Dalmatia (Roman province)

• 1. The Three Illyrian Wars

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  In 229 BC, Roman galleys sailed into the Adriatic Sea to confront pirates operating from the coast of modern-day Albania and Croatia. The Romans fought three distinct conflicts against the kingdom of the Ardiaei during this period. These wars spanned from 229 BC through 168 BC and targeted a specific southern region along the Dinaric Alps. In 168 BC, Roman forces abolished the Ardiaean kingdom entirely. They divided the territory into three separate republics under their control. Livy recorded these events in his history of Rome, noting the strategic shift from protectorate status to direct rule. Pirates continued raiding north-eastern Italy despite the initial victories. Octavian later launched campaigns between 35 BC and 33 BC to secure the inland areas. This series of military actions established Roman dominance over the entire Adriatic coastline.

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• 2. Provincial Division And Administration

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  Gaius Vibius Postumus served as the military commander of Dalmatia under Germanicus in 9 AD. Velleius Paterculus wrote about this command in his compendium of Roman history. His text represents the earliest surviving writing that indicates the province of Illyricum comprised both Dalmatia and Pannonia. An inscription on the base of a statue of Nero was erected between 54 AD and 68 AD by a veteran of a legion stationed in Pannonia. This artifact suggests a separate Pannonia existed at least since the reign of Nero. However, Šašel-Kos points out an inscription attesting a governor of Illyricum under Claudius who ruled from 41 AD to 54 AD. A military diploma published in July 61 AD mentioned units of auxiliaries from the Pannonian part of the province were stationed in Illyricum. These conflicting records led scholars to believe the dissolution occurred during the reign of Vespasian between 69 AD and 79 AD. The administrative organization of Illyricum took place late in the reign of Augustus and early in the reign of Tiberius.

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• 3. Diocletianic Reforms And Late Empire

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  Constantine the Great died in 337 AD, triggering a partition of the Roman Empire among his sons. The empire divided into three praetorian prefectures including Italia, Africa et Illyricum. Diocletian had previously doubled the number of provinces while decreasing their individual size. Dalmatia became one of seven provinces within the diocese of Pannonia. Initially, it fell under the praetorian prefecture of Italy, Africa and Illyricum. Constans removed Macedonia, Dacia, and Pannonia from that larger prefecture in either 343 or 347 AD. This action formed a separate praetorian prefecture for those regions. The remaining area retained the name of Italy and Africa. Pliny the Elder documented the natural history of these territories in his extensive writings. The restructuring created a complex hierarchy of provincial governance across the Adriatic coast.

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• 4. Romanization Versus Local Continuity

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  German historian Theodor Mommsen wrote that coastal Dalmatia and its islands were fully romanized by the 4th century. He claimed Latin-speaking populations dominated the region during this era. Croatian historian Aleksandar Stipčević offered a different view based on archaeological material analysis. Urban centers both coastal and inland were almost completely romanized according to the evidence. The situation in the countryside remained completely different despite strong acculturation pressures. Native Illyrian speakers continued to use their own language throughout rural areas. These communities followed their own gods and maintained traditional practices. Social-political organization adapted only to Roman administrative necessities when required. The process of romanization proved selective rather than total across the province.

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• 5. Fifth Century Political Collapse

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  Marcellinus rebelled against Valentinian III in 454 AD as a military commander in Dalmatia. He seized control of the province and governed it independently until his death in 468 AD. Julius Nepos became governor even though he was a relative of Leo I the Thracian, emperor of the East. Dalmatia remained an autonomous area under western imperial influence. Leo I elevated Nepos as emperor of the western part of the empire in 474 AD to depose Glycerius. Orestes deposed Nepos in 475 AD and made his son Romulus Augustus emperor instead. Romulus Augustus fell to Odoacer in 476 AD who proclaimed himself king of Italy. Nepos stayed in Dalmatia and continued governing until assassinated in 480 AD. Ovida took charge thereafter but Odoacer invaded using Nepos' murder as justification. Odoacer defeated Ovida and annexed Dalmatia to his kingdom of Italy. Zeno sent Theodoric the Great to Italy four years later to remove Odoacer from power.