This list includes countries and regions in the current common definition of the Balkans that were part of the Roman Empire, or that were given Latin place names in historical references.
Background Until the Modern Era, Latin was the common language for scholarship and mapmaking. During the 19th and 20th centuries, German scholars in particular have made significant contributions to the study of historical place names, or Ortsnamenkunde. These studies have, in turn, contributed to the study of genealogy. For genealogists and historians of pre-Modern Europe, knowing alternate names of places is vital to extracting information from both public and private records. Even specialists in this field point out, however, that the information can be easily taken out of context, since there is a great deal of repetition of place names throughout Europe; reliance purely on apparent connections should therefore be tempered with valid historical methodology.
Caveats and notes Latin place names are not always exclusive to one place – for example, there were several Roman cities whose names began with Colonia and then a more descriptive term. During the Middle Ages, these were often shortened to just Colonia. One of these, Colonia Agrippinensis, retains the name today in the form of Cologne.
Early sources for Roman names show numerous variants and spellings of the Latin names.
The modern canonical name is listed first. Sources are listed chronologically. In general, only the earliest source is shown for each name, although many of the names are recorded in more than one of the sources. Where the source differs in spelling, or has other alternatives, these are listed following the source. As an aid to searching, variants are spelled completely, and listed in most likely chronology.
Superscripts indicate: Latinized form of the Greek-derived name. Latinized form of the Asian-derived name via Greek. Altered Latinized form of the Greek-derived name.
Albania
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Amantia Amantia Antigonea Gjirokastër Antipatrea Berat Apollonia Fier Aulona Vlorë Buthrotum Butrint Bylis Ballsh Dyrrhachium (2PG15: Epidaurus) Durrës Lissus (2PG15) Lezhë - Lyssos Scodra (2PG15) Shkodër - Shkodra - Scutari Tyrana (GOL) Tirana Valebona Tropojë
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Aquae Sulphurae Ilidža Neuense Neum Pelva Livno - Ludricensis Saloniana (2PG15) Mostar - Vitrinica Salvia (2PG15), Salvium Glamoč Serbinum, Servitium Gradiška
Bulgaria
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Abritum, Abrittus Razgrad Aetus, Astus, Idus, Aquilia Aytos Almus, Artanus Lom Anchialus Pomorie Apollonia Pontica, Appolonia Magna, Antheia, Sozopolis Sozopol Augusta Traiana, Augustra Trajana Stara Zagora Aurea Zlatitsa Bononia Vidin Copsis Karlovo Debeltum, Pyrgus Burgas Diocletianopolis Hisarya Dionysopolis Balchik Diospolis Yambol Durostorum Silistra Escus, Oescus Gigen Germanea Separeva Banya Magura Piatra, Regianum, Camistrum, Augusta Kozloduy Marcianopolis Devnya Melta, Praesidium, Caesaria Lovech Menebria, Mesembria, Metropolis Nova Nesebar Montana, Municipium Montanensium Montana Nicopolis Nikopol Nicopolis ad Istrum Nikyup (20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo) Nicopolis ad Nestum, Neurocopia Gotse Delchev, Nevrokop Novae Svishtov Odessus¹ Varna Pautalia Kyustendil Peronticus, Agathopolis Ahtopol Ratiaria Archar Scaptopara Blagoevgrad Serdica Sofia Sexaginta Prista Ruse Stenimachus Asenovgrad Stipum Ihtiman Storgosia Pleven Trimontium, Philippopolis Plovdiv Ulpia Oescus, Palatiolum Gigen Valve Vratsa
