Matilo

Coordinates: 52°08′59″N 4°31′06″E / 52.1497°N 4.5184°E / 52.1497; 4.5184
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Matilo's location in Leiden
Map of the coast in Roman times superimposed on South Holland today, showing Matilo's location

Matilo or Matilone was once a Roman fort (castellum) in modern-day Leiden. Positioned on the southern banks of the Oude Rijn, it served to protect the Roman borders in the province of Germania Inferior (Limes Germanicus). On the Peutinger map, it lies between the encampments of Albaniana (Alphen aan den Rijn) and Praetorium Agrippinae (Valkenburg).[1] The seventh-century Ravenna Cosmography gives its name as Matellionem.[2]

Name

Matilo probably derives its name from a body of water near which it was situated, as is usually the case with Roman place-names ending in -on, -one, -an or -ane.

Germanic origin and its meaning remains unclear.[3]

History

Due to lack of any evidence predating Roman finds, archaeologists usually conclude that the Romans were the first to settle in this particular location.[note 2] Before their arrival, people mostly lived further from the river.[4]

The first Romans arrived at the site in 47 AD as part of a larger operation to reinforce the Germanic lines. In order to increase the efficiency of supply chains and communication lines within his army, general Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo had a canal built (known as the Fossa Corbulonis, or Corbulo's Canal), connecting the Meuse and Rhine. Matilo was erected there, at the meeting place of the Oude Rijn and the newly dug canal, because of its strategic importance.[5]

Archaeological evidence seems to suggest that the Romans only constructed the fort itself somewhere at around 70 AD, whereas a small watchtower might have taken its place in the years before.

Batavian Rebellion in 69 and as such played an important role in restoring order to the province of Germania Inferior.[7]

Somewhere between 85 and 116, the moat was

armoury (armamentarium) in stone. They did this once more sometime in 196–243, and replaced the wooden outer wall with a stone one as well. The wall and moats were then rebuilt once more after that.[8]

This castellum was home to the

onager indicate that an artillery division was once garrisoned there.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Compare for example the castella Fectio and Deusone.
  2. ^ An axe of dubious origin throws a different light on this debate. Most scholars dismiss this piece of evidence however as doubtful.

References

  1. ^ Tabula Peutingeriana Second segment.
  2. ^ Ravennatis Anonymus Cosmographia IV.24.
  3. ^ Brandenburg & Hessing (2005) 10.
  4. ^ Brandenburg & Hessing (2005) 11.
  5. ^ Brandenburg & Hessing (2005) 11f.
  6. ^ Brandenburg & Hessing (2005) 16f.
  7. ^ Brandenburg & Hessing (2005) 26f.
  8. ^ Brandenburg & Hessing (2005) 27, 31.
  9. ^ Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum XIII.8823-25; Brandenburg & Hessing (2005) 27, 31.

Bibliography

  • Brandenburg, C.R. & Hessing, W.A.M. (2005) Matilo - Rodenburg - Roomburg: De Roomburgerpolder van Romeins castellum tot moderne woonwijk (Amersfoort).
  • Lems, E. (1995) Op zoek naar Matilo: Sporen van de Romeinen in Leiden (Leiden).

External links

52°08′59″N 4°31′06″E / 52.1497°N 4.5184°E / 52.1497; 4.5184

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