Ulpianum (castra)

Ulpianum^[4] was a fort in the Roman province of Dacia.^[2][3] Traces of the castra built in the 2nd century AD can be identified at the confluence of the rivers Someșul Mic and Căpuş in the Bánffy Castle's park at Gilău (Romania).^[2] A vicus developed south and west of the fort.^[5] A large building, 41x41m, within the fort is considered to have been either a valetudinarium or a fabrica.^[6]

Ulpianum
Roman castra of Gilău, modern Romania
Location within Romania
Alternative name(s)	Castra of Gilău
Founded during the reign of	Trajan[1]
Founded	2nd century AD[2][3]
Abandoned	3rd century AD[2][3]
Place in the Roman world
Province	Dacia
Administrative unit	Dacia Porolissensis
Administrative unit	Dacia Superior
Directly connected to	Resculum Napoca
Structure
— Stone structure —
Size and area	138 m × 221 m (3 ha)
Stationed military units
— Cohorts —
Cohors I Pannonia veterana pia fidelis equitata
— Alae —
I Siliana
Location
Coordinates	46.757343°N 23.380517°E / 46.757343; 23.380517
Altitude	530 m
Town	Gilău
County	Cluj
Country	Romania
Reference
RO-LMI	CJ-I-s-A-07068.01[3]
RO-RAN	57911.01[2]
UNESCO
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia
Criteria	Cultural: ii, iii, iv
Reference	1718-032
Inscription	2024 (46th Session)
Site notes
Recognition	UNESCO World Heritage Site National Historical Monument
Condition	Ruined

The fort and its vicus were both abandoned in the 3rd century.^[2][3]

History

The fort known three main phases of development:^[7]

1. After Trajan's Dacian Wars a wood and earth castra of 130x116m was built and garrisoned by Cohors I Pannonia veterana pia fidelis equitata.

2. The fort was enlarged during the reign of Hadrian and Ala Siliana replaced the former unit stationed.

3. The defences of the fort were rebuilt in stone and the internal plan was changed during a third phase, towards the end of the second century.

See also

• List of castra
• Limes Porolissensis