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Aquileia was founded by the Romans as a colony in 181 BCE, during battles with the Illyrian tribes. The city was located on the Natisa River, south of the Julian Alps, several kilometres north of the lagoons. It had an important military significance at the very beginning of its existence – it was a fortress protecting the Pre-Alpine Gaul from the east, and, if necessary, enabling the support of the Venetians – solid Roman allies. The colony was granted the Latin law by the triumvirs: Publius Cornelius Scipio Nazyka, Caius Flaminius and Lucius Manilius Acidinus. Soon after its founding, it probably had approx. 20 thousand. inhabitants, most of whom were Latins.
Aquileia quickly gained economic importance – it was in this city that the famous amber route leading to Italy from the Baltic countries ended. Trade was also favoured by the rapid expansion of the road system in this region – around 173 BCE Aquileia was connected with Bologna, in 148 BCE with Genoa (via Via Postumia), and in the first year of our era through Via Gemina with Emona and Via Flavia with Pula. The network of main roads was reinforced by local roads. The economic importance of the colony grew steadily – it was favoured by gold mining in the vicinity of Virunum, as well as grapevine cultivation in the region of Aquileia itself. The rapid development of the city meant that in 90 BCE it received the status of a municipality.
Aquileia’s growth continued even after the city was sacked during the reign of Octavian Augustus. Even new branches of trade developed – iron, glass products and imported oils, which was also influenced by the constantly thickening road network, which facilitated the exchange of goods. In addition, Augustus himself visited the city, and the later ruler of Rome was also born there Tiberius.
Aquila owes another period of rapid development to Marcus Aurelius. The last of the five good emperors made it the main base in wars against the barbarians in the North and East. Soon the city’s population exceeded 100,000. In 193, it hosted the great Septimius Severus, and in the following century it found itself on the front line of the civil war – the army of Maximinus Thracus fell under its walls, which interrupted his march against Italy defended by the forces of Pupien and Balbin and the Senate who supported them. Aquila, well-stocked, lasted until Maksymin Trak was killed by his own soldiers and the struggle was over.
Despite numerous turbulences in the history of the Roman Empire, Aquileia remained an important administrative, military and commercial centre. During the Dominate period, the city was visited more and more often by the Lords of the World, thanks to which it was enriched with an imperial palace. In the 4th century, the mint was established in Aquileia.
A city in Christian times
Until the 4th century, Aquileia was the centre of traditional Roman religion, but other cults were also professed and tolerated – the Jewish minority enjoyed religious freedom, the legionaries worshipped Mithra, and – at least in an earlier period – Celtic cults were also present. The balance was disturbed by Constantine, who visited Aquileia many times and, like in other places of the Empire, favoured an expansive new religion. A Christian bishopric was established in the city, and then an archbishopric. It hosted several synods, the most famous of which took place in 381. At the end of the 4th century, it was listed as the 9th largest city in the Empire. The dark events of this century did not bypass the region – Constantine II was killed near Aquila.
The town had an amphitheatre, circus, theatre, thermal baths, a large south-oriented basilica and a magnificent forum, among others.
Aquileia at the beginning of the 5th century
The difficult beginnings of the 5th century severely affected Aquileia, and it was fortunate for the city that it had been surrounded by walls for centuries. Visigoths under the command of Alaric besieged it in November 401, but failed to break the defence and withdrew from the city. Alaric, however, returned to the walls of Aquileia in 408 during his march to Rome.
The events of the first decade of the 5th century caused some of the city’s inhabitants to flee to the nearby lagoons.
Huns after the battle of the Catalaunian Plains
As the scales of victory in the battle of the Catalaunian Plains began to tilt in favour of the Romans and their Allies, and the Visigoths nearly managed to kill Attila himself, he locked himself in a camp, fortified by forming a circle of wagons, ready for the final battle.
Aetius, however, dissuaded the allies from intending to completely annihilate the