Raetia Curiensis

Raetia Curiensis
476–11th century
map of Raetia Curiensis during the 9th to 11th centuries
Capital		Chur
Government		Not specified
History
•	Raetia prima established	c. 300
•	Ostrogothic rule	476
•	Frankish rule	548
•	Subordination to the Duchy of Swabia	917
•	Division	11th century
Preceded by Succeeded by Raetia prima County of Bregenz County of Tyrol Three Leagues

Raetia Curiensis (in Latin; German: Churrätien, Romansh: Currezia) was an Early medieval province in Central Europe named after the Roman province of Raetia. Its administrative capital was Chur (Curia Raetorum.

The territory of the province corresponded to modern Grisons (without Puschlav), plus Liechtenstein, parts of Vorarlberg, the Alpine Rhine Valley and Sarganserland, and until the 12th century also Vinschgau, Urseren and possibly either parts or all of Glarus.

The Roman province of Raetia was divided into Raetia prima and Raetia secunda under Diocletian in ca. 300 AD. The bishopric of Chur was established by 452. Nominally under Ostrogothic rule from 476, it appears that the bishops of Chur remained de facto independent rulers of Raetia prima. Theodoric appointed a dux for Raetia prima, who however had only military competences; civil administration lay with a praeses. Churraetia passed under nominal Frankish rule by 548. There are only very limited historical sources for the Merovingian period, but it seems likely that the bishops of Chur remained in charge as de facto rulers of what was now a province on the outer margins of the Frankish empire, until the 740s separated from Francia proper by the likewise de facto independent duchy of Alemannia.