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43°49′01″N 22°54′28″E / 43.81694°N 22.90778°E / 43.81694; 22.90778

A grave stone with the inscription about Tettius Rufus, a Decurion and Pontiff of the Roman colony Ratiaria;^[1] currently kept at the National Archaeological Institute and Museum, Sofia. The Latin inscription reads: *D (is) M (Anibus) / L (uci) Tetti / Rufi dec (urionis) / Pontif (ICIS) / col (onia) Council (Iaria) / Fonteia / nus frat (s)*

Ratiaria^[2] (or: Raetiaria, Retiaria, Reciaria, Razaria; Bulgarian: Рациария; Greek: Ραζαρία μητρόπολις;) was a city founded by the Moesians, a Daco-Thracian tribe, in the 4th century BC,^{[citation needed]} along the river Danube. In Roman times it was named Colonia Ulpia Traiana Ratiaria.

It is located 2 km west of the present village of Archar in Vidin Province, northwestern Bulgaria. The closest modern cities are Vidin (27 km. to the north west) and Lom (28 km. to the east).

An archaeological museum for the site has recently been established in Dimovo.^[3]

History

Ratiaria was conquered by the Dacians of Burebista^{[citation needed]} and later by the Romans. There was a gold mine in the city, which was exploited by the Thracians. The city may have owed its success to the goldsmiths.^[4]

The earliest involvement of the Romans occurred in 75 BC when Gaius Scribonius Curio, prefect of Macedonia, entered this territory to ward off the Scordisci, the Dardani and the Daci.

In 29 BC, Marcus Licinius Crassus, the grandson of the triumvir, fought the Triballi here. Ratiaria was a fortified city by this point.^[5]^[6]

It was not until the principate of Augustus that the Romans conquered the region, which was organised into a province named Moesia. In 33/34 AD Tiberius built the road linking the Danube forts including Viminacium and Ratiaria. The city was certainly less important than the nearby Sirmium, Viminacium and Naissus, but its associated fortress located along the Danubian Limes made it a key legionary station. Legio IV Flavia Felix was based here at least until the conquest of Dacia (101-106 AD), together with the fleet of the Classis Moesica under Vespasian. After the division of Moesia in 86 AD, the city became the principal city of Upper Moesia.^[4]

After the conquest of Dacia, the castrum was abandoned and the settlement became a colonia within Moesia Superior named Colonia Ulpia Traiana Ratiaria (107 AD) after its founder the Emperor Trajan. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries Ratiaria became prosperous as a trade centre and customs port.

A number of Roman patricians (aristocrats) lived in Ratiaria, while the nearby Bononia (today's Vidin) was home to a small military unit.

With the definitive abandonment of Dacia Traiana by Aurelian in 271, the old castra in the region were reopened.

It is unclear whether Aurelian or the Emperor Diocletian replaced Dacia Aureliana with two provinces,^[7] but by 285, there were two: – Dacia Mediterranea with its capital at Serdica and Dacia Ripensis with its capital at Ratiaria.^[8] As the capital of the new province Ratiaria served both as the seat of the military governor (or dux) and as the military base for the Roman legion XIII Gemina.

Later these two “Dacias” along with Dardania, Moesia Inferior and Praevalitana constituted the Diocese of Dacia. An important bishop's cathedra was established in the town in the 4th century AD.

The city became an important Christian centre in the 4th century and several bishops are recorded. Palladius of Ratiaria, an Arian Christian theologian, lived here in the late 4th century.

In 440 or 441 the Huns sacked Ratiaria. Rebuilding works were done under Anastasius I,^[9] celebrated in the new town's name, Anastasiana Ratiaria. Priscus calls it a prosperous city in the 5th century.^[10]

In AD 586 the town was sacked by the Avars.

Archaeological excavations of the site began in 1958 and have continued sporadically since then.

Archaeology

Ivan Dikov states that only a small part of the site, which was excavated in the 1980's by a Bulgarian-Italian mission, is left standing. Dikov coninues to say that the remaining 20ha of the site has been overturned by hand and machines and that the site is reduced to hills and crates. According to Dikov, local witnesses saw that at one point in the late 1990's, the site was split between the mayor, the police, local people and high-ranking people from Sofia.^[11] In the city, there are ruins of an audience hall with a mosaic of Oprheus, jewelery, and ancient coins.

Findings from Ratiaria, exhibited in Konaka History Museum, Vidin

Ecclesiastical History

As provincial capital of Dacia Ripensis, it also was the Metropolitan archdiocese. In 304 or 305, during the Great Persecution three Christian men named Jan, Aggaeus, and Gaius were executed in the city. Palladius, a bishop of the city, was a strong supporter of Arianism.^[12]

Titular see

The archdiocese was nominally restored in 1925 as a Latin Catholic titular archbishopric of the highest (Metropolitan) rank.

