Praevalitana
Encyclopedia
Praevalitana was an ancient Roman
province. It included parts of present-day Albania
, Montenegro
and Serbia
.
, the last king of Illyria, at Scodra in 168 BC and captured him, bringing him to Rome in 165 BC. Four client-republics were set up, which were in fact ruled by Rome. Later, Illyricum was directly governed by Rome and organized as a province, with Scodra as its capital.
Illyricum was split into two divisions in 10 AD, Pannonia
and Dalmatia
. The province of Dalmatia spread inland to cover all of the Dinaric Alps and most of the eastern Adriatic coast, including all actual Montenegro. The historian Theodore Mommsen wrote (in his The Provinces of the Roman Empire) that all Dalmatia was fully romanized and Latin speaking by the 4th century.
After the Western Roman Empire
collapsed in 476, with the beginning of the Migration Period
, the region was ruled by the Goths up to 535, when Justinian I
added all Dalmatia to the Byzantine Empire
(Eastern Roman Empire).
In 577, some 100,000 Slavs
poured into Thrace
and Illyricum
, pillaging cities and settling down. The coastal area of southern Dalmatia survived the onslaught: the cities of Cattaro (Kotor
), Budua (Budva
) and Ragusavecchia (Cavtat
) started to be independent city-states where the authoctonous romanized Illiryans remained under the bizantine leadership.
Meanwhile in the interior areas the mythological founders of Serbia
, the White Serbs under the Unknown Archont
, formed the Serbian Principality of the Vlastimirovic dynasty on the territory of Praevalitana.
(r. 284-305) from the southeastern corner of the former province of Dalmatia
and became part of the Diocese of Moesia
(244-357), one of 12 dioceses created by Diocletian.
The Diocese of Moesia was later divided in two, the Diocese of Dacia
in the north and the Diocese of Macedonia
to the south. Praevalitana initially was part of the Diocese of Macedonia
but later moved into the Diocese of Dacia
(which comprised Dacia Mediterranea
, Dacia Ripensis
, Dardania and Moesia Inferior), a subdivision of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum
(395). A province of brief existence, Macedonia salutaris, was divided between Praevalitana and Epirus Nova (412).
(Shkodër) and Doclea (Duklja). Other cities in the province included Anderva
(Nikšić), Acruvium
(Kotor), Risunium
(Risan), Butua
(Budva), etc.
The first written records of any kind of settlement in soutern Dalmatia refer to the Roman province of Praevalitana and the Roman city of Birsiminium, which lived in the shadow of the Illyrian town of Doclea (Duklja), named after one of the two major Illyrian tribes inhabiting these parts, the "Docleatae". The other major Illyrian tribe, the Labeates, inhabited the entire area between Lake Skadar and actual Podgorica
. They had their main fortification, called Metheon (known today as Medun), and very developed social and military systems in place. Docleatae inhabited the fertile valley of the River Zeta, which is located along the vital communication between the coastal and continental regions of Montenegro, and therefore their swift economic rise was only logical. Their most important settlement, Doclea, was very large by the standards of that time, with 8-10 thousand inhabitants.
From the 5th century, the settling of Slavic and Avaric tribes began in this area, always coupled with destructive raids on the native tribes and settlements. Doclea was not exempt from these violent raids, which would, eventually, along with natural disasters, lead to the complete obliteration of this once prosperous town. After the Slavic tribes settled in this area they established another settlement, which took over the role previously held by Doclea: it was named Ribnica.
Acruvium (actual Kotor) on the coast survived the Slav attacks and prospered as a merchant city-state of the original romanized Illyrians until the tenth century.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
province. It included parts of present-day Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
.
History
The Roman Empire conquered the region after the Third Illyrian War (168 BC), the Romans defeated GentiusGentius
Gentius was the last Illyrian king of the Ardiaean State. The name appears to derive from PIE *g'en- "to beget", cognate to Latin gens, gentis "kin, clan, race". He was the son of Pleuratus III, a king who kept relations with Rome very strong...
, the last king of Illyria, at Scodra in 168 BC and captured him, bringing him to Rome in 165 BC. Four client-republics were set up, which were in fact ruled by Rome. Later, Illyricum was directly governed by Rome and organized as a province, with Scodra as its capital.
Illyricum was split into two divisions in 10 AD, Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
and Dalmatia
Dalmatia (Roman province)
Dalmatia was an ancient Roman province. Its name is probably derived from the name of an Illyrian tribe called the Dalmatae which lived in the area of the eastern Adriatic coast in Classical antiquity....
. The province of Dalmatia spread inland to cover all of the Dinaric Alps and most of the eastern Adriatic coast, including all actual Montenegro. The historian Theodore Mommsen wrote (in his The Provinces of the Roman Empire) that all Dalmatia was fully romanized and Latin speaking by the 4th century.
After the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
collapsed in 476, with the beginning of the Migration Period
Migration Period
The Migration Period, also called the Barbarian Invasions , was a period of intensified human migration in Europe that occurred from c. 400 to 800 CE. This period marked the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages...
, the region was ruled by the Goths up to 535, when Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
added all Dalmatia to the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
(Eastern Roman Empire).
