Bassianae

Bassianae or Bassiana (Serbian: Basijana or Басијана) was an important ancient Roman town in Pannonia (today Syrmia region in Vojvodina province, Serbia). It was located near present-day Donji Petrovci village in Ruma municipality. Bassianae was second largest town in Syrmia, after Sirmium. It was located on a road that connected Sirmium and Singidunum.

History

Bassianae was founded as an autonomous civitas in the 1st century and existed until the 6th century. It obtained the municipium status in 124 AD, while in 214 AD it was recorded as a colony. Initially, the town was part of Pannonia province, but due to the subsequent divisions of this province, Bassianae was included into Pannonia Inferior (2nd century) and later into Pannonia Secunda (3rd century). It was one of the more important towns in the Pannonia province. During late Roman Empire, the town was a seat of one high official - procurator gynaecii Bassianensis Pannoniae secundae. In the 4th century it had a gynaecia (Imperial woollen mill, showing the importance of the town) and was a seat of the Christian bishopric.