Vindobona (Vienna)

Hypocaust of a tribune house Back to the report about Austria

Around the middle of the 1st century AD was a troop of the Legio XV, which was stationed in Carnuntum, present in Vindobona. It was followed under Titus Flavius Domitianus (AD 81 - 96) by the Ala I Flavia Augusta Britannica Miliaria Civium Romanorum Bis Torquatum Ob Virutum. The site of the fort of this auxiliary unit is presumed on the Freyung.

The Ala Britannica was withdrawn soon after the arrival of the Legio XIII in Vindobona in the year AD 96. The Legio XIII began with the construction of the legion camp which was continued by the Legio XIV, which relieved it in the year 107. The camp was presumable finished by the Legio X, that was stationed in Vindobona from AD 114.

The outline of the legion camp was adapted to the ground. The northern part showed nearly the form of a triangle. The north wall from the northeast corner hit little north from the porta principalis sinistra (left camp gate) the west wall.

The camp burned completely down during the Markomanni wars in the year AD 169. At the latest around AD 433 when the Huns settled in Pannonia, the camp was to the whole part left and only a ruin.

Camp main channelFrom the camp houses the remains of two houses of tribunes are preserved today at the Hohen Markt. The site of the scamnum tribunorum (house line of the tribunes) was identified geographical northern of the via prinicpalis. Under the public fire alarm central station "Am Hof" is under the via sagularis (street at the camp internal wall) a part of the camp main channel preserved.

The canabae (camp suburb) was in the west, Dwelling house of the canabaesouth and east of the camp. Parts of two houses and a foundation of a grave or honor monument are preserved at the Michaelersplatz - among the rests of younger buildings. The canabae was left against the end of the 4th century by degrees. The civilian population inhabited now the camp. The maximum number of inhabitants of the canabae is estimated between 15'000 and 16'000.

The civilian town was in the 3rd Wiener municipality district. Neither the forum nor the capitolium were found up to now. The number of inhabitants is estimated on approx. 15'000 persons. Presumably also the civilian town was left from the end of the 4th century. The inhabitants moved into the camp.

Some quarries, brickworks, smaller villages and villae rusticae appertained to the territory of Vindobona. Under the church St. Johann such a farm is made accessible. This applies also to the church St. Jakob.

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