The Eastern Realm

In a mere 7 weeks I will be leaving for Austria - a land rich in Roman history as well as history more modern. Here, you can follow me on my rendezvous, weekend trips, and my adventures in food.

I am a student of Latin, hence the Latin name of this blog. Noricum is the Celtic, and oldest, origin of the name Austria. Over 2500 years ago, the majority of Austria was called "Norig," Celtic for "east." The ending "rig" eventually came to be the German "reich" - culminating in "eastern realm." In 15 BC, the Romans conquered this area, latinising the name to Noricum, and in 1 AD the area became a Roman province. Both Vindobona and Carnuntum were included within the province of Noricum, with Vindobona becoming the modern day Vienna. From this ancient origin, the name of this province was interchangeable, depending on your loyalties. Germans named it the "eastern realm" (Osterreich) while Romans latinised the German "east" and termed it Marchia Orientalis, or "the eastern marches." As a result of these frequent metamorphoses, the modern day name of Austria has both Roman and German influences, and even a tad of Celtic if one is willing to search.

Even in today's Vienna, the Roman ruins are visible in the Michaelerplatz, standing starkly against the imperial Hofburg and the Michaelerkirche as a meeting point of the city - captured between the throne and the alter.

So, as I prepare to embark, I hope you find time to join me here. I'm off to explore the Eastern Empire.