Szombathely is the oldest city in Hungary. It was founded in 45 AD under the name of Colonia Claudia Savariensum (Claudius' Colony of Savarians) and it was the capital of the Pannonia Superior province of the Roman Empire. It lay close to the important "Amber Road" trade route. The city also had an imperial residence, a public bath and an amphitheatre. Remains of a mithraeum were discovered in 2008.
Emperor Constantine the Great visited Savaria several times. He ended the persecution of Christians, which previously claimed the lives of many people in the area, including Bishop St. Quirinus, St. Rutilus and St. Irenaeus. The emperor reorganized the colonies and made Savaria the capital of the province Pannonia Prima. This era was the height of prosperity for Savaria, its population grew, and new buildings were erected, among them theatres and churches. St. Martin of Tours was born here.
After the death of Emperor Valentinian III the Huns invaded Pannonia and Attila's armies occupied Savaria between 441 and 445. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 456.
Savaria/Szombathely in the Middle Ages
The city remained inhabited throughout the Middle Ages. Its city walls were restored, and new buildings were built using the stones from the destroyed Roman buildings. Much of the Latin population moved away, mostly to Italy, while new settlers, mostly Goths and Longobards, arrived.
In the 6th–8th centuries the city was inhabited by Eurasian Avars and Slavic tribes. In 795 the Franks defeated these peoples and occupied the city. Charlemagne visited the city where St. Martin was born.
King Arnulf of the Franks gave the city to the archbishop of Salzburg in 875. It is likely that the castle was built around this time, using the stones from the Roman baths. Savaria was then briefly occupied by Moravians. Around 900 the city was occupied by Hungarians.
