Castra Albana

About

The Castra Albana [ˈkastra alˈbaːna] was an ancient Roman legionary fortress of the Legio II Parthica founded by the Emperor Septimius Severus (193–211) on the site of the present Albano Laziale. It was the only permanent legionary fortress in Italy and had the role of protecting the emperor, while all other legions were distributed through the provinces for defence of the empire. It was located near to the imperial villa at the present Castel Gandolfo, and only about 20 km from Rome. Today the remains of building both inside the castra and in the neighbouring civilian settlement, such as the so-called Baths of Caracalla and the Amphitheatre, can still be seen.

The fortress of Legio II Parthica was named Albana after the area which included Lacus Albanus, Mons Albanus, aqua Albana (perhaps an aqueduct on the south side of the lake), the rivus Albanus (probably the modern marana delle Pietrare near Marino ) and " Albani Longani Bovillenses ", the official name of the inhabitants of the municipium of Bovillae (located on the Appian Way near the modern village of Frattocchie ), The adjective Albanus was also used as a poetic synonym for Romanus. [ citation needed ]

The legio II Parthica came to be known as legio Albana and its legionaries as Albani, even though the whole legion did not remain at the Castra Albana but had other encampments in Mesopotamia.

- See also: Villa of Domitian The Appian Way was built in 312 BC to connect Rome with Capua and passed through the Alban Hills. in Campania. The ease of direct communication with Rome led to many suburban villas of Roman nobles being built in the area, including the villas of Publius Clodius Pulcher (near Ercolano in Castel Gandolfo ). and perhaps of Pompey the Great (in the Villa Doria )

Nevertheless, until the time of Domitian, the stretch of the Appian Way between Bovillae and Aricia (modern Frattocchie in Marino and Ariccia ) was completely free of buildings.

In the Republican period, the area of the later castra was occupied by fortifications remains of which were found at various points in central Albano Laziale. [ citation needed ]

Domitian built his palace near Castel Gandolfo on an estate containing several imperial properties, with an area of about 14 km 2. The villa was probably garrisoned by a detachment of the Praetorian Guard when the Emperor was in residence. The villa was frequently used by Domitian but later fell into disuse, on account of the construction of Villa of Hadrian at Tivoli in (117-136), who also began a policy of selling surplus Imperial property, including some of the villas on the edge of "Albanum Caesarum".

The castra was built in about 198 by Septimius Severus (193-211) who came to the throne after the Year of the Five Emperors and a violent civil war and temporarily dissolved the Praetorian Guard and brought the Legio II Parthica near Rome for his personal and political security. This legion had been created in 197 for the (successful) campaign against Parthia which ended in 198.

Its site on a steep slope had a panoramic view for observation of the Ager Romanus.

When Caracalla (211-217) came to power after assassinating his brother and co-emperor, Geta, the Legio Parthica refused to accept him as sole emperor. He went in person to Castra Albana and convinced the legion to remain loyal increasing their stipend by 50% and improving the camp by having the Baths of Caracalla built.

The amphitheatre was built in the middle of the 3rd century and could mark the end of the period of highest prosperity for the Legio II Parthica which may no longer have been there. The fortress was abandoned in the late 3rd or early 4th century and the civilian town expanded over it.

- See also: Albano Cathedral Constantine I (306-337) founded the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista at Albano Laziale during the pontificate of Pope Silvester I (314-335), providing it with decorations and substantial property nearby, including the sceneca deserta vel domos civitatis (the abandoned tents or the houses of the city). The modern Albano Laziale was built on the remains of the castra which are generally found up to 2 m below the modern ground level.

The fortress of Legio II Parthica was named Albana after the area which included Lacus Albanus, Mons Albanus, aqua Albana (perhaps an aqueduct on the south side of the lake), the rivus Albanus (probably the modern marana delle Pietrare near Marino ) and " Albani Longani Bovillenses ", the official name of the inhabitants of the municipium of Bovillae (located on the Appian Way near the modern village of Frattocchie ), The adjective Albanus was also used as a poetic synonym for Romanus. [ citation needed ]

The legio II Parthica came to be known as legio Albana and its legionaries as Albani, even though the whole legion did not remain at the Castra Albana but had other encampments in Mesopotamia.

See also: Villa of Domitian The Appian Way was built in 312 BC to connect Rome with Capua and passed through the Alban Hills. in Campania. The ease of direct communication with Rome led to many suburban villas of Roman nobles being built in the area, including the villas of Publius Clodius Pulcher (near Ercolano in Castel Gandolfo ). and perhaps of Pompey the Great (in the Villa Doria )

Nevertheless, until the time of Domitian, the stretch of the Appian Way between Bovillae and Aricia (modern Frattocchie in Marino and Ariccia ) was completely free of buildings.

In the Republican period, the area of the later castra was occupied by fortifications remains of which were found at various points in central Albano Laziale. [ citation needed ]

Domitian built his palace near Castel Gandolfo on an estate containing several imperial properties, with an area of about 14 km 2. The villa was probably garrisoned by a detachment of the Praetorian Guard when the Emperor was in residence. The villa was frequently used by Domitian but later fell into disuse, on account of the construction of Villa of Hadrian at Tivoli in (117-136), who also began a policy of selling surplus Imperial property, including some of the villas on the edge of "Albanum Caesarum".

The castra was built in about 198 by Septimius Severus (193-211) who came to the throne after the Year of the Five Emperors and a violent civil war and temporarily dissolved the Praetorian Guard and brought the Legio II Parthica near Rome for his personal and political security. This legion had been created in 197 for the (successful) campaign against Parthia which ended in 198.

Its site on a steep slope had a panoramic view for observation of the Ager Romanus.