Noricum, römische Provinz

Noricum, Roman Province. The name was derived from the Celtic empire Regnum Noricum (formed around 200 B.C.), which according to historical evidence was the first organized state on Austrian territory. It was apparently occupied more or less peacefully by the Romans around 15 B.C.; it did not become the Roman province Noricum before the reign of Emperor Claudius (41 - 54 A.D.) and comprised the area between the River Danube, the Vienna Woods, the eastern border of Styria, the Rivers Sava, Isarco and Inn. Today´s Vorarlberg, Tirol, Burgenland and eastern Lower Austria did not belong to Noricum. The town of Virunum in today´s Zollfeld area was its capital and the centre of administration. Noricum set up auxiliary troops for the defence of the Danubian border ( Limes). Beginning with the wars against the Marcomanni, the 2^nd Italic league was stationed at the mouth of the River Enns. The commander of the troops also was provincial governor and had his seat in Lauriacum or Ovilava. Under Emperor Diokletian (284 - 305 A.D.) Noricum was separated into (Noricum ripense) and Noricum mediterraneum along the central range of the Alps and the 1^st Norican legion (legio I Noricorum) was set up. The situation of Noricum from the middle of the 5^th century is described in the Vita Severini. The Romans left Noricum at the order of Odoaker in 488 A.D., and the Danube area was disconnected from Italy; however, south of the Alps the Roman era did not end until the invasion of the Slavs and the Avars around 600 A.D. Pannonia, Retia, Roman Era, Roman Roads.

Literature: G. Winkler, Die Reichsbeamten von Noricum und ihr Personal, 1969; G. Alföldy, Noricum, 1974; P. Pleyel, Das Römische Österreich, ²1994.