On Rise and Fall

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 4 October 2008 in Architecture.

They considered themselves invincible. The former boom-town had survived the ugly Batavian revolt, even became a colonia and was called Colonia Ulpia Traiana. Peace lasted for almost two centuries, and the newcomer certainly tried to outstrip the other colonia in the Rhineland - Germania Inferior - that was called Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. Their harbour temple - probably hosting the old river god Rhenus - was well-known, the theatre showings and the thermae were excellent, the army was controlling the whole province. Most of the inhabitants were romanized Teutons and Gauls: they preferred living in or nearby the city and participating in the Roman way of life. Times were prosperous.

They got into trouble when the Franks crossed the Rhine in 260 and 275. The army failed and couldn't protect them. And to complete their misery, the Rhine had changed its course, Rhenus had left the city. The last days of the boom town had come.

There was sort of a 'bailout plan' by the government: a military fortress was built inmidst the boundaries of the city and became the base of the Thirtieth legion. But they couldn't prevent the total collapse of the empire during the Migration Period. In 455 Cologne would fall, only a few years before the downfall of Rome.

(Image: reconstructed Northern Gate of Colonia Ulpia Traiana)

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