Illyrian emperors

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The "Illyriciani" or "Illyrian emperors". These are Roman emperors called Illyriciani[1][2][3] due to being born in the province of Illyricum[4][5][6].Some were called Barracks emperors and the emperors of the Tetrarchy[7].In the second and third centuries, Illyricum was famous for its soldiers: being less Romanized than other regions of the Empire, it was one of the main purveyors of troops for the Roman army. One of the largest concentration of troops (twelve legions at its peak in the mid-third century) was on the Danube. It was the policy of some of the "Barracks emperors", especially Gallienus[citation needed] (260-268)[8], to promote able soldiers to high-ranking military posts. This means that, instead of commanders with an aristocratic background (members of the Roman Senate or the equestrian order), many soldiers of more humble origins[9], even mere peasants, began to be made generals— which meant that they could become emperors by being raised to power by their legions.

This rather short period was very important in the history of the Empire, since it represents the beginning of the recovery from the Crisis of the Third Century, a long period of usurpations and military difficulties. All of the Illyrian emperors were trained and able soldiers, and they recovered some of the provinces and positions lost by their predecessors, including Gaul and the eastern provinces.

The Roman province of Illyricum

See also Concise List of Roman Emperors for more details.

  • High grade cavalry was also called[10] Equites Illyriciani

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, p. 263, "The regime of the Illyriciani"
  2. ^ The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, p. 263, "The army chose another of the Illyriciani to succeed him"
  3. ^ The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, page 261,"... in the Empire, whose leading citizens were known as Illyriciani. The origin of this sense of identity within the Roman ..."
  4. ^ "These men are usually called the Illyrian emperors since they all were born in that province (Illyricum) and were raised to power by legions stationed there" The Ancient World, Joseph Ward Swain
  5. ^ "Most of them were natives of Illyricum and its neighborhood, and hence are called Illyrian emperors" A History of the Ancient World, George Willis Botsford
  6. ^ Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, p. 261:"... Imperial Illyrians 261 in the Empire, whose leading citizens were known as Illyriciani. The origin of this sense of identity within the Roman world is to be found in the years of warfare ..."
  7. ^ The Illyrians by John Wilkes, 1996, p. 264, "Tetrarchy was the climax of more than half a century of rule by Illyriciani"
  8. ^ Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, p. 261, "Galienus (Ad 260-268)"
  9. ^ The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, p. 262, "The Illyriciani rose from humble often rural backgrounds through service in the army"
  10. ^ 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)"
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