Croatia
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Aenona (2PG15) Nin (Nona) Aequum (2PG15) Čitluk, near Sinj Split-Dalmatia County Albona Labin (Albona) Andautonia Ščitarjevo near Zagreb Aqua Balissae Daruvar Aqua Viva Petrijanec near Varaždin Aquama Čakovec Cibalae Vinkovci Epidaurus (2PG15), Epidauros Cavtat Flanona (2PG15) Plomin (Fianona) Flumen Rijeka (Fiume), (Terra Fluminis Sancti Viti) Iadera (2PG15: Iader) Zadar (Zara) Issa (2PG15) Vis (Lissa) Lopsica (2PG15) Sveti Juraj Marsonia Slavonski Brod Mursa Osijek Narona (2PG15) Vid, near Metković Neapolis-Aemonia Novigrad (Cittanova) Nesactium Vizače Oneum (2PG15: Onaeum) Omiš Parentium Poreč (Parenzo) Petina Pićan (Pedena) Pharus Hvar (Lesina) Piquentum Buzet (Pinguente) Pola Pula (Pola), Pulj Ragusa Dubrovnik (Ragusa) Rocium (or Rotium) Roč (Rozzo) Salona (2PG15) Solin (Salona) Scardona (2PG15) Skradin Senia (2PG15) Senj (Segna, Zengg) Siscia Sisak Spalatum Split (Spalato) Tarsatica (2PG15) Trsat (Tersatto) (near Rijeka) Tragurion (2PG15: Tragurium) Trogir (Traù) Vegium Karlobag
Greece
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Acharnae¹ Acharnes, Menidi Aegina Aegina Agrinium¹ Agrinio - Agrinion Alexandropolis¹ Alexandroupolis Almyrus¹ Almyros Amphilochia¹ Amphilochia Amphipolis¹ Amphipolis Amphissa¹ Amphissa - Amfissa Argos¹ Argos Atalanta Atalante - Atalanta Athenae¹ Athens Berroea Verroia - Berrea Carystus¹ Carystos - Carystus Cenchreae¹ Kechries - Cenchreae, near Corinth Chalcis¹ Chalkida, Euboea Corcyra³ Corfu Corinthus¹ Corinth Delphi¹ Delphi Dodona¹ Dodona Eleusis¹ Eleusis Epidaurus¹ Epidaurus Gythium Gytheion Heracleium¹ the port of Knossos, perhaps Amnisos, east of modern Iraklion, Crete (the name Iraklion/Herakleion for the medieval and modern city only dates from around 1900) Isthmia¹ Isthmia, slightly east of Corinth Laurium, (Thoricum before mid-1st century BC) Laurium - Laurion Leucas Lefkada - Lefkas - Leucas Marathon, Marathonis¹ Marathon Megalopolis¹ Megalopolis Megara Megara, west of Athens Mycenae Mycenae (Mykênes, Mykênai) Naupactus Na(u)fpaktos Nauplium¹ Na(u)fplion Nemea¹ Nemea Nicopolis¹ Nicopolis Nova Ionia (Athenae) Nea Ionia - New Ionia, Athens Nova Ionia (Thessalia) Nea Ionia - New Ionia, Thessaly Olympia¹ Olympia Olympias¹ Olympias - Olympiada Orchomenos¹ Orchomenus Paeania¹ Paiania - Paeania Patrae¹, Ares Patrensis Patras Phalerum Phaleron - Faliron Philippi Philippi Piraeus Piraeus Potidaea¹ Potidaea - Potidaia Salamis¹ Salamis Sparta¹ Sparta Tegea Tegea, near Tripoli Thebae (Boeotia/Athenae) Theva - Thebes Thermopylae¹ Thermopylae Thessalonica, Salonica¹ Thessaloniki, Saloniki - Salonika, Makedonia Tripolis Tripoli Troezen, Troezena¹ Troezen Uranopolis¹ Uranopoli - some prefer Uranopolis Zycanthus, Zacynthus¹ Zante - Zakynthos
Kosovo
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Theranda Prizren Ulpiana Lipjan Vicianum Vushtrri
Montenegro
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Acruvium Kotor Anagastum, Anderva, Anderba Nikšić Antipargal (Antibarium, 10th century) Bar Birziminium Podgorica (Titograd, Ribnica) Colchinium, Olcinium, Ulcinium Ulcinj D(i)oclea Duklja Rhizon (2PG15: Rhisium), Rhizinium, Risinium Risan
North Macedonia
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Lychnidus Ohrid Monasterium Bitola Scopium, Scupium Skopje Stibo, Estipium Štip
Romania
