With the emergence of the grandiose empire, the Romans thought about its protection. A protective zone, the so-called limes, oriented to the north, was created along the thousands of miles of the border from Britain to Asia, whereby the present day Bulgarian lands were in the Lower Danubian part. That was a defence with a deep echelon structure, in which the fortified cities built played the principal role. The names of dozens of such fortified settlements are known, notably Ratiaria, Oescus, Novae, latrus, and others. They all emerged in the same way: the families of soldiers, merchants and artisans gradually settled near the main camp of a stationed legion, cohort or some auxiliary military unit. Strong fortification walls were built to protect the cities, and their layout followed the typical Roman pattern with straight streets, a central square (forum) with beautiful porticos and statues, public baths, and various representative and public buildings. Many of the cities further inland, as well as the fortified cities along the Danube, were subordinated to the defence concept. These are Abritus (Razgrad), Storgosia (Pleven), Marcianopolis (Devnya) and the settlement of the First Italic Legion: Nicopolis ad Istrum. The settlements in the southern parts of the present-day Bulgarian lands were not so militarised. Many emperors built cities there, naming them after themselves: Diocletianopolis (Hissar) and Augusta Traiana (Stara Zagora). In spite of these precautions, the empire proved to be vulnerable. The first barbarians - the Goths - penetrated across the Lower Danubian limes already back in the 3rd century, benefiting from the unstable domestic situation. They burnt down many cities, including to the south of the Balkan Range. In practice, there was no inaccessible place for them in the Balkan Peninsula.A certain stabilisation was achieved towards the end of the 3rd and in the first half of the 4th century as a result of internal reforms and following the adoption of the new religion: Christianity. The capital was transferred to Constantinople, which predetermined a leading position of the central parts of the Balkan Peninsula. However, the Great Migration started in the second half of the 4th century, and the empire suffered severe blows. The lands to the south of the Danube were most affected by the incursions of Goths and Huns.

In 395 AD, the state finally split into western and eastern half. On 24 August 410, the Westgoths led by Alarich conquered the great Rome and abolished the independence of the western part of the empire. However, the Eastern Roman Empire continued to exist as the Byzantine Empire all the way until 29 May 1453, which predetermined to a great extent the development of the mediaeval Bulgarian state.

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» Thrace under the reign of Roman Empire
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