Vicus

Vicus (plural: Vici ) is the name of a district or a settlement of Roman antiquity. The economic focus of such settlements was in commercial production, trade, commerce and services. The term was independent of the size of the settlement, depending on the function ranged in size from a small street settlement to the expansion of contemporary cities.

Vici in Rome

Within Rome vicus called one of the neighborhoods or districts, of which there should have been, according to Pliny the Elder 265. The German epigraphists Hermann Dessau lists in the register of his work Insciptiones Latinae selectae 78 vici of Rome by name. At the same time, the word also referred to the road that went through the district.

Kastellvici

In the provinces of Germania Superior and Raetia to Vici, formed predominantly in the immediate vicinity of forts. Such settlements are as Kastellvici or, if developed in a military camp, also known as canabae legionis. It was here that in addition to the wives of the soldiers mainly innkeepers, veterans and craftsmen and traders settled. Evidence of agriculture are quite rare in the archaeological material. Fort villages were always dependent on the presence of the military, at least in its early stages. However, in running their stages of development, many also showed an economic momentum that was dependent on the local options the trader. With the departure of the troops can be observed at certain places garrison also a sharp decline in population. Especially when a vicus had no time to develop properly, or if - as in the Upper Germanic - Rhaetian Limes - border zones were cleared.

Civilian Vici

Vici in civil context have often originated at road crossings, river crossings and other convenient locations. Some settlements like Mayen, Rheinzabern or Schwabmunchen were aligned to a particular trade or were close to raw material deposits. So your function was mainly in trade and commerce. In many Vici were occupied by markets for villae rusticae the area. Special functions such as spa or seaside resorts (Baden- Baden) or religious centers ( Faimingen ) and mixed forms are common.

Roman Vici did not have its own administration, no legal status and authority of a civitas were assigned. But some Vici reached even the status of a civitas main location ( eg Nida Heddernheim or Pforzheim ). Not all possessed public buildings, such as spas or temple. Some locations of the vici were based on the Tabula Peutingeriana and itinerarium be located antonini.

The term Vicus can also be a district / quarter call in a bigger place.