Περίληψη : The byzantine province of Mesopotamia, established in 298 AD in the north/northeast of the province of Oshroene with Amida as its metropolis, was situated west of the Parthian and subsequently the Persian Empire. In the 6 th cent. AD, it was divided into three separate provinces. During the Late Antiquity, this region was controlled from time to time by the Persians. After 633 AD, the province fell into Arab hands. Γεωγραφική Θέση Near East, modern southeastern Turkey northern Iraq Ιστορική Περιοχή Mesopotamia Διοικητική Υπαγωγή Diocese of Oriens 1. Political geography The roman/early byzantine province of Mesopotamia occupied the fertile lands of the homonymic region in the Near East, demarcated in the east by the river Tigres and in the west by the river Euphrates. It was established at the end of the 3 rd cent. AD, most probably in 298 AD, by Diocletian (284-305 AD), after the Romans had consolidated their dominance in the Near East, and came under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Oriens in 314 AD, the year when the dioceses of the Roman Empire were established. It occupied the land south of the eastern branch of the river Euphrates called Arsanias, and west/southwest of the river Tigres, northeast of the province of Oshroene. It bordered in the east with the Parthian and subsequently the Persian Empire and in the north with the autonomous armenian satrapies. At the time of Jovian (363-364 AD), the borders between the Byzantine and the Persian Empire were stabilized. At the time of Valens (364-378 AD) or, most probably, according to modern research, in 387 AD, at the time of Theodosius I (378-395 AD), the northern borders of Mesopotamia were reestablished under the provisions of the agreement on the partition of Armenia. 1 2. Political and ecclesiastical administration Mesopotamia was governed by a praeses. 2 Amida, the only city mentioned during the 1 st quarter of the 6 th cent. AD, 3 was the political metropolis of the province of Mesopotamia. Amida and Daras were the ecclesiastical metropolises. The city Constantina was the seat of the dux of the province, who was in charge of the military command of the province prior to the middle of the 4 th cent. AD. 4 In the records of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, no less than five bishoprics are mentioned in the province of Mesopotamia, among which are Nisibis, an important city which fell into persian hands in 363 AD, and Edessa, the metropolis of the province of Oshroene. According to the notitia episcopatuum of the Patriarchate of Antioch, Amida was responsible for eight bishoprics during the 6 th cent. AD and Daras for three or four. 5 In the work of George of Cyprus, written in the 4 th quarter of the 6 th cent. AD, no less than 25 cities have been recorded in the province of Mesopotamia. 6 At the time of Justinian I (527-565 AD), the province of Mesopotamia was divided into three separate provinces under the provisions of the treaty of 532 AD: Armenia IV/New Justiniane, a consular province with Martyropolis as its political metropolis, Mesopotamia, with Amida as its political and ecclesiastical metropolis, and South Mesopotamia, with Daras as its political and ecclesiastical metropolis. After 591 AD, the northern province was also named Upper Mesopotamia, according to the administrative reforms of Maurice (582-602 AD). 7 3. History Δημιουργήθηκε στις 9/3/2017 Σελίδα 1/5
