Italica

Italica
Itálica
	Shown within Spain
Location	Santiponce (Seville), Spain
Region	Hispania Baetica
Coordinates	37°26′38″N 6°02′48″W / 37.44389°N 6.04667°W
Type	Settlement
History
Founded	206 BC
Cultures	Roman
Site notes
Condition	Ruins
Spanish Cultural Heritage
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Archaeological site
Designated	13 December 1912
Reference no.	RI-55-0000002

Italica (Spanish: Itálica) was an ancient Roman city in Hispania; its site is close to the town of Santiponce in the province of Seville, Spain. It was founded in 206 BC by Roman general Scipio as a colonia for his Italic veterans and named after them.^[1] Italica later grew attracting new migrants from the Italian peninsula and also with the children of Roman soldiers and native women.^[2] Among the Italic settlers were a branch of the gens Ulpia from the Umbrian city of Tuder and a branch of the gens Aelia from the city of Hadria, either co-founders of the town or later migrants who arrived at an unknown time; the Ulpi Traiani and the Aelii Hadriani were the respective stirpes of the Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian, both born in Italica.^[3]^[4]

According to some authors, Italica was also the birthplace of Theodosius.^[5]^[6]^[7]

^ Appian, Iberian Wars 38
^ Knapp, Robert C. (Nov 26, 1977). Aspects of the Roman Experience in Iberia, 206-100 B.C. Universidad, D.L. ISBN 9788460008149. Retrieved Nov 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
^ Bennett, Julian (2001). Trajan. Optimus Princeps. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. P. 1-3. ISBN 0-253-21435-1
^ This is the academic consensus and the traditional viewpoint, held by most historians such as Julian Bennet and Anthony R.Birley. On the other hand, the Spanish historian Alicia M. Canto has argued since 2003 that the Trahii, a family which is usually also thought to be Umbrian and that became related to the Ulpii, were the original paternal family of Trajan and a relevant local indigenous family rather than Italic immigrants. (cf. Las raíces béticas de Trajano: los 'Traii' de la Itálica turdetana, y otras novedades sobre su familia). This position, however, departs from the dominant view in academia.
^ According to Hydatius and Zosimos, Theodosius was born at "Cauca in Gallaecia" (modern Coca, Segovia, Spain), while Marcellinus Comes and Jordanes place his birth at Italica (near Santiponce) in Baetica, the same as the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Aurelius Victor, Themistius, Pacatus Drepanius, and Claudian, although not explicitly mentioning Italica, also state that Theododius had the same roots as Trajan. This inconsistency among ancient authors has been explained in a variety of ways by modern scholars, who have also attributed it to mistakes or interpolations. Those favoring Cauca as the actual birthplace have also argued that Italica is a later invention precisely intended to connect Theodosius with Trajan. Martin Almagro Gorbea, although also favouring Cauca over Italica, states that modern historians are divided on the issue.
^ El Disco de Teodosio, Martin Almagro Gorbea, 2000
^ Alicia M. Canto
"Sobre el origen bético de Teodosio I el Grande, y su improbable nacimiento en Cauca de Gallaecia", Latomus. Revue d'Études Latines 65.2, 2006,388-421.
"Itálica, sedes natalis de Adriano. 31 textos históricos y argumentos para una secular polémica", Athenaeum. Studi di letteratura e Storia dell'Antichità 92.2, 2004, 367–408. (in Spanish)

[1] Appian, Iberian Wars 38

[2] Knapp, Robert C. (Nov 26, 1977). Aspects of the Roman Experience in Iberia, 206-100 B.C. Universidad, D.L. ISBN 9788460008149. Retrieved Nov 26, 2022 – via Google Books.

[3] Bennett, Julian (2001). Trajan. Optimus Princeps. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. P. 1-3. ISBN 0-253-21435-1

[4] This is the academic consensus and the traditional viewpoint, held by most historians such as Julian Bennet and Anthony R.Birley. On the other hand, the Spanish historian Alicia M. Canto has argued since 2003 that the Trahii, a family which is usually also thought to be Umbrian and that became related to the Ulpii, were the original paternal family of Trajan and a relevant local indigenous family rather than Italic immigrants. (cf. Las raíces béticas de Trajano: los 'Traii' de la Itálica turdetana, y otras novedades sobre su familia). This position, however, departs from the dominant view in academia.

[5] According to Hydatius and Zosimos, Theodosius was born at "Cauca in Gallaecia" (modern Coca, Segovia, Spain), while Marcellinus Comes and Jordanes place his birth at Italica (near Santiponce) in Baetica, the same as the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Aurelius Victor, Themistius, Pacatus Drepanius, and Claudian, although not explicitly mentioning Italica, also state that Theododius had the same roots as Trajan. This inconsistency among ancient authors has been explained in a variety of ways by modern scholars, who have also attributed it to mistakes or interpolations. Those favoring Cauca as the actual birthplace have also argued that Italica is a later invention precisely intended to connect Theodosius with Trajan. Martin Almagro Gorbea, although also favouring Cauca over Italica, states that modern historians are divided on the issue.

[6] El Disco de Teodosio, Martin Almagro Gorbea, 2000

[7] Alicia M. Canto
"Sobre el origen bético de Teodosio I el Grande, y su improbable nacimiento en Cauca de Gallaecia", Latomus. Revue d'Études Latines 65.2, 2006,388-421.
"Itálica, sedes natalis de Adriano. 31 textos históricos y argumentos para una secular polémica", Athenaeum. Studi di letteratura e Storia dell'Antichità 92.2, 2004, 367–408. (in Spanish)

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