Novae

Novae is an archaeological site situated on the Danube in northern Bulgaria, about 4 kilometres east of the modern town Svishtov. It was a legionary base and late Roman town in the Roman province Moesia Inferior, later Moesia II.

The site of Novae is situated on the southern bank of the Danube, in Bulgaria, at the place called Pametnicite near Svishtov (memorial site where the Russian army entered the territory of Bulgaria during the Turkish-Russian war in 1877) or Stǎklen (a place rich in glass – Bulg. stǎklo), as many ancient glass fragments are visible on the site (the production of glass is attested in late Roman Novae). The castra legionis covering the area of 17.99 hectares are situated on the slope with its lowest point at the river-bank (40 m a.s.l.) and the highest point in the southern part of the site (70 m a.s.l.). Such topography resulted in terrace-constructed buildings within the defensive walls. At present, the northern part of the site (praetentura), and central (headquarters) have been excavated, but its southern part is in major part covered by the recreational land.

Roman military presence in the Lower Danubian region started in the middle of the 1st century AD. Around AD 45 legio VIII Augusta, which took part in the suppression of the Thracian uprising, founded its castrum, probably at the place where the Danube has its southernmost bend. At that time the province of Moesia was created. During the Principate, the legio with its detachments controlled the section of the Danube from the mouth of the Osum River (Asamus) up to the mouth of the Yantra River, near Iatrus.

After the death of Nero, the dislocation of many legions within the Empire resulted in replacement by emperor Vespasian in 70 AD of Legio VIII Augusta by Legio I Italica, which stayed in Novae at least to the 430s.

Novae served as a base of operations for Roman campaigns against Barbarian tribes including Trajan's Dacian Wars, and the last time during Maurice's Balkan campaigns. The legion was also responsible for bridge construction over the Danube.

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