The Persians claimed the lands of the province of Mesopotamia throughout the Late Antiquity. A part of the conquest of the Roman Empire during the years 296-299 AD was lost in 363 AD. At the beginning of the 6 th cent. AD, the Persians consolidated their presence in Mesopotamia, but they were forced to retreat during the fourth decade of the century. They came back in the southern part of the province, in the entire region of Daras, in 573 AD, but retreated again in 591 AD. Mesopotamia fell again into persian hands in 602 AD. Between 623 and 628 AD, the province of Mesopotamia and the entire region of Nisibis, the part which was lost in 363 AD, were recaptured by Herakleios (610-641 AD). Later on, between 633 and 640 AD, Mesopotamia fell into Arab hands. 8 1. See Chrysos, E., Some Aspects of Roman-Persian Legal Relations, Κληρονομία 8 (1976), p. 40ff; Garsoian, G. N., Αρμενία Μεγάλη και επαρχία Μεσοποταμίας, in Ευψυχία, Melanges offerts a Helene Ahrweiler I (Byzantina Sorbonensia 16, Paris 1998), p. 239 and note nr. 1. 2. Honigmann, E. (ed.), Le Synecdemos d Hierocles et l opuscule geographique de Georges de Chypre (Brussels 1939), Synecdemos 40.715.3. 3. Honigmann, E. (ed.), Le Synecdemos d Hierocles et l opuscule geographique de Georges de Chypre (Brussels 1939), Synecdemos 40.715.3; see also George of Cyprus 64.894. 4. Brandes, W., Uberlegungen zur Vorgeschichte des Thema Mesopotamien, Byzantinoslavica 44 (1983), p. 172. 5. Honigmann, E. (ed.), Studien zur Notitia Antiochena, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 25 (1925), p. 75; Honigmann, E. (ed.), La liste originale des peres de Nicee (Apropos de l eveche de Sodoma: en Arabie), Byzantion 14 (1939). 6. Honigmann, E. (ed.), Le Synecdemos d Hierocles et l opuscule geographique de Georges de Chypre (Brussels 1939), George of Cyprus 63-64. See the lengthy commentary on this information by Howard-Johnston, J. D., Byzantine Anzitene, in Mitchell, St. (ed.), Armies and Frontiers in Roman and Byzantine Anatolia. Proceedings of a colloquium held at University College (Swansea April 1981) (British Archaeological Reports, International Series, nr. 156, British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara Monograph 5, Oxford 1983), p. 286, note 115. 7. ODB II s.v. Mesopotamia (Mango, M. M.); DMA s.v. Armenia, geography (Garsoian, N. G.). 8. The Byzantines attacked the fortresses since the middle of the 10th cent. AD and established short-lived themes in the entire region, but they failed to regain the roman/early byzantine Mesopotamia; see Oikonomides, N., L organisation de la frontiere orientale de Byzance aux Xe-XIe siecles et le Taktikon d Escorial, in Berza, M. Stanescu, E. (eds), Actes du XIVe Congres International des Etudes Byzantines, Rapports I (Bucarest 1974), pp. 291, 292: the fortresses of Hasanra, Zermion, Erkne, Mouzarion. The homonymous theme extended in the north/northwest of the old province of Mesopotamia and occupied the lands of Upper Mesopotamia/Armenia IV. During the 11th cent. AD, the Seljuks consolidated their presence in this region. Βιβλιογραφία : Fedalto G., Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis. Series Episcoporum Ecclesiarum Christianarum Orientalium II. Patriarchatus Alexandrinus, Antiochenus Hierosolymitanus, Padοva 1988 Zuckerman C., "Sur la Liste de Vérone et la province de Grande Arménie, la division de l Empire et la date de création des diocèses", Mélanges Gilbert Dagron, Paris 2002, Travaux et Mémoires 14, 617-638 Felix W., Byzanz und die islamische Welt im früheren 11. Jahrhundert, Wien 1981, Byzantina Vindobonensia 14 Δημιουργήθηκε στις 9/3/2017 Σελίδα 2/5
