Roman Province

Map of the provinces of the Roman Empire in 116.

Provinces in the ancient Rome are territorial subdivisions.

They appear during the Punic wars , when the Roman Republic extends beyond the Italian peninsula, and the number of Roman provinces will then cease to grow. At the end of the Republic as under the Roman Empire, the provinces are the largest administrative division of territory. Their number reached forty under the Severi. Diocletian , under the tetrarchy , deep reform of territorial administration of the Empire, by multiplying the number of provinces and creating a superior entity to the provinces, dioceses.

Originally provincia (pl. provinciae) means the territory within which the Roman Senate authorizes a superior magistrate (a consul or praetor ) to exercise his imperium , that is to say, its power of military command (pro-oee "to conquer").

Provincia can not be reduced that the area: the governors of all provinces have their imperium over their province and they can bring their army in a different province ^{Under the Roman Republic}

From 227 BC. AD , the term provincia takes the meaning of a command outside of Italy and one of possession of land outside the peninsula. The provinces are organized under a Lex provincialis, given by the victorious Roman general.

Initially, the government is assigned to a lender chosen by the Roman people, for one year. Then governors are appointed judges out of office, which are created promagistratures : propraetors and proconsuls. In 81 BC. BC , Sulla restricted only to provincial governments promagistrats.

The function is not paid, but nevertheless it brings money. Are being abused and lead to lawsuits like the Sicilians against Verres , or revolts as Asia.

List of provinces created under the Republic

Under the Roman Republic, the provinces are either governed by propraetors or by proconsuls. PP means the provinces called "proprtoriennes senatorial" provinces and PC called "senatorial proconsular"

Roman Empire

Under the Principate of Augustus , on 16 January 27 BC. BC , the provinces are divided between the emperor and the Senate , in imperial provinces (provinciae Caesar) and senatorial provinces (Senatus and provinciae populi).

Over the territorial acquisitions of divisions of the provinces, the new provinces are divided between these two authorities. The Senate is seen traditionally attributed formerly pacified provinces, which saves its prerogatives. The emperor, holder of military power (imperium majus) reserves the provinces near the borders of the empire that require the presence of the legions. It happens several times that the provincial allocation change: thus the Betic , initially entrusted to the emperor, is surrendered to the Roman people to 16 / 13 av. AD

Provinces of the Roman people (called "Senate")

The provinces that Augustus does not take credit in 27 BC. AD are often called "Senate" as de facto management depends essentially on the Senate. The official name is actually appropriate and that "provinces of the Roman people," the Senate representing the elite of all citizens. In 27 BC. These provinces are pacified AD, devoid of Legions, their safety is ensured by the glaze of the new imperial provinces. Only Africa is an exception, keeping a legion in the province of Africa proconsul.

The governors of the provinces of the Roman people are promagistrats (that is to say, former senior judges, senators always) appointed for one year by the Senate with the title of proconsul or propraetor. The allocation of these provinces is by random draw in the Senate, but it is not uncommon for the emperor intervened to break an appointment or influence an appointment. Most provinces of the Roman people were headed by a propraetor, but Africa - known as "proconsul Africa - and Asia - called" Asian proconsul "- the richest, are governed by a proconsul. The prestige of these two provinces, and broad enrichment opportunities they represent, were in positions to end career of choice: the Government of Africa or Asia in general s'obtientt fifteen years after the consulate , and is the top of the career of a senator, with the prefecture of the City.

The Governor is assisted by one or more pro legatus Praetor (legate pro-praetor) of rank questorien (that is to say the senators are appointed by the Senate, too). The Emperor appoints nevertheless procurators in these provinces for the management of personal domains, the collection of certain taxes and mine management. Tax revenues from these provinces, very prosperous for the most part, fueling the treasure of the Senate, the aerarium Saturni , which further contributes to Augustus to reconcile the Senate.

List of senatorial provinces

On the death of Augustus (in 14 ):

• Proconsular provinces: Africa and Asia.
• Proprtoriennes Provinces: Achaea , Betic , Bithynia - Bridge , Cyprus , Cyrenaica - Crete , Macedonia , Narbonne and Sicily.

The Lycian is incorporated into the Roman Empire by Emperor Claude in 43 and met with Pamphylia. This new province became Senate.

The province of Thrace was established in 46 when the last independent Thracian kingdom was annexed to the death of King Roemetalks III. First entrusted to governors procurators, and therefore "senatorial province, the province of Thrace is then assigned to praetorian legates.

The province of Bithynia - Bridge becomes a province of imperial 135.

Septimius Severus divided the province of African proconsul and created the Numidia , imperial province.

At the advent of Septimius Severus (in 193 ):

• Proconsular provinces: Africa and Asia.
• Proprtoriennes Provinces: Achaea , Betic , Cyprus , Cyrenaica - Crete , Macedonia , Narbonne , Lycia - Pamphylia and Sicily.

