Macedonia (Roman province)

Provincia Macedoniae
Επαρχια Μακεδονιας
Province of the Roman Empire
146 BC–7th century
The province of Macedonia within the Roman Empire, ca. 117 AD
Capital Thessalonica
in Late Antiquity: Thessalonica (Macedonia Prima) and Stobi (Macedonia Salutaris)[1]
Historical era Antiquity
 - Established after the Fourth Macedonian War 146 BC
 - Balkan interior raided by Slavs 7th century

The Roman province of Macedonia (Latin: Provincia Macedoniae, Greek: Επαρχία Μακεδονίας) was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon, the last Ancient King of Macedon in 148 BC, and after the four client republics ("tetrarchy") established by Rome in the region were dissolved. The province incorporated ancient Macedon, Epirus, Thessaly, and parts of Illyria, Paeonia and Thrace.

Contents

Description

Organization

After the reforms of Diocletian in the late 3rd century, Epirus Vetus was split off, and sometime in the 4th century, the province of Macedonia itself was divided into Macedonia Prima in the south and Macedonia Salutaris in the north. These provinces were all subordinate to the Diocese of Macedonia, one of three dioceses which were included in the praetorian prefecture of Illyricum, organized in 318. When the Prefecture was divided between the Western and Eastern Empires in 379, the Macedonian provinces were included in Eastern Illyricum. With the permanent division of the Empire in 395, Macedonia passed to the East, which would evolve into the Byzantine Empire.

Epirus Vetus

Epirus vetus or Old Epirus was a province in the Roman Empire that corresponded to the region of Epirus. Between 146 BC and 395, it was incorporated into the Roman province of Macedonia.The capital[2] of Epirus vetus was Nicopolis, a city founded by Octavian in memory of his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium.

Epirus Nova

Epirus nova or New Epirus or Illyria Graeca[3][4][5] or Illyris proper was a province of the Roman Empire established by Diocletian (244-311) during his restructuring of provincial boundaries. The province, belonged to the Roman province of Macedonia.[6][7] Later it became a theme[8] of the Byzantine empire. Dyrrachium (or Epidamnus) was established as the capital of Epirus nova.[9] The region of Epirus Nova corresponded[10] to a part of Illyria that was now was partly Hellenic[11] and partly Hellenized.[12] The area was the line of division[13] between the provinces of Illyricum and Macedonia.The area suffered from terrible earthquakes.

The Ostrogoths led by Theodoric were stopped in Epirus nova by Sabinianus.[14] They entered in 479, where they remained until 482.[15]

Macedonia Prima

Macedonia Salutaris

Economy

The reign of Augustus began a long period of peace, prosperity and wealth for Macedonia, although its importance in the economic standing of the Roman world diminished when compared to its neighbor, Asia Minor.

The economy was greatly stimulated by the construction of the Via Egnatia, the installation of Roman merchants in the cities, and the founding of Roman colonies. The Imperial government brought, along with its roads and administrative system, an economic boom, which benefited both the Roman ruling class and the lower classes. With vast arable and rich pastures, the great ruling families amassed huge fortunes in the society based on slave labor.

The improvement of the living conditions of the productive classes brought about an increase in the number artisans and craftspeople to the region. Stonemasons, miners, blacksmiths, etc. were employed in every kind of commercial activity and craft. Greek people were also widely employed as tutors, educators and doctors throughout the Roman world.

The export economy was based essentially on agriculture and livestock, while iron, copper, and gold along with such products as timber, resin, pitch, hemp, flax and fish were also exported. Another source of wealth was the kingdom's ports, such as Dion, Pella, Thessalonica, Cassandreia.[16]

Notable individuals

Citizens

Saints and Clerics

Writers

Physicians

See also

References

  1. ^ A Companion to Ancient Macedonia, By Joseph Roisman and Ian Worthington, page 549
  2. ^ The visible past: Greek and Roman history from archaeology 1960-1990 by Michael Grant, 1990, ISBN 0-684-19124-5, page 98
  3. ^ The Loeb Editor's Notes, 28 Nova Epirus or Illyris Graeca
  4. ^ A new classical dictionary of Greek and Roman biography, mythology, and geography: partly based upon the Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology by Sir William Smith,1851,page 392
  5. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia - Durazzo
  6. ^ Handbook of Ancient Geography and History by Ptz Wilhelm, ISBN 1-113-19974-1, The (734) southern portion, or Illyria Graeca, belonged to the province of Macedonia.
  7. ^ Atlas of Classical History by R. Talbert, 1989, page 175: "... divided the diocese of Moesia into two, styled Thracia and Macedonia, the latter consisting of the provinces from Epirus Nova and Macedonia southward. But there is evidence that Constantine considered ..."
  8. ^ Encyclopedia of ancient Greece by Nigel Guy Wilson, 2006, ISBN 0-415-97334-1, page 246
  9. ^ Hendry, p. 299. The geography is entirely correct for Servius' time, since Diocletian's rearrangement of provincial boundaries included the creation of the province of Epirus Nova out of southern Illyricum with Dyrrachium (=Epidamnus) as its capital.
  10. ^ Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992,ISBN 0-631-19807-5,Page 210
  11. ^ American journal of philology, Τόμοι 98-99, by JSTOR (Organization), Project Muse, 1977, page 263, the partly Hellenic and partly Hellenized Epirus Nova
  12. ^ American journal of philology, Τόμοι 98-99, by JSTOR (Organization), Project Muse,1977, page 263, the partly Hellenic and partly Hellenized Epirus Nova
  13. ^ Migrations and invasions in Greece and adjacent areas by Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, 1976, ISBN 0-8155-5047-2, page 54: The line of division between Illyricum and the Greek area Epirus nova
  14. ^ A history of the Ostrogoths by Thomas S. Burns,1991,ISBN 0-253-20600-6,page 63
  15. ^ Epirus Vetus: The Archaeology of a Late Antique Province (Duckworth Archaeology) by William Bowden, 2003, ISBN 0-7156-3116-0, 2003, page 196
  16. ^ Macedonia - Province of the Roman Empire
  17. ^ Amphiareion — ca. 80-50 BC Epigraphical Database
  18. ^ *ref www.phl.uoc.gr/eulimene/eulimene03.pdf