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Dinogetia CastleDinogetia was an ancient Getae-Dacian settlement and later Roman fortress located onthe left bank of the Danube near the place where it joins the Siret. The Dinogetia site issituated in Dobrudja at 8 kilometres east of Galai, Romania. The Geto-Dacian settlement was conquered by the Romans and transformed into a boundary fortress. The site was mentioned by Ptolemy. Located in the center of an archmade by the Danube around Macin, Galai and Gura Prutului, the Roman fortress of Dinogetia-Garvn had initially been a castellum (a small fortress), having its role in thedefensive system on the Lower Danube. Some other important Roman fortresses at thetime, were those from Barbosi (Galai County) and Troesmis (Tulcea County). Having had a great importance in Constantine the Great's time, the fortress was reinforced sinceDiocletian. In Anastasius' and Justinian's time some structures were added to thestronghold. But, by the end of the 2nd century AD, when the great barbarian invasionshad begun, Dinogetia increased its importance, especially after the abandon by theRomans of the Dacian province. Its strategic position in the north-western corner of Dobrudja, gave the fortress an important role in the defensive system of the province.After a period of rebuilding during the Severan period, in the 3rd century Dinogetia wasagain a target for the barbarian invaders. After the abandon of Dacia, the strategicimportance of the site had increased, Aurelian, Probus and Diocletian thus initiating a policy of fortification of the entire Danubian limes, Dinogetia included. During the LateAntiquity Dinogetia had a key role in the defensive system of the Roman province.Anastasius, then Justinian reinforced the fortress' walls. The attack of the Avars/Kutrigursunder Zabergan's command in 559 had disastrous consequences for the stronghold.Archaeological research has uncovered ruins of a large house, a Roman bath, a church, a basilica and a graveyard outside the wall. These ruins had been heavily damaged by afeudal site built over the Roman one.site layoutThe Diocletian constructed wall (ca. 3 m wide) has fourteen horseshoe-shaped towers . Buildings located on the Dinogetia Site: o praetorium

o the ruins of a large house o 4 c basilica o 4 c ruins of a Roman bath o 9 C church Stamped BricksFrom the Later Roman Empire there are registered at Dinogetia bricks stamped with themark of legio I Iovia Scythica and the presence of Gothic federates as well. Also, the 4thcentury witnessed the building of "the house of the commander" (domus), as well as the baths, the last perhaps built even earlier, according to the last archaeological finds. Also,the written sources, such as Notitia Dignitatum, certify some milities Scythici (NDOr,XXXIX, 24), thus a confirmation of the archaeological evidence. In the ecclesiasticalsources there are registered Christian martyrs dated in the reign of Licinius, especiallyfrom the army, thus certifying the Christianization of the area. Other army units that werestationed at Dinogetia include: Legio V Macedonica, Cohors I Cilicum, Cohors IIMattiacorum, cl. Fl. Moesica (2d c.), Legio I Iovia (4th c.)The fortress had been inhabited until the end of the VIth or the beginning of the 7thcentury when, in the context of Phokas' rebellion, the entire limes of Lower Danube hadcollapsed under the pressure of Slav tribes. In this context, Dinogetia also was abandonedas a military strongpoint. The fortress was rebuilt and became

the siege of a Byzantinegarrison after the successful campaigns of the emperor Ioannes Tzimiskes (969-976)against the Kievian Russians, when Dobrudja was again incorporated to the Empire. The presence of Byzantine troops is certified until the 12th century, when Dinogetia wasgradually deserted and finally abandoned perhaps in 1186.