Editing Troy (section)

=== Roman Troy (Troy&nbsp;IX) ===

{{Primary sources section|date=June 2024}}

The city was destroyed by [[Sulla]]'s rival, the Roman general [[Gaius Flavius Fimbria (cavalry prefect)|Fimbria]], in 85&nbsp;BC following an eleven-day siege.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Strabo]] |title=[[Geographica]] |at=13.1.27}}<br/> {{cite book |author=[[Livy]] |title=[[Periochae]] |at=83}}</ref> Later that year when Sulla had defeated Fimbria, he bestowed benefactions on Ilion for its loyalty which helped rebuilding the city. Ilion reciprocated this act of generosity by instituting a new civic calendar which took 85&nbsp;BC as its first year.<ref>''Inschriften von Ilion'' 10.2–3.</ref> However, the city remained in financial distress for several decades despite its favoured status with Rome. In the 80s BC, Roman ''publicani'' illegally levied taxes on the sacred estates of Athena Ilias, and the city was required to call on [[Lucius Julius Caesar (consul 64 BC)|L. Julius Caesar]] for restitution; while in 80&nbsp;BC, the city suffered an attack by pirates.<ref>''Inchriften von Ilion'' 71 (''publicani''), 73 (pirates).</ref> In 77&nbsp;BC the costs of running the annual festival of the ''koinon'' of Athena Ilias became too pressing for both Ilion and the other members of the ''koinon'' and L.&nbsp;Julius Caesar was once again required to arbitrate, this time reforming the festival so that it would be less of a financial burden.<ref>''Inschriften von Ilion'' 10.</ref> In 74&nbsp;BC the Ilians once again demonstrated their loyalty to Rome by siding with the Roman general [[Lucullus]] against Mithridates&nbsp;VI.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Plutarch]] |title=Lucullus |at=10.3, 12.2}}</ref> Following the final defeat of Mithridates in 63–62, [[Pompey]] rewarded the city's loyalty by becoming the benefactor of Ilion and patron of Athena Ilias.<ref>''Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum'' 46.1565.</ref>

In 48&nbsp;BC, [[Julius Caesar|Gaius Julius Caesar]] likewise bestowed benefactions on the city, recalling the city's loyalty during the Mithridatic Wars, the city's connection with his cousin [[Lucius Julius Caesar (consul 64 BC)|Lucius]], and the family's claim that they were ultimately descended from [[Venus]] through the Trojan prince [[Aeneas]] and therefore shared kinship with the Ilians.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Lucan]] |title=Pharsalia |at=9.964–999}}<br/> {{cite book |author=[[Suetonius]] |title=Divus Julius |at=79.3}}</ref> In 20&nbsp;BC, the [[emperor]] [[Augustus]] ([[Augustus|Gaius Octavian Julius Caesar Augustus]]) visited Ilion and stayed in the house of a leading citizen, Melanippides son of Euthydikos.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Dio Cassius]] |title=Ῥωμαϊκὴ Ἱστορία |language=el |trans-title=Roman History |at=54.7}}<br/> ''Inschriften von Ilion'' 83.</ref> As a result of his visit, he also financed the restoration and rebuilding of the sanctuary of Athena Ilias, the [[bouleuterion]] (council house) and the theatre. Soon after work on the theatre was completed in 12–11&nbsp;BC, Melanippides dedicated a statue of [[Augustus]] in the theatre to record this benefaction.<ref>''Inschriften von Ilion'' 83.</ref>

A new city called '''Ilium''' (from Greek Ilion) was founded on the site in the reign of the [[Roman emperor]] [[Augustus]]. It flourished until the establishment of [[Constantinople]], which became a bishopric in the [[Roman province]] [[Hellespontus (province)|Hellespontus]] (civil [[Diocese of Asia]]), but declined gradually in the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine era]].