Novae was initially one of the few great Roman legionary fortresses along the empire's border, forming part of the defences (limes Moesiae) along the Danube in northern Bulgaria.

The legionary fortress (castra legionis) covers an area of 18 hectares on a slope towards the river-bank, its highest point in the southern part of the site being 30m higher.

[1] Marcus Licinius Crassus fought a successful campaign against the Moesi[2] and Augustus formally proclaimed victory in 27 BC.

[3] Around 45 AD Legio VIII Augusta took part in the suppression of the Thracian uprising,[4] and founded its fortress at Novae.

During the Dacian wars of Domitian (85–89) Novae did not suffer significant damage, which may indicate that the main operations took place in the western and eastern part of the province.

The last period of prosperity was during the reign of Justinian (527–565) when the defensive walls were rebuilt and reinforced, but the attacks of Slavs and Avars eventually end the existence of the ancient town.

[13] A splendid villa to the west of the defensive walls, within the canabae, could have been an official residence was destroyed by the Gothic invasions in mid-3rd century.

[14] The area to the south-east and east of the fortress was occupied by the necropolis, which was recently excavated.,[15] while the military amphitheater is postulated on the north-eastern side of the camp.

[17] During the late Roman period the town was enlarged by a new line of defensive walls and covered 26 hectares jointly with the former legionary base.

[24][25] One hypothesis derives the name from Νόης Nóēs, a river mentioned by Herodotus, which is then identified with the stream (now variously known as Dermendere, Tekirdere, Golyamata Bara, or Belyanovsko Dere) at whose mouth the fortress was located.