Diocese of Moesia

Diocese of Moesia
Dioecesis Moesiarum
Diocese of the Roman Empire
ca. 293 – before 337
Roman Empire
Historical era Late Antiquity
  Administrative reform ca. 293
  Division in two dioceses before 337

The Diocese of Moesia (Latin: Dioecesis Moesiarum, Greek: Διοίκησις Μοισιών) was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, in the area of modern western Bulgaria, central Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Republic of Macedonia, and Greece.

History

Roman Empire with dioceses in 300 AD
Roman Empire during Tetrarchy
Roman Empire with dioceses in 400 AD

Diocese of Moesia was one of the twelve dioceses in which Diocletian (284–305) divided the Roman Empire during his administrative reforms. It encompassed most of the ancient Greek and Illyrian lands, stretching from the Crete to Danube. During the time of Tetrarchy, the diocese was under the jurisdiction of Caesar Galerius who kept it under his own control during much of his reign as Augustus (305-311). He died and was buried in the city of Felix Romuliana, on the territory of the Diocese of Moesia.

The diocese was later split in two, forming the Diocese of Macedonia in the south and the Diocese of Dacia in the north, probably under Constantine I (r. 306–337), although the division is not attested until ca. 370. The two new dioceses were grouped into the new praetorian prefecture of Illyricum in the second half of the 4th century, which essentially covered the same area as the Diocese of Moesia.[1]

Administration

After the administrative reforms of emperor Diocletian, the Diocese of Moesia was composed of provinces:[2][3]

References

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