In 577, some 100,000 Slavs
South Slavs
The South Slavs are the southern branch of the Slavic peoples and speak South Slavic languages. Geographically, the South Slavs are native to the Balkan peninsula, the southern Pannonian Plain and the eastern Alps...
poured into Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
and Illyricum
Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum
The praetorian prefecture of Illyricum was one of four praetorian prefectures into which the Late Roman Empire was divided.The administrative centre of the prefecture was Sirmium , and, after 379, Thessalonica...
, pillaging cities and settling down. The coastal area of southern Dalmatia survived the onslaught: the cities of Cattaro (Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
), Budua (Budva
Budva
Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...
) and Ragusavecchia (Cavtat
Cavtat
Cavtat ) is a town in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. It is on the Adriatic seacoast 15 km south of Dubrovnik and is the centre of the Konavle municipality.-History:...
) started to be independent city-states where the authoctonous romanized Illiryans remained under the bizantine leadership.
Meanwhile in the interior areas the mythological founders of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, the White Serbs under the Unknown Archont
Unknown Archont
The Unknown Archont is a conventional name given by historians to the Serbian leader who led the White Serbs from their homeland to settle in the Balkans after 610, during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius ....
, formed the Serbian Principality of the Vlastimirovic dynasty on the territory of Praevalitana.
Administration
It was established during the reign of Emperor DiocletianDiocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
(r. 284-305) from the southeastern corner of the former province of Dalmatia
Dalmatia (Roman province)
Dalmatia was an ancient Roman province. Its name is probably derived from the name of an Illyrian tribe called the Dalmatae which lived in the area of the eastern Adriatic coast in Classical antiquity....
and became part of the Diocese of Moesia
Diocese of Moesia
The Diocese of Moesia was one of the twelve dioceses in which Diocletian divided the Roman Empire during his administrative reforms. It encompassed most of the central Balkans and the Greek peninsula, stretching from the Danube to Crete...
(244-357), one of 12 dioceses created by Diocletian.
The Diocese of Moesia was later divided in two, the Diocese of Dacia
Diocese of Dacia
The Diocese of Dacia was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, in the area of modern Serbia and western Bulgaria. It was subordinate to the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum...
in the north and the Diocese of Macedonia
Diocese of Macedonia
The Diocese of Macedonia was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, forming part of the praetorian prefecture of Illyricum. Its capital was Thessalonica....
to the south. Praevalitana initially was part of the Diocese of Macedonia
Diocese of Macedonia
The Diocese of Macedonia was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, forming part of the praetorian prefecture of Illyricum. Its capital was Thessalonica....
but later moved into the Diocese of Dacia
Diocese of Dacia
The Diocese of Dacia was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, in the area of modern Serbia and western Bulgaria. It was subordinate to the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum...
(which comprised Dacia Mediterranea
Dacia Mediterranea
Dacia Mediterranea is a part of the former Dacia Aureliana divided by Constantine the Great.Serdica is the province capital....
, Dacia Ripensis
Dacia Ripensis
Dacia Ripensis was the name of a Roman province first established by Aurelian circa 283 AD, south of the Danube River, after he withdrew from Dacia Traiana.-History:...
, Dardania and Moesia Inferior), a subdivision of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum
Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum
The praetorian prefecture of Illyricum was one of four praetorian prefectures into which the Late Roman Empire was divided.The administrative centre of the prefecture was Sirmium , and, after 379, Thessalonica...
(395). A province of brief existence, Macedonia salutaris, was divided between Praevalitana and Epirus Nova (412).
Cities
Capitals of Praevalitana were ScodraShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
(Shkodër) and Doclea (Duklja). Other cities in the province included Anderva
Nikšić
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
(Nikšić), Acruvium
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
(Kotor), Risunium
Risan
Risan is a town in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro...
(Risan), Butua
Budva
Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...
(Budva), etc.
The first written records of any kind of settlement in soutern Dalmatia refer to the Roman province of Praevalitana and the Roman city of Birsiminium, which lived in the shadow of the Illyrian town of Doclea (Duklja), named after one of the two major Illyrian tribes inhabiting these parts, the "Docleatae". The other major Illyrian tribe, the Labeates, inhabited the entire area between Lake Skadar and actual Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
. They had their main fortification, called Metheon (known today as Medun), and very developed social and military systems in place. Docleatae inhabited the fertile valley of the River Zeta, which is located along the vital communication between the coastal and continental regions of Montenegro, and therefore their swift economic rise was only logical. Their most important settlement, Doclea, was very large by the standards of that time, with 8-10 thousand inhabitants.
From the 5th century, the settling of Slavic and Avaric tribes began in this area, always coupled with destructive raids on the native tribes and settlements. Doclea was not exempt from these violent raids, which would, eventually, along with natural disasters, lead to the complete obliteration of this once prosperous town. After the Slavic tribes settled in this area they established another settlement, which took over the role previously held by Doclea: it was named Ribnica.
Acruvium (actual Kotor) on the coast survived the Slav attacks and prospered as a merchant city-state of the original romanized Illyrians until the tenth century.
External links
Literature
- Joseph Roisman, Ian Worthington, A Companion to Ancient Macedonia,
- Piero Sticotti: Die römische Stadt Doclea in Montenegro (Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Schriften der Balkankommission, Antiquarische Abteilung, 6), Wien, 1913.
- Radomir Popović, Le christianisme sur le sol de l'Illyricum oriental jusqu'à l'arrivée des Slaves, Institute for Balkan Studies, 1996