The incumbent is Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, having the following previous incumbents:

Gustave-Charles-Marie Mutel (민 아우구스티노), Paris Foreign Missions Society (M.E.P.) (1926.01.11 – 1933.01.22)
Andrew Killian (1933.07.11 – 1934.11.05)
Anselm Edward John Kenealy, Capuchin Franciscans (O.F.M. Cap.) (1936.01.13 – 1943.12.08)
Nikolay Avtonomov (1945.10.06 – 1979.08.13)
Marian Oleś (1987.11.28 – 2005.05.24).
Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal (2016.05.03 – ).

Famous locals

Palladius of Ratiaria, late 4th century Arian Christian theologian

References

^ AE 1911, 214; AE 1919, 81.
^ Ratiaria Web Site: http://www.ratiaria.archbg.net/excavations_en.html
^ http://www.ratiaria.archbg.net/index_en.html
^ ^a ^b Dimitrova-Milcheva, Aleksandra (1979). Antique Engraved Gems and Cameos in the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia. Septemvri Publishing House.
^ Cassius Dio, LI 23, 2-27
^ McEvedy, Colin (2011-11-03). Cities of the Classical World: An Atlas and Gazetteer of 120 Centres of Ancient Civilization. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-0-14-196763-9.
^ Bury, p. 135. The date must be A.D. 283, and it is obvious that Aurelian set up the boundary stones, one of which Gaianus restored. There were, then, two Dacias when Diocletian came to the throne and, therefore, Mr. Fillow has inferred that we should read in our List: Dacia <Dacia>, that is presumably Dacia Ripensis and Dacia Mediterranea. Aurelian's Dacia mediterranea might have included Dardania, and Dardania, Mr. Fillow thinks, was split off as a distinct province by Diocletian.
^ Nicholson, Oliver (2018-04-19). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-256246-3.
^ Nicholson, Oliver (2018-04-19). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-256246-3.
^ Kazhdan 1991, "Priskos"
^ https://www.novinite.com/articles/106385/Bulgaria%3A+Archaeology+and+Treasure+Hunting+Paradise.+Or+Hell
^ Croix, G. E. M. De Ste. (2006-09-28), "Aspects of the 'Great' Persecution*†", Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy, Oxford University Press, pp. 35–78, ISBN 978-0-19-927812-1, retrieved 2021-02-19

Sources and external links

Bulgarian Archaeological Association - Excavations at Ratiaria
GigaCatholic, with titular incumbent biography links
Archaeological excavations of Ratiaria by the village of Archar
Sarcophagus Ratiaria (Image)

[1] AE 1911, 214; AE 1919, 81.

[2] Ratiaria Web Site: http://www.ratiaria.archbg.net/excavations_en.html

[3] ttp://www.ratiaria.archbg.net/index_en.html

[:0-4] Dimitrova-Milcheva, Aleksandra (1979). Antique Engraved Gems and Cameos in the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia. Septemvri Publishing House.

[5] Cassius Dio, LI 23, 2-27

[6] McEvedy, Colin (2011-11-03). Cities of the Classical World: An Atlas and Gazetteer of 120 Centres of Ancient Civilization. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-0-14-196763-9.

[bury-7] Bury, p. 135. The date must be A.D. 283, and it is obvious that Aurelian set up the boundary stones, one of which Gaianus restored. There were, then, two Dacias when Diocletian came to the throne and, therefore, Mr. Fillow has inferred that we should read in our List: Dacia <Dacia>, that is presumably Dacia Ripensis and Dacia Mediterranea. Aurelian's Dacia mediterranea might have included Dardania, and Dardania, Mr. Fillow thinks, was split off as a distinct province by Diocletian.

[8] Nicholson, Oliver (2018-04-19). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-256246-3.

[9] Nicholson, Oliver (2018-04-19). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-256246-3.

