In the 1^st century B.C., the area came under the influence of the Celtic Kingdom Noricum before being incorporated into the Roman Empire. After the Romans’ defeat against the Germanic tribes in the Teutoburg Forest, the Danube constituted the boundary of the Roman Empire. In the context of a battle lead by the future emperor Tiberius in 6 A.D. north of the Danube against the Marcomanni, Carnuntum was first mentioned in ancient scriptures. 

From the early 2nd century onward, the 14th Legion Gemina Matria Victrix was stationed in Carnuntum. A Roman legion consisted of 10 cohorts which were each subdivided into 6 centuries.

After the establishment of a legionary camp in a wood and earth construction in the Claudian period, the fortifications were rebuilt in stone around 100 A.D. Around the same time Carnuntum was the capital of the province of Pannonia. The legionary camp housed about 6.000 soldiers.

The central office building of the camp was accessed by the vestibule leading to the courtyard, which was enclosed on both sides by the ammunition storeroom (armamentaria). Having crossed the courtyard, one entered a large transverse hall (basilica) connected to the sanctuary (aedes) harbouring the legion’s insignia. Adjacent the legion’s archive (tabularium) and meeting facilities could be found. The basilica had impressive dimensions and received light from a row of windows beneath the roof.

In addition to the military camp there also was an amphitheatre. Gladiator and animal fights garnered great enthusiasm with the legionaries and civilian population alike. Different gladiator genres competed against one another, one of the most popular being the heavily armed Secutor with a sword and shield against the Retiarius equipped with a net and trident.