Arcadia or Arcadia Aegypti was a Late Roman province in northern Egypt. It was named for one of the reigning Augusti of the Roman Empire, Arcadius (r. 383–408) of the Theodosian dynasty when it was created in the late 4th century. Its capital was Oxyrhynchus and its territory encompassed the Arsinoite nome and the "Heptanomia" ("seven nomes") region.[1]
History
It was created between 386 and ca. 395 out of the province of Augustamnica and most of the historical region known as "Heptanomis" ("seven nomes"), except for Hermopolis, which belonged to the Thebaid.[2]
In the Notitia Dignitatum, Arcadia forms one of six provinces of the Diocese of Egypt, under a governor with the low rank of praeses.[2][3]
By 636, the praeses governor had been replaced by a governor with the rank of dux.[1]
Episcopal sees
Ancient episcopal sees in the Roman province of Arcadia Aegypti, listed in the Annuario Pontificio as titular sees:[4]
- Oxyrhynchus, the Metropolitan Archbishopric, so probably the provincial capital
- Alphocranon (Helwan)
- Aphroditopolis (Atfih)
- Arsinoë in Arcadia (Faiyum)
- Cynopolis in Arcadia (El-Queis? Cheikh-Fadl?)
- Heracleopolis Magna
- Memphis
- Nilopolis
- Theodosiopolis in Arcadia (Taha-el-Amudein)
References
- ^ a b Keenan, James (2018), Nicholson, Oliver (ed.), "Arcadia", The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity (online ed.), Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780198662778.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-866277-8, retrieved 2020-12-29
- ^ a b Keenan (2000), p. 613
- ^ Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Orientis, I
- ^ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), "Sedi titolari", pp. 819-1013
Sources
- Keenan, James K. (2000). "Egypt". In Cameron, Averil; Ward-Perkins, Bryan; Whitby, Michael (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume XIV - Late Antiquity: Empire and Successors, A.D. 425–600. Cambridge University Press. pp. 612–637. ISBN 978-0-521-32591-2.
Late Roman and early Byzantine provinces (4th–7th centuries AD) |
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History |
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As found in the Notitia Dignitatum. Provincial administration reformed and dioceses established by Diocletian, c. 293. Permanent praetorian prefectures established after the death of Constantine I. Empire permanently partitioned after 395. Exarchates of Ravenna and Africa established after 584. After massive territorial losses in the 7th century, the remaining provinces were superseded by the theme system in c. 640–660, although in Asia Minor and parts of Greece they survived under the themes until the early 9th century. |
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Western Roman Empire (395–476) |
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Praetorian prefecture of Gaul | | Diocese of Gaul |
- Alpes Poeninae et Graiae
- Belgica I
- Belgica II
- Germania I
- Germania II
- Lugdunensis I
- Lugdunensis II
- Lugdunensis III
- Lugdunensis IV
- Maxima Sequanorum
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| Diocese of Vienne1 |
- Alpes Maritimae
- Aquitanica I
- Aquitanica II
- Narbonensis I
- Narbonensis II
- Novempopulania
- Viennensis
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| Diocese of Spain |
- Baetica
- Balearica
- Carthaginensis
- Gallaecia
- Lusitania
- Mauretania Tingitana
- Tarraconensis
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| Diocese of the Britains |
- Britannia I
- Britannia II
- Flavia Caesariensis
- Maxima Caesariensis
- Valentia (?)
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Praetorian prefecture of Italy | | Diocese of Suburbicarian Italy | |
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| Diocese of Annonarian Italy |
- Alpes Cottiae
- Flaminia et Picenum Annonarium
- Liguria et Aemilia
- Raetia I
- Raetia II
- Venetia et Histria
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| Diocese of Africa2 |
- Africa proconsularis (Zeugitana)
- Byzacena
- Mauretania Caesariensis
- Mauretania Sitifensis
- Numidia (divided as Cirtensis and Militiana during the Tetrarchy)
- Tripolitania (Roman province)
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Eastern Roman Empire (395–c. 640) |
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Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum | | Diocese of Pannonia3 |
- Dalmatia
- Noricum mediterraneum
- Noricum ripense
- Pannonia I
- Pannonia II
- Savia
- Valeria ripensis
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| Diocese of Dacia |
- Dacia Mediterranea
- Dacia Ripensis
- Dardania
- Moesia I
- Praevalitana
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| Diocese of Macedonia |
- Achaea
- Creta
- Epirus Nova
- Epirus Vetus
- Macedonia Prima
- Macedonia II Salutaris
- Thessalia
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Praetorian prefecture of the East | | Diocese of Thrace5 |
- Europa
- Haemimontus
- Moesia II4
- Rhodope
- Scythia4
- Thracia
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| Diocese of Asia5 | |
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| Diocese of Pontus5 | |
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| Diocese of the East5 |
- Arabia
- Cilicia I
- Cilicia II
- Cyprus4
- Euphratensis
- Isauria
- Mesopotamia
- Osroene
- Palaestina I
- Palaestina II
- Palaestina III Salutaris
- Phoenice I
- Phoenice II Libanensis
- Syria I
- Syria II Salutaris
- Theodorias (528)
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| Diocese of Egypt5 | |
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Other territories |
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- Taurica
- Quaestura exercitus (536)
- Spania (552)
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- 1 Later the Septem Provinciae
- 2 Re-established after reconquest by the Eastern Empire in 534 as the separate Prefecture of Africa
- 3 Later the Diocese of Illyricum
- 4 Placed under the Quaestura exercitus in 536
- 5 Affected (i.e. boundaries modified, abolished or renamed) by Justinian I's administrative reorganization in 534–536
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