Carsium (castra)

Carsium was a fort in the Roman province of Moesia in the 1st century AD^[3][4] whose remains are still visible. It was part of the defensive frontier system of the Limes Moesiae along the Danube.

Carsium
Fort tower
Location within Romania
Alternative name(s)	Carsion,[1] Carsum,[2] Carsio,[2] Carso,[2] Carsos [2]
Known also as	Fortress of Hârșova, Castra of Hârșova
Founded	1st century AD[3][4]
Abandoned	3rd[3] or 6th century AD[4]
Attested by	Tabula Peutingeriana, Itinerarium Antonini, Notitia Dignitatum
Previous fortification	Dacian
Place in the Roman world
Province	Moesia
Administrative unit	Moesia Inferior
Directly connected to	Capidava, Ulmetum, (Izvoarele)
Structure
— Stone structure —
Built during the reign of	Trajan[2]
Built	103 [2]
— Wood and earth structure —
Stationed military units
— Legions —
vexill. I Italica,[2] vexill. I Iovia (Scythica)[2]
— Alae —
II Hispanorum,[2] I Gallorum Flaviana[2]
— Classis —
Flavia Moesica[2]
Location
Coordinates	44.6814°N 27.9523°E / 44.6814; 27.9523
Altitude	c. 24 m
Town	Hârșova
Country	Romania
Reference
RO-LMI	CT-I-s-A-02676[4]
RO-RAN	60810.01[3]
Site notes
Recognition	National Historical Monument
Condition	Ruined

It defended a nearby Danube crossing ford, one of the most important on this segment of the limes and the road that crossed into Dacia.^[2]

A Roman settlement grew up on the site of the current town of Hârșova around the Roman fort. It was initially in Moesia and later in Scythia Minor province.

It also had a naval port for a detachment of the Classis Moesica.

A well-preserved parade helmet of the 2nd century AD was found here, now in the National Museum in Bucharest.

Eastern Moesia and Limes Moesiae

Gallery

• 
  Carsium
• 
  Carsium
• 
  Cliffs on the Danube
• 
  Parade mask from Carsium
• 
  Inscription of Titianus Severinus

See also

• List of castra