[10] Kazhdan 1991, "Priskos"

[11] ttps://www.novinite.com/articles/106385/Bulgaria%3A+Archaeology+and+Treasure+Hunting+Paradise.+Or+Hell

[12] Croix, G. E. M. De Ste. (2006-09-28), "Aspects of the 'Great' Persecution*†", Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy, Oxford University Press, pp. 35–78, ISBN 978-0-19-927812-1, retrieved 2021-02-19

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@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 == History ==
 [[File:Ratiaria 2010 094.JPG|thumb|Governor's residence, Ratiaria]]
-Ratiaria was conquered by the [[Dacians]] of [[Burebista]]{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} and later by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]]. There was a gold mine in the city, which was exploited by the [[Thracians]].
+Ratiaria was conquered by the [[Dacians]] of [[Burebista]]{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} and later by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]]. There was a gold mine in the city, which was exploited by the [[Thracians]]. The city may have owed its success to the goldsmiths.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Dimitrova-Milcheva|first=Aleksandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PB7WAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=Ratiaria&q=Ratiaria&hl=en|title=Antique Engraved Gems and Cameos in the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia|date=1979|publisher=Septemvri Publishing House|language=en}}</ref>
 The earliest involvement of the Romans occurred in 75 BC when [[Gaius Scribonius Curio (consul 76 BC)|Gaius Scribonius Curio]], prefect of [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]], entered this territory to ward off the [[Scordisci]], the [[Dardani]] and the [[Dacians|Daci]].
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 In 29 BC, [[Marcus Licinius Crassus (consul 30 BC)|Marcus Licinius Crassus]], the grandson of the triumvir, fought the [[Triballi]] here. Ratiaria was a fortified city by this point.<ref>Cassius Dio, LI 23, 2-27</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=McEvedy|first=Colin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VZowqTafiacC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT393&dq=Ratiaria&hl=en|title=Cities of the Classical World: An Atlas and Gazetteer of 120 Centres of Ancient Civilization|date=2011-11-03|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-0-14-196763-9|language=en}}</ref>
-It was not until the [[principate]] of [[Augustus]] that the Romans conquered the region, which was organised into a province named [[Moesia]]. In 33/34 AD [[Tiberius]] built the road linking the Danube forts including [[Viminacium]] and Ratiaria. The city was certainly less important than the nearby [[Sirmium]], Viminacium and [[Naissus]], but its associated fortress located along the ''[[Danubian Limes]]'' made it a key legionary station. [[Legio IV Flavia Felix]] was based here at least until the [[Roman conquest of Dacia|conquest of Dacia]] (101-106 AD), together with the fleet of the ''[[Roman Navy#Provincial fleets|Classis Moesica]]'' under [[Vespasian]].
+It was not until the [[principate]] of [[Augustus]] that the Romans conquered the region, which was organised into a province named [[Moesia]]. In 33/34 AD [[Tiberius]] built the road linking the Danube forts including [[Viminacium]] and Ratiaria. The city was certainly less important than the nearby [[Sirmium]], Viminacium and [[Naissus]], but its associated fortress located along the ''[[Danubian Limes]]'' made it a key legionary station. [[Legio IV Flavia Felix]] was based here at least until the [[Roman conquest of Dacia|conquest of Dacia]] (101-106 AD), together with the fleet of the ''[[Roman Navy#Provincial fleets|Classis Moesica]]'' under [[Vespasian]]. After the division of Moesia in 86 AD, the city became the principal city of [[Moesia|Upper Moesia]].<ref name=":0" />
 After the conquest of [[Dacia]], the ''[[castrum]]'' was abandoned and the settlement became a ''[[Colonia (Roman)|colonia]]'' within [[Moesia Superior]] named ''Colonia Ulpia Traiana Ratiaria'' (107 AD) after its founder the Emperor [[Trajan]]. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries Ratiaria became prosperous as a trade centre and customs port.
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 With the definitive abandonment of [[Dacia (Roman province)#Last decades of Dacia Traiana (235–271/275)|Dacia Traiana]] by [[Aurelian]] in 271, the old ''castra'' in the region were reopened.
-It is unclear whether Aurelian or the Emperor [[Diocletian]] replaced Dacia Aureliana with two provinces,<ref name="bury">Bury, p. 135. ''The date must be A.D. 283, and it is obvious that Aurelian set up the boundary stones, one of which Gaianus restored. There were, then, two Dacias when Diocletian came to the throne and, therefore, Mr. Fillow has inferred that we should read in our List: Dacia <Dacia>, that is presumably Dacia Ripensis and Dacia Mediterranea. Aurelian's Dacia mediterranea might have included Dardania, and Dardania, Mr. Fillow thinks, was split off as a distinct province by Diocletian.''</ref> but by 285, there were two:&nbsp;– [[Dacia Mediterranea]] with its capital at ''[[Serdica]]'' and [[Dacia Ripensis]] with its capital at ''Ratiaria''. As the capital of the new province Ratiaria served both as the seat of the military governor (or [[dux]]) and as the military base for the [[Roman legion]] [[Legio XIII Gemina|XIII ''Gemina'']].