Garsoïan N., "Αρμενία Μεγάλη και επαρχία Μεσοποταμίας", Eυψυχία, Mélanges offerts à Hélène Ahrweiler, Paris 1998, Byzantina Sorbonensia, 16, 239-264 Garsoïan N., "Armenia, Geography", Strayer, J.R. (ed.), Dictionary of the Middle Ages, New York 1982-1989 Oikonomides N., "L'organisation de la frontière orientale de Byzance aux Xe-XIe siècles et le Taktikon d Escorial", Berza, M. Stanescu, E. (eds), Actes du XIVe Congrès International des Etudes Byzantines, Rapports I, Bucarest 1974, 285-302 Harl K.W., "The Roman Experience in Iraq", The Journal of the Historical Society, 7.2, 2007, 213-227 Hill G.F., "The Mints of Roman Arabia and Mesopotamia", The Journal of Roman Studies, 6, 1916, 135-169 Segal J. B., "Mesopotamian Communities from Julian to the Rise of Islam", Proceedings of the British Academy, 41, 1955, 109-139 Segal J. B., Edessa, the blessed City, Oxford 1970 Chrysos E., "Some Aspects of Roman-Persian Legal Relations", Kληρονομία, 8, 1976, 1-60 Howard-Johnston J.D., "Byzantine Anzitene", Mitcell, St. (ed.), Armies and Frontiers in Roman and Byzantine Anatolia. Proceedings of a colloquium held at University College (Swansea April 1981), British Institute of Archeology at Ankara Monograph 5, Oxford 1983, British Archeological Reports, International Series, nr. 156, 239-290 Brandes W., "Überlegungen zur Vorgeschichte des Thema Mesopotamien", Byzantinoslavica, 44, 1983, 171-177 Mango M.M., "Province of Mesopotamia", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford Dictioanary of Byzantium II, London New York 1991, 1348 Δικτυογραφία : Le Synekdèmos d'hiéroclès et l'opuscule géographique de Georges de Chypre, Bruxelles 1939: charted are the lands of: Europe, Asia Minor, Near East http://soltdm.com/sources/mss/hierocl/harta1.htm Notitia Dignitatum http://www.fh-augsburg.de/~harsch/chronologia/lspost05/notitia/not_dor2.html Γλωσσάριo : doukas (lat. dux) Antiquity: Roman military commander who, in some provinces, combined military and civil functions. Buzantium: a higher military officer. From the second half of the 10th c. the title indicates the military comander of a larger district. After the 12th c., doukes were called the governors of small themes. Notitia episcopatuum The Notitiae episcopatuum are official documents of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and Antioch, containing the ecclesiastical dioceses in hierarchical order.these documents were modfied regularly. praeses Δημιουργήθηκε στις 9/3/2017 Σελίδα 3/5
Provincial governor. According to the later roman and the eraly byzantine administrative organisation, the praeses (praeses, vir perfectissimus as far as the senatorial rank is concerned) served as a governor in certain provinces, expressly intented to exercise political autority. Πηγές Laterculus Veronensis Notitia Dignitatum, Jones, A.H.M. (ed.), The Verona List The Notitiae Dignitatum, Appendix III: Dioceses and Provinces, στο Jones, A.H.M., The Later Roman Empire 284-602. A Social, Economic, and Administrative Survey III (Oxford 1964). Honigmann, E. (ed.), Le Synekdèmos de Hiéroklès et l'opuscule géographique de Georges de Chypre (Bruxelles 1939), Synecdemos 40.715.3; George of Cyprus 63 64. Honigmann, E. (ed.), La liste originale des pères de Nicée (A propos de l évêché de Sodoma: en Arabie), Byzantion 14 (1939), pp. 17 76. Honigmann, E. (ed.), Studien zur Notitia Antiochena, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 25 (1925), pp. 60 88. Schöll, R. (ed.), Corpus Iuris Civilis v. tertium: Novellae (Dublin Zürich 10 1972). Παραθέματα 1a. The contributions of the governor of Mesopotamia to the benefit of the imperial officials under Justinian I (527-565): «Aπό του άρχοντος Mεσοποταμίας ούτως τοις περιβλέπτοις χαρτουλαρίοις τρισί του θείου κουβουκλείου νομ.