thumb|250px|The Roman Balkans The Illyriciani or Illyrian emperors were a group of Roman emperors during the Crisis of the Third Century who hailed from the region of Illyricum (the modern Western Balkans), and were raised chiefly from the ranks of the Roman army (whence they are ranked among the so-called "barracks emperors").The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, pp.
261–263 In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, the Illyricum and the other Danubian provinces (Dacia, Raetia, Pannonia, Moesia) held the largest concentration of Roman forces (12 legions, up to a third of the total army), and were a major recruiting ground.
The advance of these low-born provincials was facilitated by a major shift in imperial policy from the time of Gallienus (253–268) on, when higher military appointments ceased to be exclusively filled by senators.
Instead, professional soldiers of humble origin who had risen through the ranks to the post of primus pilus (which also entailed admission to the equestrian order) were placed as heads of the legions and filled the army's command structure.
Since Decius hailed from the senatorial background, the historical period of the Illyrian emperors proper begins with Claudius Gothicus in 268 and continues in 284 with the rise of Diocletian and the institution of the Tetrarchy.The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, p. 262-264 This period was very important in the history of the Empire, since it represents the recovery from the Crisis of the Third Century, a long period of usurpations and military difficulties.
All of the Illyrian emperors were trained and able soldiers, and they recovered most of the provinces and positions lost by their predecessors, including Gaul and the eastern provinces.
Men of Illyrian or Thraco-Dacian origin however continued to be prominent in the Empire throughout the 4th century and beyond.
The later Valentinic-Theodosian dynasties (364-457 AD) also hailed from the Pannonia region.
List
The Illyriciani emperors' list is the following:
Decius - ruled AD 249–251
Herennius Etruscus - ruled AD 251
Hostilianus - ruled AD 251
Claudius II "Gothicus" - ruled AD 268–270
Quintillus - ruled AD 270
Aurelian - ruled AD 270–275
Probus - ruled AD 276–282
Diocletian - ruled AD 284–305
Maximianus "Herculius" - ruled AD 286–305
Constantius Chlorus - ruled AD 305-306
Galerius - ruled AD 305-311
Constantine I - ruled AD 306–337
Licinius - ruled AD 308-324
Constantius II - ruled AD 337-361
Jovian - ruled AD 363–364
Valentinianus I - ruled AD 364–375
Valens - ruled AD 364–378
Gratian - ruled AD 375–383
Valentinianus II - ruled AD 375–392
Marcianus - ruled AD 450–457
Anastasius I - ruled AD 491–518
Justin I - ruled AD 518–527
Justinian I - ruled AD 527-565
See also Concise List of Roman Emperors for more details.
High grade cavalry was also calledThe Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire: From the First Century A.D. to the Third by Edward N. Luttwak, page 178, "high-grade cavalry (equites Illyriciani)" Equites Illyriciani
See also
Thraco-Roman
Illyro-Roman
References
Sources
