TROESMIS – Turcoaia

Roman fort

Troesmis is one of the most important military fortifications along the Danube defence system, where the 1st legion Italica and the 5th legion Macedonica was in garrison. The important pre-Roman Getic settlement was certified both by Ovidius and by Ptolemy. Between The reign of the Emperors Trajan and Marcus Aurelius, the fortress of the 5th Macedonica legion was installed at Troesmis. Troesmis was also an operating base for the Danubian naval force.

Documents since the Roman age show that, for a while, Troesmis had two administrative units, the military settlement (canabae) around the fortress of the Vth Macedonica legion, and a civil settlement (civitas Troesmensium). This late one was declared a municipality during the age of Marcus Aurelius and probably was the provincial capital of the province Moesia Inferior.

The economic importance of the fort is certified by its inclusion into the Late Roman road-maps (ltinerarium Antonini, Tabula Peutingeriane). It is possible the fortification mentioned as the Episcopal headquarter as corupta Koupros (Notitia Episcopatum, 588 AD).

(authors: Dr. Alexandru Suceveanu, Dr. Liviu Petculescu, Dr. Ioan Carol Opriş)