Imperial Provinces

Recent, ill or submitted at the borders of the Empire, have garrisons and armies complete, and the governors (the " legates of Augustus ") representing the emperor. The allocation of the various provinces Legates is the whim of the emperor, but nonetheless meets certain rules:

• The governor's office has no set time, and the emperor may shorten or extend at will. We observe however that the usual period at the head of a province is three years.
• In larger provinces, especially in the richest or those with substantial forces, the legate of Augustus is usually a senator and has the title of legate propraetor (Legatus Augusti pro Praetor). In general, provinces with little or no militarized or having only a single legion, are governed by a legate of praetorian rank propraetor (this is the case in the three provinces of Gaul or Lusitania ), while the provinces with two or more legions are governed by a legate of consular rank propraetor (this is the case in the two provinces of Germany or in Pannonia ).
• The smaller provinces, considered less important and less Romanized, which does not count but only legions of volunteer forces are governed by a knight , bearing up under Claude title of prefect, and eventually that of procurator or praeses. These provinces are said to rank procuratorien or riding (it's the case for Noricum or Rhaetia , at least during the greater part of the Roman Empire). Unlike senators, the prefect or procurator equestrian lacks ius gladii (right to life and death over Roman citizens), unless authorized by the emperor.
• Egypt is a special case: since Actium ( 31 BC. ), it is considered a personal domain of the emperor. It is governed by a prefect of equestrian rank ( prefect of Egypt ), both governor and commander of the legions. Senators are barred from Egypt.
• Often the imperial provinces rank change, especially at the option of military needs: thus Noricum , province procuratorienne becomes a praetorian province legion in 169 , during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

List of imperial provinces

On the death of Augustus (in 14 ):

• Consular provinces: Dalmatia , Hispania Hither , Moesia , Pannonia , Syria.
• Praetorian provinces: Aquitaine , Belgium , Galatia , Lusitania and Lyon.
• Provincial Riding: grated Alps , Maritime Alps , Pennine Alps , Corsica and Sardinia , Judea , Noricum and Rhaetia.
• Special case: Egypt.

At the advent of Septimius Severus (in 193 ):

• Consular provinces: Britain , Cappadocia , Dalmatia , Germania Inferior , Germania Superior , Hispania Hither , Lower Moesia , Moesia Superior , Lower Pannonia , Pannonia Superior , Three Dacies , Syria and Syria-Palestine.
• Praetorian provinces: Numidia , Lusitania , Aquitaine , Lyon , Belgium , Noricum , Rhaetia , Thrace , Bithynia - Bridge , Cilicia , Galatia and Saudi.
• Equestrian provinces: Alpes Cottian , grated Alps , Alpes-Maritimes , Pennine Alps , Corsica and Sardinia , Epirus , Mauretania cesarean and Mauretania Tingitane.
• Special case: Egypt.

Planning

The administrative division of the provinces is completed by the organization of those networks required for communication: drawing new Roman roads , creation under Augustus a network of post imperial ( cursus publicus ). Finally, the emperors ADJUST these territories by many foundations of colonies.

Creation of new provinces

The creation of new provinces can be done in two ways: by conquest (eg that of Britain from the reign of Claude and dismemberment of existing provinces (eg the breakup of Moesia under Domitian ).

After Septimius Severus , there is no creation province by conquest, the creations are done by the dismemberment of existing provinces. Septimius Severus and split into two provinces that have the strongest armies (three legions): the Syria and Britain. It also creates the provinces of Osrhoene ( 195 ) and Mesopotamia ( 198 ) after he led military expeditions in the East and which led him to take the capital of the Parthians , Ctesiphon , on 28 January 198.

Late Antiquity

Diocletian proceeded to a division of provinces across the whole empire to 303. For example, the Lyon Gaul is divided (in two stages) in four provinces (Lyons I, II and III and IV), the Belgian Gaul is in two provinces (I and II). This new system results in an increase in the number of Roman provinces: about 120 in ^fifth century

Reorganization of the provincial system in the Lower Empire

The system of imperial and senatorial provinces forms a relatively small administrative framework, where the provincial cities enjoy broad autonomy. Adequate when the pax romana reign, he proved problematic during the crisis of the third century : tax and supplying the troops have to increase their performance, and other representatives of the Senate does not show, with few exceptions, the zeal and military skill expected to face the barbarians. Like many Roman reforms, change is gradual and pragmatic:

• Gallienus ( 260 - 268 ) limit of increasing access to positions of senators legacy of imperial province, and removes the command of the legions. The legati Augusti, proconsuls or propraetors are increasingly replaced by vice praeses of equestrian rank.
• In 275 , Tacitus appointed emperor by the Roman Senate , reverse the trend and gives senators the right to govern the provinces as imperial proconsul.
• In 282 , Carus resumed the policy of Gallienus excluding senators from provincial governments.

Diocletian makes a complete reorganization of the provincial system:

• It completely separates the civilian administration, headed by a civil governor and military commander, assigned to a dux or an edible , both dependent on the emperor and not the Senate.
• He divided the provinces into smaller units, almost doubling their number exceeds 100.
• Diocletian's administrative system is finally organized in a pattern at three levels:
  • At the lowest level, the provinces.
  • At the intermediate level, the dioceses , numbering 12, which includes the provinces.
  • At the top level, the praetorian prefectures , the number of 4, a group of dioceses.
• The imperial administration approaches the ground, the price of an explosion in the number of its officials.
• The provinces are entrusted with regard to civil administration, or a consular (consular former Senator) or to a praeses (Knight). Some provinces are under the authority of a corrector of lesser rank. Some retain an essentially military administration, the functions of comes or dux praeses and being confused. Finally, three provinces (Africa, Asia and Achaia) are left in a Senate administration proconsul dependent: as such, they are actually located outside the diocese. Rome about it (with its immediate surroundings) remains under the authority of the Prefect of the City, senator of consular rank.

See also

References

Internal Links

• Roman Governor
• List of Roman provinces
• Diocese (Ancient Rome)

• Ancient Rome portal

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