History >>> Romans Prehistory | Iberian | Romans | Centuries V to VII | Century VIII | Centuries IX to XI
Centuries XII to XV | Centuries XVI to XVIII | Century XIX | Century XX | The present time
The Roman Zaragoza (Cæsaraugusta) occupies an important place in the heart of its inhabitants and the own city, being numerous the rest found within the own city and in its environs.
Mosaic
Mosaic

Cæsaraugusta, the Roman conquest.


The Romans arrived at the Valley of the Ebro at the beginning of century II before Christ.
Before their arrival the indigenous settlers maintained different attitudes: some, as vascones or sedetanos did not offer resistance; others, like ilergetes, suesetanos or celtíberos presented/displayed strong opposition.
Roman Pantheon
Roman Pantheon
In the 95 B.C. Catón consul was sent with 30,000 men to repress the revolt generalized in Hispania Citerior; ilergetes and the jacetanos were put under, and few years later also the suesetanos, that had been rebel. Later Rome began the advance towards the west facing then the celtíberos. The wars with these towns celtas extended until year 133 B.C., date of the taking of Numancia, last great enclave of the celtibérica resistance.
Who more resistance opposed to the dominion of blunt they were the celtíberos, that maintained three wars against the invaders.
The culturación process was slow. The natives maintained to a large extent their traditions, language and religion; little by little, thanks to the example of elites local, were adoptándo the customs of the dominators. They were put under the decisions of the Roman governor of the province (inscription of the Tabula Contrebiensis, found in Botorrita, Zaragoza), participated like auxiliary troops in the Roman army and, with the passage of time, they gave to his children Roman names (Bronze of Áscoli).
The conquering ones finally impose their model of civilization; colonies and municipalities were two types of foundations made by the Romans to install the population in the conquered territories. The colonies constituted as small blunt and their founders were citizen Romans, licensed generally after several years on watch in a legion. The category of municipality was granted to a romanizada indigenous population, to which it was allowed to maintain certain peculiarities him of his previous organization.
Augusto founds Cæsaraugusta that, turned capital of extensive convent legal (species of subprovince that included almost all the Valley of the Ebro, the Turia Stop and the High Edge), will get to reach a great city-planning development.
The first inhabitants who were based in this city were veteran coming from the Cantabrian wars. Here they came to live licensed soldiers on the legions IV Macedonica, VI Victrix and X Gemina.
Illustration of a currency of the time
Illustration of a currency of the time
Cæsarugusta is an example of Roman colony. Two streets are crossed in perpendicular, the thistle (possibly the present street Alfonso I) and decumano (the high street) maximum, organizes all the urban plot; this great large city had walls, a circus, forum, spas, temples and a theater to six thousand people. The might of Cæsarugusta will cause the abandonment of near colonies, that will not be able to compete with this one. Getting to reach about 30,000 inhabitants.
Safe in the civil period military that followed the death of Nerón (69 a.C.) the habitentes of the city lived a time on peace and prosperity, mainly during the government of the Antonina dynasty (96-192 a.C.) and their inhabitants integrated themselves completely in the Roman forms of life.

For more information visit:
Roman walls.
Seat of Spain.