The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus (232-282) secured the Rhine and Danube lines in his battles against the Franks, Alemanni, Burgundians, Vandals and Goths. In 280, he lifted the ban imposed by Emperor Domitian (51-96) in 92 on planting vines in the provinces outside Italy. In the "Historia Augusta" it is mentioned: Gallis omnibus et Hispanis ac Brittannis hinc permisit, ut vites haberent vinumque conficerent (He allowed all Gauls, Spaniards and Britons to own vines and produce wine).
In Germany and Austria, he is regarded as the founder of viticulture and is even considered to be one of the gods of wine. In the 19th district of Vienna in Grinzing (where there are many wine taverns ), an alley is named after him. The mosaic shown in the picture on the left can be seen on a house there. His achievements have been exaggerated, but he promoted and positively influenced viticulture throughout Europe with various measures.
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For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien