page_title: Limes (Roman Empire)
section_title: Noricum
hierarchical_section_title: Limes (Roman Empire) / Limites in the Roman Empire / Noricum
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of Limes in Austria (system of fortifications representing the boundary of Roman control) Deutsch: Karte des norisch-pannonischen Limes in Österreich. Suchbegriffe: Markomannen, Raetia, Inn, Batava (Passau), Boiotro (Passau), Burgus Passau-Haibach, Stanacum (Oberanna), Ioviacum (Schlögen), Ad Mauros (Eferding), Ovilava (Wels), Burgus Hirschleitengraben, Lentia (Linz), Lauriacum (Enns) Albing, St. Pantaleon-Stein, Ad Juvense (Wallsee), Danubia, Loco Felicis (Mauer an der Url), Wachtürme Ybbs, Arelape (Pöchlarn), Noricum, Limestürme in der Wachau, Favianis (Mautern) Plank am Kamp, Fels am Wagram, Augustianus (Traismauer), Cetium (St. Pölten), Asturis (Zwentendorf), Comagena (Tulln), Canabiaca (Zeiselmauer), Klosterneuburg, Vindobona (Wien), Kollnbrunn, Stillfried, March, Ala Nova (Schwechat), Aquinoctium (Fischamend), Engehartstetten, Carnuntum, Höflein, Pannonia Sup.
context_page_description: Limes is a modern term used primarily for the Germanic border defence or delimiting system of Ancient Rome marking the Borders of the Roman Empire, but it was not used by the Romans for this purpose. The term has been extended to refer to the frontier defences in other parts of the empire, such as in the east and in Africa.
  The Limes is often associated with Roman forts, but the concept could apply to any adjoining area the Romans exercised loose control with military forces.
context_section_description: This section of the limes existed from the 1st to the 5th century AD and guarded part of the Roman province of Noricum.
  It is on the soil of the present-day Austrian states of Upper and Lower Austria. It ran   along the Danube from Passau/Boiodurum to Zeiselmauer/Cannabiaca. This is also a ripa (river border), which was guarded by a loose chain of cohort forts. The main road on the Norican Limes was the via iuxta amnem Danuvium. The initially simple wood and earth structures were systematically converted under Emperor Hadrian into stone encampments. During the 4th century, they were brought once more up to date and massively reinforced. Between the camps, in strategic places or good points of observation, were watchtowers or signal towers and, in the Late Antiquity, burgi. In the middle section, between the camps of Favianis and Melk, watchtowers were built only sporadically. Here the narrow valley of the Wachau, with its densely forested escarpments, made access to the riverbank more difficult, providing some defensive function. Every camp had its own river port or landing stage and a storage area because the Danube was not only border zone, but also the most important transport and trade route in the region. Over time civilian settlements or vici were established immediately next to the camps. In the immediate hinterland of the limes, walled towns or municipia were founded - for example, Aelium Cetium or Ovilava (Wels). They were the administrative or commercial centres of the region. In late antiquity, the Norican area was divided into two parts (pars inferior and pars superior). It is probable that a second, defensive line was created to the rear (Castrum Locus Felicis).
  The occupying troops, Exercitus Noricus, consisted mostly of auxilia cohorts and a legion stationed in Lauriacum/Enns acted as the strategic reserve. The surveillance and security of the Danube and its tributaries were the responsibility of the Classis Pannonia. Units of the legions, naval and auxiliary forces were commanded by the respective governors. In late antiquity - according to Notitia Dignitatum - four newly established flotillas undertook this task. From the 3rd century, the Norian comitatenses, ripenses and liburnari were under the command of two generals:
  Comes Illyrici,
  Dux Pannoniae Primae et Norici Ripensis
caption: Map of the Norican Limes
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