Cyrenaica

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The Roman Empire ca. 120 AD, with the province of Cyrenaica highlighted

Cyrenaica or Cirenaica (Arabic: برقه, pronounced as: Barqah, see Barqah) is the eastern coastal region of Libya and also an ex-province or State ("muhafazah" or "wilayah") of the country (alongside Tripolitania and Fezzan) in an old system of administrative divisions which was abolished in the early 1970s in favour of a system of smaller-size municipality or "baladiyat" (singular "baladiyah"). The "Baladiyat"-system was subsequently changed many times and has lately become "Sha'biyat"-system. What used to be Cyrenaica in the old system is now divided up into several "Sha'biyat", see administrative divisions in Libya. In addition to the eastern coastal region, the ex-Province extended to the south to include South Eastern Libya which has not always been part of historical Cyrenaica (it was not part of Ottoman Cyrenaica for example, hence the restriction to coastal areas in some definitions and maps like the ones on the top of this article). However on maps dating back to prior to the abolishment of the old system and showing the administrative divisions of Libya during the Kingdom, Italian or Ottoman eras (e.g. [1]), Cyrenaica represents the eastern half of Libya (the western half being shared by Tripolitania and Fezzan as seen in the linked map).

The name Cyrenaica is obviously derived from Cyrene a historical city around which the region has evolved), the Arabic name (برقه , pronounced "Barqah" is similar to Barca and might also be related to Barneek or Berenice, old names of Benghazi, capital of the region in modern times.

Kufra, a vital oasis for overland travel is situated amid the desertous southern part of the ex-Province of Cyrenaica.

1 Ancient history
2 Muslim and modern history
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Ancient history

Cyrenaica was a Roman province on the northern coast of Africa between Egypt and Numidia; In antiquity, it had been an area heavily colonised by the Greeks. That area is now the eastern part of the Mediterranean coast of Libya.

The east of the province was called Marmarica (no major city), but the important part was in the west, comprizing five cities, hence known as the Pentapolis— Cyrene (near the village of Shahat) with its port of Apollonia (Marsa Susa), Arsinoe (Tocra), Berenice (modern Benghazi) and Barca (Merj)— of which the chief was the eponymous Cyrene. After the earthquake of 365 the capital was moved to Ptolemais. In the south Cyrenaica faded into the Saharan tribal areas, including the pharaonic oracle Ammonium.

Conquered by Alexander the Great, it passed to the diadoch dynasty of the Lagids, better known as the Ptolemaic dynasty. It briefly gained independence under Magas, stepson of Ptolemy I Soter, but was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic empire after the death of Magas. It was separated from the main kingdom by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion, who, dying without heirs in 96 BC, bequeathed it to the Roman Republic. It became a senatorial province in 20 BC, like its far more prominent western neighbour Africa proconsularis, unlike Egypt itself which became an imperial domain sui generis (under a special governor style Praefectus Augustalis) in 30 BC.

Although some confusion exists as to the exact territory Rome inherited, by 78 BC it was organised as one administrative province with Crete.

The kings of Cyrenaica were:

Battus I 632- 600 BC
Arcesilaus I 600-c. 583
Battus II Eudaemon 583- 554
Arcesilaus II the Cruel 554- 550
Learchus the Usurper 550
Battus III the Lame 550-c. 525
Under the Achaemenid Empire 525-440
Arcesilaus III 530-515
Battus IV the Handsome 515-465
Arcesilaus IV. 465-460

The Tetrarchy reforms of Diocletian in 296 changed all of the administrative structure. Cyrenaica was split into two provinces: Libya superior comprized the abvementioned Pentapolis, Libya Inferior Marmarica (only significant city now the port Paraetonium), each under a governor of the modest rank of praeses. Both belonged to the same diocese (originally as part of Oriens) as Egypt itself (from the start three provinces, later more), within the praetorian prefecture of Oriens (also comprizing Oriens proper -mainly Syria- and, both in Asia Minor, Asiana and Pontiana). Its western neighbour Tripolitania, the largest split-off from Africa proconsularis, became part of Africa, a diocese of the western emperor's home prefecture "Italia et Africa"

Under Byzantium it remained the westernmost regular area in North Africa, while Tripolitania was part of the more militarized prefecture -later exarchate- Africa (reconquered from the Arian Vandal kingdom).

[edit] Muslim and modern history

Marble statue found in Cyrene, Libya

Cyrenaica was conquered by the Islamic Arabs by the first caliph, Abu Bekr, in 643/44, and became known as Barka after its new provincial capital, the ancient Barca. After the breakdown of the Ummayad caliphate, it was essentially annexed to Egypt, although still under the same name, under the Fatimid caliphs and later under the Ayyubid and Mamluk sultanates.

Ultimately, it was annexed by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1517 (it was mentioned in the full style of the Great Sultan as the vilayet of Barka, alongside Tripoli, with which it had been joined); its main cities became Bengazi and Derna.

The Italians occupied Cyrenaica during the Italo-Turkish War in 1911 and declared the protectorate of Cirenaica on 15 October 1912,. Three days later, the Ottoman Empire officially ceded the province to Italy. On 17 May 1919, Cirenaica was established as an Italian colony, and, on 25 October 1920, the Italian government recognized Sheikh Sidi Idriss as the leader of the Senussi, who was granted the rank of Emir until in 1929, when Italy derecognized him and the Senussi.

On 1 January 1934, Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan were united as the Italian colony of Libya.