Raetia - 15 BC - 488 AD
The central region of the Alps, whose main cutting is marked on the northern side by the valleys of the Aenus (Inn) and the Rhenus (while the upper valley of the Licus, Lech, is closely secluded), on the southern by those of the Athesis (Adige, Etsch) and the Addua was after a stubborn resistance subdued by Roman armies under Drusus in 15 BC. It was inhabited by numerous tribes without any political connection, and called after the principal valleys. Of these, all that open southwards into the valley of the Po, with the exception of the territories of the Venostae (Vintschgau, on the Upper Etsch) and Isarci (on the Eisack, a tributary of the Etsch), were at once united with Italy. From the latter valley ran the ancient chief trade route over the lowest cross pass of the Central Alps, the Brenner (4,400 feet), which preserves the name of the Raetian Breones.
The name current in Italy for all these tribes, who made their living for the most part only by breeding cattle and cutting wood, and paid but little attention to tillage, was Raeti. Of their origin it was only known that they were closely related to the Etruscans of Italy, and even generally regarded (though without doubt erroneously) as successors of those Etruscans who had been driven out of Upper Italy by the Gallic conquest. Only a few places in the larger valleys grew into little towns under Roman dominion, such as Curia Raetorum (now Chur, Rom. Coira, in the Orisons) and Veldidma (Vilten a suburb of Innsbruck). The whole mountain district was, generally speaking, late in adopting the Roman language.
Raetia [aka RAetia or Rhaetia] appears to have comprehended originally the whole country between the north of Italy and the Danube, and consequently to have included Vindeliria Dio Cassius, in his account of the conquest of the Raeti and Vindelici by Drusus and Tiberius, only mentions the Raeti. Strabo often speaks of them as if they were only one people; and Tacitus, in several passages, appears to include Vindelicia in the province of Raetia.
In the time of Augustus, however, these two countries formed separate provinces, of which Raetia was bounded on the west by the Helvelii, on the east by Noricum, on the south by Gallia Cisalptna, and on the north by ViTidelicia, from which it was separated by the Locus Briganlinus or Lake of Constance, and the River AEnus or Inn. It included, therefore, the greater part of the Tyrol, and the eastern cantons of Switzerland.
The Raeti are supposed by Niebuhr to have been an Etruscan people, and their country to have been one of the original homes of that race. They are first mentioned by Polybius as one of the communities through whose country there was a passage across the Alps. They were a brave and enterprising race, and for a long time committed constant robberies in Gaul and the north of Italy.
Augustus at length sent Drusus against them (BC 15), who subdued the southern part of the country, and delivered Italy from their depredations. But, as they still continued to trouble the province of Gaul, Tiberius also was sent against them, who attacked them near the Locus Brigantinus, and reduced the whole of the country. The greater part of their youth were carried away, and only sufficient left to cultivate the land. The victories of Drusus and Tiberius are celebrated by Horace.
For a brief period after the Roman conquest, Raetia was in charge of a praefectus, whose province also included Vindelicia and the Yallis Poenina, with the command of the auxiliaries of the region. From some date prior to 69 AD, perhaps under Claudius, until 167/169 AD, it was under a procurator Augusti provinciae Raetiae, who, following the outbreak of the Marcomannic war, was given increased power and the title procurator et pro legato; this, however, was but a temporary expedient, pending the arrival of the legion designed for this province.
The Reeti were divided, according to Pliny, into many states or tribes. Of these the most important were, 1. The Lepontii, in the southwestern part of the province. 2. The Tridenlini, in the southeastern. 3. The Genauni, whom Horace mentions, east of the Lepontii. 4. The Vennoncs, near the sources of the Athesis, now Adige. 5. The Brixentes, north of the Tridentini. 6. The Brenni or Brcuni, north of the Raitian Alps, also mentioned by Horace.
The great chain of the Alps passes almost through the center of this province, and bears various names in different parts of it. On the western borders are the Alpcs Pennina, in the northwest are the Alpes Leponiia, and on the north are the Alpcs Summa, succeeded by the Alpes Ralica. These mountains were all inhabited by various tribes of the Raeti.
Several large rivers rise in these mountains, of which the most important were, 1. The Rhenus or Rhine, rising in the Lepontine Alps. 2. The Rhodanus or Rhone, rising in the same vicinity. 3. The Ticinus or Tesino, a tributary of the Po, rising in the same division of the Alps. 4. The Addua or Adda, another Italian river, rising in the Raetian Alps. 5. The Athesis or Adige, rising in the same Alps, and flowing into the Adriatic; and, 6. The (Enus or Inn, a tributary of the Danube.
The valleys between these mountains were very fertile, and were particularly celebrated for their grapes, from which excellent wine was made. The Raetian wine was the favorite wine of Augustus.
The only place of importance in Raetia was Tridentum, now Trent.
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