It is unclear whether Aurelian or the Emperor Diocletian replaced Dacia Aureliana with two provinces, but by 285, there were two: – Dacia Mediterranea with its capital at "Serdica" and Dacia Ripensis with its capital at "Ratiaria". As the capital of the new province Ratiaria served both as the seat of the military governor (or dux) and as the military base for the Roman legion XIII "Gemina". Later these two “Dacias” along with Dardania, Moesia Inferior and Praevalitana constituted the Diocese of Dacia. An important bishop’s cathedra was established in the town in the 4rd century AD. The city became an important Christian centre in the 4th century and several bishops are recorded. Palladius of Ratiaria, an Arian Christian theologian, lived here in the late 4th century. Rebuilding works were done under Anastasius I, celebrated in the new town’s name, "Anastasiana Ratiaria". Priscus calls it a prosperous city in the 5th century. In AD 586 the town was sacked by the Avars. Archaeological excavations of the site began in 1958 and have continued sporadically since then. As provincial capital of Dacia Ripensis, it also was the Metropolitan archdiocese, yet was to fade. The archdiocese was nominally restored in 1925 as a Latin Catholic titular archbishopric of the highest (Metropolitan) rank. The incumbent is Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, having the following previous incumbents: