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{{Short description|Group of Roman emperors}} {{Short description|Group of Roman emperors}}
] of the Western Balkans]] ] of the Western Balkans]]
The '''''Illyriciani''''' or '''Illyrian emperors''' were a group of ]s during the ] who were of ] origins and hailed from the region of ] (in the Western ]), and were raised chiefly from the ranks of the ] (whence they are ranked among the so-called "]s").{{sfn|Odahl|2004|pp=36-40}}<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, pp. 261–263</ref>


The '''''Illyriciani''''' or '''Illyrian emperors''' were a group of ]s during the ] who were of ] origin and hailed from the region of ] ({{langx|la|Illyricum}}, in the Western ]),{{sfn|Odahl|2004|pp=36-40}}{{sfn|Pocock|2015|p=}}{{sfn|Doležal|2022|loc=pp. :2–3: "In a sense, this book is dedicated to the "Illyrian Emperors", i.e. those emperors who were born in the Western Balkans and saved, stabilised, and reformed the empire. This line begins with Claudius II (268— 270) and then moves on to Quintillus (270), Aurelian (270—275), and Probus (276—282).3 After a brief interruption by the reigns of Carus and his two sons (282—284), whose birthplace we do not know, the Illyr-ians continued their run with Diocletian (284—305) and three of his colleagues: Maximian (285—305), Constantius (293—306), and Galerius (293—311). A 4th-century historian said of them: "Illyricum was actually the native land of all of them: so although they were deficient in culture, they had nevertheless been sufficiently schooled by the hardships of the countryside and of military service to be the best men for the state". 4 This is not the end of the Illyrian Emperors: Severus (305—307), Maximinus Daia (305—313), Licinius (308—324), and Constantine himself (306—337) can also be counted among them."}} and were raised chiefly from the ranks of the ] (whence they are ranked among the so-called "]s").{{sfn|Odahl|2004|pp=36-40}}{{sfn|Wilkes|1996|pp=261–263}}
⚫ In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, the Illyricum and the other ] provinces (], ], ], ]) held the largest concentration of Roman forces (12 ], up to a third of the total army), and were a major recruiting ground. The advance of these low-born provincials was facilitated by a major shift in imperial policy from the time of ] (253–268) on, when higher military appointments ceased to be exclusively filled by ]. Instead, professional soldiers of humble origin who had risen through the ranks to the post of '']'' (which also entailed admission to the ]) were placed as heads of the legions and filled the army's command structure.


⚫ In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, the Illyricum, which included the provinces on the ] (], ], ], ]), held the largest concentration of Roman forces (12 ], up to a third of the total army), and were a major recruiting ground. The advance of these low-born provincials was facilitated by a major shift in imperial policy from the time of ] (253–268) on, when higher military appointments ceased to be exclusively filled by ]. Instead, professional soldiers of humble origin who had risen through the ranks to the post of '']'' (which also entailed admission to the ]) were placed as heads of the legions and filled the army's command structure.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
The aims of the Illyrian emperors were roughly identical. Given their low origin, they were opposed to the landowning oligarchy and the senatorial order. Since the security of their birthplace depended on it, they considered the defense of the state's territorial integrity a primary task. They saw this in creating a strict soldier-like discipline (a slogan they frequently glorified on their coins) everywhere. In order to pursue this task, they worked on eliminating privileges and autonomies and subordinating one's interests to the interests of the crumbling empire. Thus, their form of rule was military dictatorship. Paired with vim, the Illyrian emperors' rigid notions led to the rise of the ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hahn |first=István |title=Az ókori Róma |publisher=Tankönyvkiadó |year=1992 |isbn=963-18-4313-0 |editor-last=Harmatta |editor-first=János |editor-link=János Harmatta |location=] |page=372 |trans-title=The ancient Rome}}</ref>


Since ] hailed from the senatorial background, the historical period of the Illyrian emperors proper begins with ] in 268 and continues in 284 with the rise of ] and the institution of the ].<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, p. 262-264</ref> This period was very important in the history of the Empire, since it represents the recovery from the ], a long period of usurpations and military difficulties. All of the Illyrian emperors were trained and able soldiers, and they recovered most of the provinces and positions lost by their predecessors, including ] and the ]. Men of Illyrian or Thraco-Dacian origin however continued to be prominent in the Empire throughout the 4th century and beyond. Since ] hailed from the senatorial background, the historical period of the Illyrian emperors proper begins with ] in 268 and continues in 284 with the rise of ] and the institution of the ].{{sfn|Wilkes|1996|pp=262–264}} This period was very important in the history of the Empire, since it represents the recovery from the ], a long period of usurpations and military difficulties.


The later ]-] dynasties (364–457 AD) also hailed from the Pannonia region. The later ] (364-392 and 425–455 AD) also hailed from the Pannonia region.{{cn|date=September 2024}}


==List== ==List==
The following emperors are counted as ''Illyriciani'':{{sfn|Wilkes|1996|pp=262-67}} The following emperors are counted as ''Illyriciani'':{{sfn|Wilkes|1996|pp=262-267}}


