History of Verona - Roman Verona

Roman Verona

Verona became a Roman colony in the year 89 BC, receiving the franchise in 59 and became a municipium in 49 BC. The former ford was replaced by two bridges, one of which, the Pothumius Bridge, also functioned as an aqueduct, as well as a dam for setting naval battles in the Theater. The city also had a forum, not far from the current Piazza delle Erbe (45°26′36″N 10°59′50″E / 45.44333°N 10.99722°E / 45.44333; 10.99722) and, outside the walls, the famous Arena. Its strategic importance lay in its position at the junction of four main roads: the Via Gallica, from Turin to Aquileia; the Via Claudia Augusta, from Modena to Germany; the Via Postumia, from Liguria to Illyria; and the Vicum Veronensis, which connected the city to Ostiglia.

Due to its leading position in northern Italy, Verona was often involved in civil Roman wars. Famous figures who fought here include Vespasian and Vitellius (AD 69); Philip the Arab and Decius (249); Carinus and Sabinus Iulianus (283); and Constantine the Great, who defeated Ruricius Pompeianus here after a long siege in 312. The city was also the residence of emperors on a frequent basis. In 265 the emperor Gallienus, to improve safety, extended the walls to include the Arena.

In the first centuries of the Christian Era, Verona slowly converted to Christianity; sometimes the beliefs of its citizenry aligned closely with unorthodox theories such as those of Arius or Fotinus. Under bishop St. Zeno, the orthodox doctrine was definitively imposed. (see Ecclesiastical history of Verona)