Dalmatia

  • Dalmatia was a Roman Province formed from Illyricum in 10 BCE.
  • It was located in modern Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the Balkans.

1. History

  • Pre-Roman history:
    • Dalmatia is named after the Dalmatae, an Illyrian tribe.
    • Between 4th century BCE to 168 BCE, it was the Kingdom of Illyria.
    • In 180 BCE it was under King Gentius.
  • Acquisition by Rome:
    • 229-168 BCE The Illyrian Wars against the Illyrian tribes and Pirates, who were allied to the Carthaginians against Rome.
    • 219 BCE Demetrius built a war fleet of 90 ships and was a major threat until forced to flee to Philip V of Macedon.
  • Illyricum (168 BCE-10 CE)
    • 168 BCE Annexation of Illyria, formation of Province of Illyricum.
    • 156 BCE Military occupation leading to payment of Tribute.
    • 32-27 BCE Province of Illyricum established.
    • 6-9 CE The Great Illyrian Revolt: The Last Dalmatian Revolt was quelled by Tiberius, after one hundred years of rebellion. 10 Legions and 10 Auxilia sent to the Province, partly from Germany. In 9 CE Varus lost 3 German legions across the Rhine, against Arminius. The situation for Rome would have been disastrous had Arminius been able to form an alliance with the Illyrians and invade Italy.
  • Dalmatia
    • 10 CE Illyricum was split into Dalmatia and Pannonia.
  • Timeline of this Province:
  • After Augustus reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
  • After Diocletian’s Reforms of 297 CE:
  • After the death of Theodosius in 395 CE, and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
    • 480-535 CE Occupied by the Goths, under Odoacer and the Ostrogoths under Theodoric the Great.
    • 535 CE It became part of the Byzantine Empire.
  • Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Chief archeological Finds:
  • Historic Battle Sites:

2. Geography

  • Capital City:
  • Chief Cities:
    • Trsat (Tarsatica), (Senuj (Senia), Karlobag (Vegium), Nin, (Aenona in Croatia), Zadar (Lader), Skradin (Scardona), Trogir (Tragurium), Citluk (Aequum), Split (Aspalathos), Omis (Oneum), Vis (Issa), Hvar (Pharus), Blaga (Bona), Korcula (Corcyra Nigra), Vid (Narona in Croatia), Cavtat (Epidaurus), Risan (Rhizinium), Kotor (Acruvium), Ulcinj (Olcinium), Schkoder (Scodra).
  • Location Today:
    • Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Balkans.
  • Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Climate and Temperature Today:
    • The Coast has a Mediterranean Climate with Hot, Dry Summers with Temperatures between 20-30°C. Winters are Mild and Wet with Temperatures around 5°C.
    • The Interior has a Continental Climate with Winter Temperatures below 0°C and with heavy snowfalls. Summers experience upper 30°C.
    • Winds: The Bura. Strong northeasterly wind blowing towards the coast near Zadar. Can blow up to 100 mph (160kph) and disrupt shipping.
  • Main Geographical features:
    • The Route from the Adriatic connects with the Pannonian Plain via two Passes through the Dinaric Alps:
      • The Vratnik Pass, 2,296 ft (700m) between Senj and Brinje.
      • The Kapela Pass, between Brinje and Modrus
  • Main Rivers:
    • R. Sava, R. Drava, drain into the R. Danube. R. Kupa, R. Bosut, R. Korana.
  • Mountain Ranges:
    • Dinaric Alps:
      • The Highest is Mt. Procletije, 8,832 ft (2,692m) The Range is named after Mt. Dinara 6,276 ft (1913m).
      • These alps stretch along the Croatian Coast for 400 miles (645km) in a northwest to southeast direction.
  • Islands:
    • The Dalmatian coast has over one thousand Islands (1,185).
    • From north to south:
      • Brijuni Islands, Krk Island, Cres island, Susak Island, Losinj Island, Rab Island, The Zadar Archipelago (hundreds of islands), Olib Island, Molat island, Dugi Otok Island, Pasman Island, Kornati Islands (130), Silba Island, The Sibenik Archipelago (250), Brac Island, Hvar Island, Vis Island. Korcula Island, Island Lastovo, Mljet Island and Elafiti Islands.

3. Political Organisation

  • Province Type:
  • Governor:
  • Tribes and Population:
    • Illyrian Tribes, Liburnian Tribes.
  • Language:
    • Illyrian (An Indo-European Language)
    • Liburnian (extinct) and Latin.

4. Military Organisation:

5. Economy

  • Chief Exports:
    • Gold, Silver.
  • Agriculture and Fishing:
    • Very little agriculture as Roman Historians remarked on the absence of vines.
    • Snails: Illyrian snails were famous in Italy.
    • Salt
    • Fishing
  • Manufacturing:
  • Mines:
    • Gold Mines of Bosnia
      • Gold was found from 54-68 CE, and produced an annual output of 20,250,000 Denarii.
    • Silver Mines
      • In eastern Bosnia and northwestern Serbia, Argentica (Srebrenica) and Domavia (nr.Gradina) in the mountains above the Jadar valley.
  • Mints:
    • A Byzantine Mint existed at Salona between 474-481 CE.

6. Transport

  • Roads:
  • Waterways:
    • Many Rivers which drain into the Danube.
  • Ports:
  • Ancient Trade Routes:
    • Josephina Road
      • This was a Salt Road connecting the Baltic with the Pannonian Plain via two Passes through the Dinaric Alps:
      • Vratnik Pass 2,296 ft (700m) between Senj and Brinje.
      • Kapela Pass 2,910 ft (887m) between Brinje and Modrus
  • Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

  • It was a strategic Province which overlooked the Sea Lanes out of Northeastern Italy and controlled the Mountain Passes into Pannonia and the Danube.
  • It was continually threatened by Sea Invasions during the Roman Republic and therefore it came under close supervision.
  • The Liburnian Galley is named after the ships of an Illyrian Tribe from the district of Liburnia.
  • From the third to sixth Century CE it was an important source of recruits into the Roman Army.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

 

Dalmatia (capital Salona)

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