+It is unclear whether Aurelian or the Emperor [[Diocletian]] replaced Dacia Aureliana with two provinces,<ref name="bury">Bury, p. 135. ''The date must be A.D. 283, and it is obvious that Aurelian set up the boundary stones, one of which Gaianus restored. There were, then, two Dacias when Diocletian came to the throne and, therefore, Mr. Fillow has inferred that we should read in our List: Dacia <Dacia>, that is presumably Dacia Ripensis and Dacia Mediterranea. Aurelian's Dacia mediterranea might have included Dardania, and Dardania, Mr. Fillow thinks, was split off as a distinct province by Diocletian.''</ref> but by 285, there were two:&nbsp;– [[Dacia Mediterranea]] with its capital at ''[[Serdica]]'' and [[Dacia Ripensis]] with its capital at ''Ratiaria''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nicholson|first=Oliver|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A09WDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA1268&dq=Ratiaria&hl=en|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity|date=2018-04-19|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-256246-3|language=en}}</ref> As the capital of the new province Ratiaria served both as the seat of the military governor (or [[dux]]) and as the military base for the [[Roman legion]] [[Legio XIII Gemina|XIII ''Gemina'']].
 Later these two “Dacias” along with [[Dardania (Roman province)|Dardania]], [[Moesia Inferior]] and [[Praevalitana]] constituted the [[Diocese of Dacia]]. An important bishop's cathedra was established in the town in the 4th century AD.
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 The city became an important Christian centre in the 4th century and several bishops are recorded. [[Palladius of Ratiaria]], an Arian Christian theologian, lived here in the late 4th century.
-Rebuilding works were done under [[Anastasius I Dicorus|Anastasius I]], celebrated in the new town's name, ''Anastasiana Ratiaria''. [[Priscus of Panium|Priscus]] calls it a prosperous city in the 5th century.<ref>Kazhdan 1991, "Priskos"</ref>
+In 440 or 441 the [[Huns]] sacked Ratiaria. Rebuilding works were done under [[Anastasius I Dicorus|Anastasius I]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nicholson|first=Oliver|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A09WDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA1268&dq=Ratiaria&hl=en|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity|date=2018-04-19|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-256246-3|language=en}}</ref> celebrated in the new town's name, ''Anastasiana Ratiaria''. [[Priscus of Panium|Priscus]] calls it a prosperous city in the 5th century.<ref>Kazhdan 1991, "Priskos"</ref>
 In AD 586 the town was sacked by the [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]].
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 Archaeological excavations of the site began in 1958 and have continued sporadically since then.
+== Archaeology ==
-Ivan Dikov states that only a small part of the site, which was excavated in the 1980's by a Bulgarian-Italian mission, is left standing. Dikov coninues to say that the remaining 20ha of the site has been overturned by hand and machines nad that the site is reduced to hills and crates. According to Dikov, local witnesses saw that at one point in the late 1990's, the site was split between the mayor, the police, local people and high-ranking people from Sofia.<ref>https://www.novinite.com/articles/106385/Bulgaria%3A+Archaeology+and+Treasure+Hunting+Paradise.+Or+Hell</ref>
+Ivan Dikov states that only a small part of the site, which was excavated in the 1980's by a Bulgarian-Italian mission, is left standing. Dikov coninues to say that the remaining 20ha of the site has been overturned by hand and machines and that the site is reduced to hills and crates. According to Dikov, local witnesses saw that at one point in the late 1990's, the site was split between the mayor, the police, local people and high-ranking people from Sofia.<ref>https://www.novinite.com/articles/106385/Bulgaria%3A+Archaeology+and+Treasure+Hunting+Paradise.+Or+Hell</ref> In the city, there are ruins of an audience hall with a mosaic of [[Orpheus|Oprheus]], jewelery, and ancient coins.
 <gallery class="center" caption="Findings from Ratiaria, exhibited in Konaka History Museum, Vidin">
@@ Line 52: / Line 53: @@
 == Ecclesiastical History ==
+As provincial capital of Dacia Ripensis, it also was the Metropolitan archdiocese. In 304 or 305, during the [[Diocletianic Persecution|Great Persecution]] three [[Christianity|Christian]] men named Jan, Aggaeus, and [[Gaius]] were executed in the city. Palladius, a bishop of the city, was a strong supporter of [[Arianism]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Croix|first=G. E. M. De Ste.|title=Aspects of the ‘Great’ Persecution*†|date=2006-09-28|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199278121.003.0001|work=Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy|pages=35–78|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-927812-1|access-date=2021-02-19}}</ref>
-As provincial capital of Dacia Ripensis, it also was the Metropolitan archdiocese, yet was to fade.
 === Titular see ===