Illyricum

• Illyricum was a Roman Province between 27 BCE and c.79 CE, after which it was divided into Dalmatia and Pannonia.
• It was located in the territory of modern Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina.

1. History

• Pre-Roman history:
• Illyrian Wars (229-168 BCE)
  • The Illyrian Wars (229-168 BCE) were three wars fought between the Roman Republic and the Illyrian Tribes on the coasts of modern Croatia, to protect Rome’s Eastern Frontier.
  • They were fought inbetween the Punic Wars (264-146 BCE)
  • First Illyrian War (229-228 BCE)
    • Between the Roman Republic and Queen Teuta of the Ardiaei Kingdom.
  • Second Illyrian War (220-219 BCE)
    • Demetrios built a fleet of 90 vessels, and as the Roman Republic was commencing the Second Punic War, he went on the attack. He was eventually defeated by a Roman Fleet under the Roman Consul Lucius Aemilius Paulus. Demetrios fled to Philip V of Macedon.
  • Third Illyrian War (169-167 BCE)
    • King Gentius of Illyria was a Roman Ally against King Perseus of Macedon. He then changed sides and sacked Appollonia and Dyrrhachium which were allies of Rome. The Roman Consul L. Anicius Gallus then defeated Gentius, and brought him back to Rome where he was displayed in his Roman Triumph.
  • Between 167-27 BCE, the Romans conducted Campaigns against Germanic Tribes who were either invading Illyricum or from the region.
• Acquisition by Rome:
  • Augustus officially created the Province in 27 BCE and divided it into Upper Illyricum and Lower Illyricum.
• Timeline of this Province:
• Under The Republic:
• After Augustus’ reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
  • Vespasian (69-79 CE) divided Illyricum into Dalmatia and Pannonia Superior and Pannonia Inferior.
• After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE):
  • Diocletian reconstituted the Prefecture of Illyricum to include the whole Balkan Peninsular.
• After the death of Theodosius (395 CE) and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
  • The Prefecture of Illyricum joined the Eastern Empire and survived until the 7th century CE.
• Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Six Roman Emperors:
    • Aurelian, Claudius II, Constantine I, Diocletian, Anastasius I Justinian I
• Chief archeological Finds:
• Historic Battle Sites:
• Main Historical Sources for this Province:

2. Geography

• Capital City:
  • Salona (Solin near Split)
• Chief Cities:
  • Zadar (Lader), Nerona (near Metkovic), Epidaurum, Cavtat near Dubrovnik.
• Location Today:
  • Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina.
• Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Noricum, Italia, Moesia Superior.
• Climate and Temperature Today:
• Main Geographical features:
• Main Rivers:
• Mountain Ranges:
• Islands:

3. Political Organisation

• Imperial Province
  • Propraetorial Province List
• Governor:
  • Propraetor
    • Publius Cornelius Dolabella
• Tribes and Population:
  • Illyrians, Pannonians.
• Language:
  • Illyrian, Celtic

4. Military Organisation

• Legions:
• Navy:
• Defensive Works:
• Main Threats:

5. Economy

• Chief Exports:
• Agriculture and Fishing:
• Manufacturing:
• Mines:
• Mints:

6. Transport

• Roads:
• Waterways:
• Ports:
• Ancient Trade Routes:
• Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

• Illuyricum protected Italy from Invasions from the East, and was also an important source of soldiers for the Roman Army.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

• St. Paul travelled here in 57 CE and described Illyricum in his ‘Epistle to the Romans’ in the New Testament.

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

• Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) described the districts of Illyricum.

Illyricum (capital Salona)