(ίσματα) θ (= 9) τω πριμικηρίω των λαμπροτάτων τριβούνων νοταρίων νομ.(ίσματα) ιε (= 15) τω αυτώ βοηθώ νομ.(ίσματα) γ (= 3) τη τάξει των ενδοξοτάτων επάρχων υπέρ προστάγματος νομ.(ίσματα) λστ (= 36)» Schöll, R. (ed.), Corpus Iuris Civilis v. tertium: Novellae (Dublin Zürich 10 1972), p. 87. 1b. The contributions of the governor of Armenia IV/Justiniana Nova to the benefit of the imperial officials under Justinian I (527-565): «Aπό του άρχοντος Nέας Iουστινιανής ούτως τοις περιβλέπτοις χαρτουλαρίοις τρισί του θείου κουβουκλείου νομ.(ίσματα) θ (= 9) τω πριμικηρίω των λαμπροτάτων τριβούνων νοταρίων νομ.(ίσματα) κδ (= 24) τω αυτώ βοηθώ νομ.(ίσματα) γ (= 3) τη τάξει των ενδοξοτάτων επάρχων υπέρ προστάγματος νομ.(ίσματα) μ (= 40)» Schöll, R. (ed.), Corpus Iuris Civilis v. tertium: Novellae (Dublin Zürich 10 1972), p. 84. 2. Incest offences in Osroene and Mesopotamia in the 6th century: «ΠEPI TΩN EN OΣPOHNH AΘEMITΩN ΣYNAΛΛATTONTΩN Aυτοκράτωρ Iουστινιανός Aύγουστος Φλώρω κόμητι των θείων πριβάτων <Προοίμιον> Παράδοξος τις ήλθεν εις ημάς λόγος, ως οι κατά την μέσην των ποταμών και την Oσροηνήν επαρχίαν τολμώσι γάμοις αθεμίτοις ομιλείν, και τους ρωμαϊκούς παραβαίνουσι νόμους και τας εν αυτοίς ηπειλημμένας ποινάς τας τε παλαιάς και νέας, τοις μεν εκ γειτόνων προσέχοντες, εις αθεμίτους δε κεκωλυμένους εμπίπτοντες γάμους. ημείς τοίνυν μεν ουδέν παντελώς επιστεύσαμεν ου γαρ ηγούμεθα ανθρώπους μέρος όντας της ημετέρας πολιτείας τοιούτον τι πράττειν θαρρείν και την γονήν την εαυτών καταισχύνην και τα ονόματα συγχέειν CAPUT I Δημιουργήθηκε στις 9/3/2017 Σελίδα 4/5
Ώστε και εξερευνάν ταύτα ηβουλόμεθα και ει τε τοιούτον όλως πέπρακται, τους αμαρτάνοντας προς εσχάτην άγειν τιμωρίαν. αλλʹ επειδή και χρόνος εστί μακρός και ουδέ πιστεύομεν τοιούτο τι γεγενήσθαι πλημμέλημα, ει άρα και τοιούτο τι συμβέβηκε, το μεν παρωχηκός, όπως δη ποτέ αν έχοι, συγχωρούμεν τοις Oσροηνήν και την μέσην των ποταμών τας επαρχίας κατοικούσι, προφάσει εν αυτοίς γενομένων διαφόρως εφόδων και μάλιστα αγροικικού πλήθους ως επί το πλείστον όντος του ταύτα εξαμαρτείν λεγομένο...., αλλά πάσιν ομοίως επεξιόντες την νενομισμένη και τοις ρωμαϊκοίς πρέπουσαν νόμοις φυλάξομεν ευταξία, ου μέρος μόνον της ουσίας αφαιρούμενοι, αλλά και την ουσίαν όλην και μέρος του σώματος, και είπερ και δυσκολωτέραν εύρωμεν την αθεμιτογαμίαν, και αυτήν ίσως την ψυχήν τούτο δε αυτό τοις χώρας κατά πρόσταξιν συν διά προγραμμάτων παρά των οικείων αρχόντων γενέσθαι βουλόμεθα φανερόν, ει μη βούλονται και αυτοί ταις εσχάταις υποβληθήναι ποιναίς και ταις εκπτώσεσι των αρχών και των ουσιών, ει τινός τούτων αμελήσειαν. <Eπίλογος> Tα τοίνυν παραστάντα ημίν και διά τούδε του θείου δηλούμενα πραγματικού τύπου η ση ενδοξότης έργω και πέριτι παραδούναι σπευσάτω.» Schöll, R. (ed.), Corpus Iuris Civilis v. tertium: Novellae (Dublin Zürich 10 1972), pp. 729 730. Βοηθ. Κατάλογοι The bishoprics in Mesopotamia according to the records of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 AD): Edessa Nisibis Resaine Macedonopolis Persis Honigmann, E. (ed.), La liste originale des peres de Nicee (Apropos de l eveche de Sodoma: en Arabie), Byzantion 14 (1939). Δημιουργήθηκε στις 9/3/2017 Σελίδα 5/5