Bithynia et Pontus

Bithynia et Pontus was a Roman province in 64 BC decorated in northwestern Asia Minor (modern Turkey). It was formed from the union of 74 BC decorated province Bithynia, the former Kingdom of Bithynia, with parts of the Kingdom of Pontus after the Roman victory over the king Mithridates VI. The law regulating the administration of the province, a lex Pompeia (after the Roman general Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus ), followed in winter 63/62 BC.

The capital of the province was double the former royal residence Bithynia Nicomedia, who had but always defend their priority against the rival Nikaia. Under Vespasian, probably in the year 73, so far as "free and confederate city " ( civitas libera et foederata ) applicable Byzantion ( Latinised Byzantium ) was incorporated into the province.

Since the time of Augustus Bithynia et Pontus was formally a province of the Roman people (falsely " senatorial province " called ). In the first half of the 2nd century the province was several times under the administration of the imperial legate, of which Pliny the Younger is the most famous. His correspondence with Trajan gives insight into the conditions of the province at that time. Since Antoninus Pius, not later than the year 159, Bithynia et Pontus was an Imperial province in the long run.

In the province of reform of Emperor Diocletian in the year 295 Bithynia et Pontus was divided into the provinces of Bithynia, Paphlagonia and Diospontus.