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Abruttus Abrud Aegyssus Tulcea Ad Aquas Călan Ad Mediam Mehadia Ad Pannonios Teregova Ad Stoma Brețcu Alburnus Maior Roșia Montană Altinum Oltina Ampelum Zlatna Angustia Râșnov Apulum Alba Iulia Arcidava Vărădia Arrubium Măcin Arutela Călimănești Bersobis, Berzobis Berzovia Brucla Aiud Calatis, Callatis Mangalia (Tomisovara), (Panglicara, Pangalia) Caput Stenarum Boița Carsium Hârșova Centum Putea Surducu Mare Cibinum Sibiu, Sibiu County Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa Corona, Civitas Coronensis Brașov, (Kronstadt, Brassó) Dierna Orșova Drobeta Drobeta-Turnu Severin Forum Novum Siculorum Târgu-Mureș, Mureș County Germisara Geoagiu Iassium Iași Media Mediaș, Sibiu County Micia Vețel Napoca, Claudiopolis Cluj-Napoca Noviodunum Isaccea, Tulcea County Porolissum Moigrad Potaissa Turda Praetorium Copăceni, Vâlcea County Resculum Bologa Romula-Malva Reșca Dobrosloveni Salinae Ocna Mureș Sucidava Celei Tapae Poarta de Fier a Transilvaniei Temesiensis Timișoara, Timiș County Tibiscum Jupa, Caraș-Severin Tomis Constanța Troesmis Iglița (Turcoaia) Ulmetum Pantelimonul de Sus, Constanța County Varadinum Oradea
Turkey
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Adrianopolis Edirne - Adrianople Byzantium Istanbul, Constantinople Constantinopolis Istanbul, Constantinople Roma Nova Istanbul, Constantinople
Serbia
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Acumincum Stari Slankamen - Slankamen Bassianae Donji Petrovci Bononia Banoštor Burgenae Novi Banovci Cusum Petrovaradin Lederata Rama Naissus Niš Neoplanta Novi Sad Remesiana Bela Palanka Rittium Surduk Semendria Smederevo Singidunum Belgrade (Beograd) Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica Taurunum Zemun Viminacium (2PG15: Iminacium) Kostolac
Slovenia
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) Ad Pirum Hrušica Aegida, Capris, Caput Histriae Koper (Capodistria) Arae Postumiae Postojna Atrans Trojane Carnium, Carnioburgum Kranj Castra Ajdovščina Celeia Celje Emona, Aemona, Labacum Ljubljana Lithopolis Kamnik Longaticum Logatec Marburgum Maribor Nauportus Vrhnika Neviodunum Drnovo Poetovio Ptuj Pyrrhanum Piran (Pirano)
See also Chemical elements named after places (several element names employ Latin place names) List of Latin place names used as specific names
References In order of likely publication:
PNH: Pliny (Gaius Plinius Secundus), Naturalis Historia; book "PNH" chapter (that is, "37PNH81" instead of the usual "N.H.xxxvii.81"). PG: Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus), Geographia; book "PG" chapter (that is, "2PG3" instead of the usual "II.3"). Ptolemy wrote in Greek, so names are transliterated back into Latin to reveal the original form. HLU: Hofmann, Johann Jacob (1635–1706): Lexicon Universale GOL: The standard reference to Latin placenames, with their modern equivalents, is Dr. J. G. Th. Grässe, Orbis Latinus: Lexikon lateinischer geographischer Namen des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit (1861), an exhaustive work of meticulous German scholarship that is available on-line in the second edition of 1909. To use it, one must understand German names of countries, as they were in 1909. The original was re-edited and expanded in a multi-volume edition in 1972.
External links Droysens, Allgemeiner historischer Handatlas Grässe, Orbis Latinus Grässe, Orbis Latinus Hofmann: Lexicon Universale Place Names of Europe Pliny the Elder: the Natural History Ptolemy: the Geography