{{div col|colwidth=23em}} {{div col|colwidth=23em}}
* ], ruled AD 249–251 * ], ruled AD 268–270
* ], ruled AD 251
* ]us, ruled AD 251
* ], ruled AD 268–270
* ], ruled AD 270 * ], ruled AD 270
* ], ruled AD 270–275 * ], ruled AD 270–275
* ], ruled AD 276–282 * ], ruled AD 276–282
* ], ruled AD 284–305 * ], ruled AD 284–305
* ], ruled AD 286–305 * ], ruled AD 286–305
* ], ruled AD 305-306 * ], ruled AD 305–306
* ], ruled AD 305-311 * ], ruled AD 305–311
* ], ruled AD 306–307 * ], ruled AD 306–307
* ], ruled AD 306–337 * ], ruled AD 306–337
* ], ruled AD 308-324 * ], ruled AD 308–324
* ], ruled AD 337-361 * ], ruled AD 337–361
* ], ruled AD 363–364 * ], ruled AD 363–364
* ], ruled AD 364–375 * ], ruled AD 364–375
* ], ruled AD 364–378 * ], ruled AD 364–378
* ], ruled AD 375–383 * ], ruled AD 375–383
* ], ruled AD 375–392 * ], ruled AD 375–392
* ], ruled AD 421 * ], ruled AD 421
* ], ruled AD 425-455 * ], ruled AD 425–455
* ], ruled AD 491–518 * ], ruled AD 491–518
* ], ruled AD 518–527 * ], ruled AD 518–527
* ], ruled AD 527-565 * ], ruled AD 527–565
* ], ruled AD 565–578 * ], ruled AD 565–578
{{div col end}} {{div col end}}


See also ] for more details. See also the ] for more details.
*High grade cavalry was also called<ref>The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire: From the First Century A.D. to the Third by Edward N. Luttwak, page 178, "high-grade cavalry (equites Illyriciani)"</ref> ''Equites Illyriciani''


==See also== ==See also==
*] * ]
*] * ]


==References== ==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


==Sources== ===Sources===
*{{cite book|last=Wilkes|first=John|title=The Illyrians|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Nv6SPRKqs8C|year=1996|orig-year=1992|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0-631-19807-9}} * {{cite book |last=Doležal |first=Stanislav |title=The Reign of Constantine, 306–337. Continuity and Change in the Late Roman Empire |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan Cham |year=2022 |isbn=978-3-030-97464-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Pocock |first=John Greville Agard |title=Barbarism and Religion |volume=6 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-107-09146-7 }}
⚫ * {{cite book |last=Odahl |first=Charles Matson |title=Constantine and the Christian Empire |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-415-17485-5 }}
* {{cite book |last=Wilkes |first=John |title=The Illyrians |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Nv6SPRKqs8C |year=1996 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-0-631-19807-9 }}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite journal|last1=Kuzmanović|first1=Zorica|last2=Mihajlović|first2=Vladimir D.|title=Roman Emperors and Identity Constructions in Modern Serbia|journal=Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power|year=2015|volume=22|issue=4|pages=416–432|url=https://www.academia.edu/10452643}} * {{Cite journal|last1=Kuzmanović|first1=Zorica|last2=Mihajlović|first2=Vladimir D.|title=Roman Emperors and Identity Constructions in Modern Serbia|journal=Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power|year=2015|volume=22|issue=4|pages=416–432|url=https://www.academia.edu/10452643}}
⚫ *{{cite book|last=Odahl |first=Charles Matson |title=Constantine and the Christian Empire |publisher= Routledge |date=2004 |isbn=0415174856}}


{{Epochs of Roman Emperors}} {{Epochs of Roman Emperors}}

Latest revision as of 20:27, 6 January 2025

Group of Roman emperors
Provinces of the Western Balkans

The Illyriciani or Illyrian emperors were a group of Roman emperors during the Crisis of the Third Century who were of Illyrian origin and hailed from the region of Illyria (Latin: Illyricum, in the Western Balkans), and were raised chiefly from the ranks of the Roman army (whence they are ranked among the so-called "barracks emperors").

In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, the Illyricum, which included the provinces on the Lower Danube (Dacia, Raetia, Pannonia, Moesia), held the largest concentration of Roman forces (12 legions, up to a third of the total army), and were a major recruiting ground. The advance of these low-born provincials was facilitated by a major shift in imperial policy from the time of Gallienus (253–268) on, when higher military appointments ceased to be exclusively filled by senators. Instead, professional soldiers of humble origin who had risen through the ranks to the post of primus pilus (which also entailed admission to the equestrian order) were placed as heads of the legions and filled the army's command structure.

Since Decius hailed from the senatorial background, the historical period of the Illyrian emperors proper begins with Claudius Gothicus in 268 and continues in 284 with the rise of Diocletian and the institution of the Tetrarchy. This period was very important in the history of the Empire, since it represents the recovery from the Crisis of the Third Century, a long period of usurpations and military difficulties.

The later Valentinian (364-392 and 425–455 AD) also hailed from the Pannonia region.

List

The following emperors are counted as Illyriciani:

See also the list of Roman emperors for more details.

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Odahl 2004, pp. 36–40.
  2. Pocock 2015, p. 49.
  3. Doležal 2022, pp. :2–3: "In a sense, this book is dedicated to the "Illyrian Emperors", i.e. those emperors who were born in the Western Balkans and saved, stabilised, and reformed the empire. This line begins with Claudius II (268— 270) and then moves on to Quintillus (270), Aurelian (270—275), and Probus (276—282).3 After a brief interruption by the reigns of Carus and his two sons (282—284), whose birthplace we do not know, the Illyr-ians continued their run with Diocletian (284—305) and three of his colleagues: Maximian (285—305), Constantius (293—306), and Galerius (293—311). A 4th-century historian said of them: "Illyricum was actually the native land of all of them: so although they were deficient in culture, they had nevertheless been sufficiently schooled by the hardships of the countryside and of military service to be the best men for the state". 4 This is not the end of the Illyrian Emperors: Severus (305—307), Maximinus Daia (305—313), Licinius (308—324), and Constantine himself (306—337) can also be counted among them.".
  4. Wilkes 1996, pp. 261–263.
  5. Wilkes 1996, pp. 262–264.
  6. Wilkes 1996, pp. 262–267.

Sources

Further reading

Roman emperors by time period
Early PrincipateCrisis of the Third CenturyDominateWestern Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire
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