Massongex, in the modern Canton of Valais (Switzerland) and adjacent areas of France, during the Iron Age and the Roman peri ...

SEDUNI The Seduni were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper Rhône valley, around present-day Sion, during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Along with the Nantuates, Veragri and Uberi, they were part of the Vallenses, a group of tribes living between ...

VERAGRI The Veragrī (Gaulish: *''Ueragroi'', 'super-warriors'; Greek: ) were a Gallic tribe dwelling around present-day Martigny, in the Pennine Alps, during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Along with the Nantuates, Seduni and Uberi, they were part ...

SALASSI The Salassi or Salasses were a Gallic or Ligurian tribe dwelling in the upper valley of the Dora Baltea river, near present-day Aosta (Val d'Aosta), during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''dià Salassō̃n'' (δ ...

· ACITAUONES
·

MEDULLI The Medulli (Gaulish: ''Medulloi'') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper valley of Maurienne, around present-day Modane (Savoie), during the Iron Age and Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Medullorum'' by Vitruvius (late 1st c. BC) ...

UCENNI The Ucennii, Ucenni or Iconii were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the Romanche valley, in the Alps, during the Iron Age. Name They are mentioned as ''Ucenni'' (var. ''uceni'', ''ucermi'') by Pliny (1st c. AD) and on the Tropaeum Alpium, Pliny. '' ...

CATURIGES The Caturiges (Gaulish: ''Caturīges'', 'kings of combat') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper Durance valley, around present-day towns of Chorges and Embrun, during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Catu ...

· BRIGIANI
· SOGIONTI
· BRODIONTI
· NEMALONI
·

EDENATES The Adanates or Edenates were a small Gallic tribe dwelling around present-day Seyne, in the Alpes Cottiae, during the Iron Age. Name They are mentioned as ''Edenates'' (var. '-) by Pliny (1st c. AD), Pliny. ''Naturalis Historia''3:20 and as ...

VESUBIANI The Vesubiani or Vesubianii were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the valley of the Vésubie river during the Iron Age. Name They are mentioned as ''Vesubiani'' by Pliny (1st c. AD),Pliny. ''Naturalis Historia''3:20 and as ''Vesubianorum'' and ''(V)e ...

· VEAMINI
·

GALLITAE The Gallitae were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper valley of the Bléone river ( Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) during the Iron Age. Name They are mentioned as ''Gallitae'' (var. -''tre'') by Pliny (1st c. AD) and on an inscription.Pliny. ''Natu ...

· TRIULLATI
· ECDINI
·

VERGUNNI The Vergunni were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the valley of the Riou, near the Verdon river, during the Iron Age. Name They are mentioned as ''Vergunni'' by Pliny (1st c. AD) and on an inscription.Pliny. ''Naturalis Historia''3:20 CIL 5:7817., ...

· EGUITURI
· NEMATURI
· ORATELLI
· NERUSI
· VELAUNI
· SUETRI.

Later life

The monument originally served no military purpose and contained no fortress. Rather, it marked the boundary between Italy and

Gallia Narbonensis Gallia Narbonensis (Latin for "Gaul of Narbonne", from its chief settlement) was a Roman province located in what is now Languedoc and Provence, in Southern France. It was also known as Provincia Nostra ("Our Province"), because it was the ...

, later pushed back to the

Var River The Var (, ; it, Varo; la, Varus) is a river located in the southeast of France. It is long. Its drainage basin is .Savoy Savoy (; frp, Savouè ; french: Savoie ) is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south. Savo ...

and

during the

War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...

Louis XIV , house = Bourbon , father = Louis XIII , mother = Anne of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France , death_date = , death_place = Palace of Vers ...

ordered the destruction of all fortresses in the region, including this one. The partially destroyed Trophy then became a quarry and its stones were used, among other things, to build the nearby church of Saint-Michel. The monument was partially restored in 1929 with funds from American philanthropist

Edward Tuck Edward Tuck (August 24, 1842 – April 30, 1938) was an American banker, diplomat, and philanthropist. He is known for funding the establishment of the Tuck School of Business at his alma mater, Dartmouth College. The son of Amos Tuck, a found ...

Nearby Roman remains

The Trophy is situated on the

Via Julia Augusta The Via Julia Augusta (modern Italian Via Giulia Augusta) is the name given to the Roman road formed by the merging of the Via Aemilia Scauri with the Via Postumia. The road runs from Placentia (modern Piacenza) to Arelate (modern Arles), init ...

, named after Augustus, a continuation of the

Via Aurelia The ''Via Aurelia'' (Latin for "Aurelian Way") is a Roman road in Italy constructed in approximately 241 BC. The project was undertaken by Gaius Aurelius Cotta, who at that time was censor.Hornblower, Simon, & Antony Spawforth. ''The Oxford Cl ...

which linked Vintimille to Cimiez (

Nice Nice ( , ; Niçard: , classical norm, or , nonstandard, ; it, Nizza ; lij, Nissa; grc, Νίκαια; la, Nicaea) is the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative c ...

). Various fountains within the territory of the communes of

Beausoleil BeauSoleil (French, ''beautiful sun'') is a Cajun band from Louisiana, United States. Band history Founded in 1975, BeauSoleil (often billed as "BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet") released its first album in 1977 and became one of the most well ...

and

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (; oc, Ròcabruna Caup Martin or ; it, Roccabruna-Capo Martino, ; Mentonasc: ''Rocabrüna''; Roquebrune until 1921) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Southeastern Fr ...

are also said to be Roman.

Museums

The Edward Tuck Museum on the site of the Trophy includes fragments, plaster molds, old photographs documenting the monument and its reconstruction. It was built in 1929 and renovated in 2011.Visitor information card
(in French) It also includes a 1:20 scale model of the reconstructed Trophy. Another 1:20 scale model is found in Room IX of the Museo della Civiltà Romana in Rome."Room XI: Augustus", ''Museo della Civiltà Romana''
/ref>

References

External links

Official web siteLivius.org: La Turbie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trophy Of Augustus 6 BC Buildings and structures completed in the 1st century BC Ancient Roman buildings and structures in France Augustan building projects Victory monuments History of the Alps Buildings and structures in Alpes-Maritimes 1st-century BC establishments in Roman Gaul Monuments of the Centre des monuments nationaux