The Classis Flavia Moesica ("Flavian Fleet of Moesia") was the Roman Empire's fleet on the lower Danube river, near the Black Sea.
History
The Classis Moesica was established sometime between 20 BC and 10 AD. It was based in Noviodunum and controlled the Lower Danube from the Iron Gates to the northwestern Black Sea as far as the Crimea. The honorific Flavia, awarded to it and to the Classis Pannonica, may indicate its reorganization by Vespasian around 75 AD. After Domitian (in 85 AD) it was headquartered in Sexaginta Prista. After Trajan's conquest of Dacia, during which the Classis Moesica provided logistical support, its base was moved back to Noviodunum. The fleet also included several secondary ports, like Carsium, Novae, Oescus and Tomis (modern Constanta). From 41 AD detachments were stationed in Crimea and Tyras.
Military diplomas show that the classis Moesica belonged to the army of Moesia Inferior.
The Classis Moesica lasted until the beginning of the fifth century, being later assimilated within the Byzantine navy.
Ships and troops
The attested ships used by the Moesian fleet were mainly the ubiquitous liburnae used by most Roman provincial fleets, of which two names survive: "Armata" & "Sagita".
In Scythia Minor, during late Antiquity there were marines (muscularii) of legio II Herculia at "Inplateypegiis" and sailors (nauclarii) at Flaviana.
See also
Notes
- Webster & Elton (1998), pp. 162-165
- Webster & Elton (1998), p. 163
- Roman Fleets
- "Map showing the "Classis Moesica" area". Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- musculus (meaning "small mouse") was a kind of small ship
- Notitia Dignitatum, Notitia Dignitatum, Pars Orient., XXXIX.
Bibliography
- Starr, Chester G. (1960 ) The Roman Imperial Navy: 31 B.C.-A.D. 324 (2nd Edition). Cambridge: Heffer.
- Webster, Graham; Elton, Hugh. (1998) The Roman Imperial Army of the First and Second Centuries A.D. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-3000-8