Illyrian emperors

The Illyrian emperors (Latin Illyriciani, " from Illyricum " ) were a greater number of rulers who have ruled the Roman Empire from the middle of the 3rd century. Their common characteristic is that they came from the Danube countries, which were later combined by Emperor Diocletian to the prefecture of Illyricum. Furthermore, they were since Claudius Gothicus all of humble origin, with no connection to the old elites in the center of the empire, and her rise to fame began with a military career.

" Illyrian " was not an ethnic ascription, but referred to the regional origin. Indeed, were the ancestors of the Illyrian emperors - as far as is apparent from the written sources - for more or less Romanized provincial population of the Danube countries. Only some of them are hints to the membership to long-established peoples of the region. The Danube region had become during the 3rd century one of the main recruiting areas of the imperial army, and since at the same time increased the political influence of the army, while it was no longer necessary since about 260, to have been Senator to become emperor, succeeded now several soldiers Illyrian origin of the ascent to the rule.

Up to and including Diocletian all Illyrian emperors were proclaimed by the troops commanded by them as part of an usurpation against the reigning Augustus ruler. In this respect, this group overlaps partially with the soldier emperors so-called. Later Illyriciani such as Constantius Chlorus came in the system of the Tetrarchy by co-option to power. After a break of about 30 years began in 363 with a new series of Illyrian Emperor Jovian. After all, the ruling in the 6th century Byzantine ruler Justin I., who was joined by 470 as a farmer's son of the army and went up to her, and Justinian people of humble origin from the Roman Danubian provinces. They were also the last emperor whose native language was Latin.

As in the last quarter of the 6th century, the Danube area of Slavic, Avar and Hunnish attackers was devastated and eventually slipped out for a long period of imperial control, the region lost its importance as a recruiting area of the army. From then came the most military leaders from Asia Minor, and also the time of the Illyrian emperor was thus come to an end.

List

Illyrian emperors in the strict sense: From the second half of the third to the first half of the 4th century

  • Decius - 249-251
  • Hostilian - 251
  • Claudius Gothicus - 268-270
  • Quintillus - 270
  • Aurelian - 270-275
  • Probus - 276-282
  • Diocletian - 284-305
  • Maximian - 286-305
  • Galerius - 305-311
  • Constantius Chlorus - 293-306
  • Constantine I - 306-337
  • Maximinus Daia - 310-313

Illyriciani in the second half of the 4th century

  • Jovian 363-364
  • Valentinian I - 364-375
  • Valens - 364-378

Eastern Roman Emperor of Illyrian origin in the 5th and 6th centuries

  • Leo I. - 457-474
  • Anastasius - 491-518
  • Justin I. - 518-527
  • Justinian - 527-565

Swell

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