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Spain History -Roman Period (210 BC - 476 AD)
The Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsular was firmly
established by 133 BC with the exception of the north-west coastal
area. The Consuls named it "Hispania" and it was to stay in their
hands until 409 BC. Their influences coupled with their marvelously
and practical constructions that were mainly built by slaves turned the basically primitive
Iberian occupants
into one of the most advanced countries in Europe. Language, laws,
religion and forceful control, all had the effect of binding together a
previously divided mass of different and very individualistic rulers. The
Romans built 34 excellent major roads which ran over 21,000 kilometers, linking
all parts of the peninsular. Its first Roman settlement was Italica just outside
Seville. Scipio celebrated his victory by building the town as a place for the
wounded and retired victorious soldiers. However, the price paid for this
eventual success by the Romans was some 150.000 lives and two centuries of
battles.
The fighting was never over as battles were engaged periodically between the
Romans and local rebel forces. In 150 BC some 8,000 Lusitanians were killed
and it took some eight years to eventually kill their folk hero leader
Viriathus and his army which at one time controlled the best part of the central
peninsular. During the same period there was the "Celtiberian War" which lasted
twenty years. It was eventually broken by another Scipio (a grandson), when he
took the town of Numantia near Soria but with a loss of over 20,000 Roman
soldiers.
The Romans divided the peninsular into two main provinces, "Hispania Citerior"
and "Hispania Ulterior", with Cartagena and Córdoba as their respective capitals.
The political upheavals in Rome for leadership caused an influential warrior
named Quintus Sertorius to be banished to Hispania who immediately organized a
local rebel army but was not successful in battle and was eventually killed
in 73 BC by
Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey the Great). Some 18 years later Pompey was
appointed the ruler of Hispania. Upon his later return to Rome Pompey claimed
victory over 876 rebel Hispanic towns. It was during this campaign that Julius
Caesar first showed his military skills and became a popular Hispanic leader. In
49 BC he led a rebel army and started a civil war against Rome and near Córdoba
in battle he successfully routed the Roman army and went to Rome to claim the
seat of power. In 38 BC Hispania was officially declared part of the State of
Rome and a tax was applied on the population throughout the peninsular. The
Cantabrians and Basques took to arms and though subsequently defeated, the
Basques were never "Romanized". Emperor Augustus returned to his birthplace
Hispania and lived at Tarragona for some years whilst occupied in quelling the
rebels.
It was following this period that Hispania entered its most peaceful period and
society and culture developed to the high point that Augustus granted 50 towns
the rights of Roman citizenship. The central town of all was Mérida as capital
of Lusitanian province. This town boasted a 25,000 seat theatre for chariot
racing in which a Diocles became famous for his 1,462 victories. It also had an
amphitheatre which could be flooded to simulate naval battles.
The Romans thoroughly enjoyed celebrations and worship was nearly always
connected with blood or had sexual overtones. A leading deity was Mithras which
was originally conceived as a divine figure in Persia. In a ceremony very popular
with soldiers, men were anointed with the blood of freshly killed bulls as it was
believed that they became invincible to death in conflict. Another popular deity
was Cybele a mother goddess who was worshipped with pomp and pageantry, and
particularly self-flagellation and again the fresh blood of slain bulls was
applied.
Christianity as a religion is said to have appeared in Hispania in 40 AD through
the teachings of Saint James the Elder (reportedly half-brother of Jesus).
Settling in Zaragoza he built a temple to the Holy Virgin. His remains by
tradition are reported to have later been brought back from Palestine, where he
died, and placed later to rest at Campos Stellae (Santiago de Compostela). The
spread of his word took over two centuries through the conversion firstly
through the rural population and later in urban areas. As the official Roman
religion offered no moral code, afterlife and no mysticism, this new religion
found appeal with the country folk who have always been subject to forms of
superstition. Apparently, the independent minded Basques were the last to be
converted and then became one of the most enthusiastic followers of the
teachings of Christ in the peninsular. Two of the he most notable followers
were St Vincent who is connected with the history of Portugal and St Engracia
who at 13 years of age was put to death in Mérida in the most gruesome manner.
When the Emperor Nero died his position in Rome was taken by the
then ruler of Spain, Galba. The first Roman Emperor to be born in Hispania was Trajan (Marcus Ulpius
Traianus), who was born in Italica. Under his successful rule from 99 to
117 AD the Roman Empire became as large as approximately the area of the
USA and had a population of over 100 million people. He controlled more than
300,000 kilometres of roads and the whole coast within the Mediterranean.
In 110 AD he ordered the consturction of the impressive aqueduct in
Segovia. Upon his deathbed he appointed his adopted son Hadrian to succeed who had
also been born in Italica.
The year 248 AD marked the 1,000th anniversary of Rome but is also marked the
beginning of a downward path of the Empire. In the third century Spanish towns
were already building stronger defenses and massive protective town walls for
protection from rebels and invaders. It is noted that the thick strong walls
of Barcelona were built in the last part of this century to protect the town
from attacks from Franks and Alemanni, and these invaders were long before the
later wave of Barbarians. The final Hispania born ruler of Rome was Flavious
Theodosius in the later part of the third century banned all forms of paganism,
outlawing games, burning temples, and generally taking the fun out of the
traditional way of life to the Romans. When in 395 AD he died he split the
remaining empire into two parts and only 14 years later Hispania was invaded
by the Barbarians in the shape of three tribes, Alans, Sueves and
Vandals.
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