Editing Astorga, Spain (section)

=== Roman Empire ===
[[Image:Muralla, Palacio Gaudí, Catedral de Astorga.jpg|thumb|left|The walls of the town were built at the time of [[Roman Empire|ancient Rome]].]]
During Cantabrian wars (28–19 BC), Roman legions [[Legio VI Victrix|VI Victrix]] (Sixth Victorious Legion) and [[Legio X Gemina|X Gemina]] (Tenth Twin Legion) were sent and established a [[castra]] on the Leonesian land. This castra was strategically placed between the {{ill|Jerga (river)|lt=Jerga|es|Río Jerga}} and {{ill|Tuerto (river)|lt=Tuerto|es|Río Tuerto}} rivers. The castra was important because of Astures revolutions (22 BC) and proximity to gold mines of [[Las Médulas|Las Medulas]].

After the [[Punic Wars]] in 146 BC, the Romans turned their attention to conquering [[Hispania]]. The tribe of the [[Gallaeci]] 60,000 strong, according to [[Paulus Orosius]],{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} faced the Roman forces led by [[Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus]] in 137 BC in a battle at the [[River Douro]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} From this time, Gallaic fighters joined the [[Roman legion]]s, to serve as far away as Dacia and Britain. The final extinction of [[Celts|Celtic]] resistance was the aim of the violent and ruthless [[Cantabrian Wars]] fought under the [[Augustus|Emperor Augustus]] from 28 to 19 BC.

The [[Asturica Augusta|Roman city]] was founded in 14 BC, being entitled by Emperor [[Octavian]] as '''Asturica Augusta''' now known as Astorga.<ref>{{cite book|title=Studies of Roman Imperialism|publisher=University Press|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.533478|page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.533478/page/n398 260]|last1=Arnold|first1=William Thomas|last2=Humphry Ward|first2=Mrs|last3=Montague|first3=Charles Edward|year=1906}}</ref> It became an important administrative and military centre. The Roman walls were rebuilt by Bishop Nuño around 1242 and they underwent several repairs during the Middle Ages. The city had thermal baths with hot, warm, cold water systems, sauna's and two main sewer system still in use today. Ruins of Roman baths are still visible today. In 35&nbsp;AD as mining plans developed, this Roman Hispania castra was redesigned and built with the help of the army, into a city. A provincial capital, and the meeting-place of four military roads. Vía de la Plata (Silver Way) or [[Vía de la Plata|Ruta de la Plata]] (Silver Route) is an ancient commercial and pilgrimage path that connects Astorga to Mérida. It was conceived and built as a trade route for the exploitation of gold. The Roman causeway allowed the Romans to conquer tribes such as the Callaici, the Astures, and the [[Vaccaei|Vacceos]]. [[Pliny the Elder]] in 73&nbsp;AD spoke of Vía de la Plata. The road stretched around {{convert|560|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} and the Roman's highest importance for he gold mines of [[Las Médulas]] and the copper mines of [[Rio Tinto (river)|Rio Tinto]].

Asturica was the main city in northwest Spain during the Roman Empire. [[Pliny the Elder|Plinius]] Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander called the city ''Urbs magnifica'' ("magnificent city"). The ''Via Platea'' went from Asturica (Astorga) to Emerita (Mérida). One of the first three bishoprics in Spain was founded in Astorga, known as the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Astorga]]. The title of [[Bishop of Astorga]] is one of the oldest religious charges of Europe.