Illyrian emperors


The Illyriciani or Illyrian emperors were a group of Roman emperors during the Crisis of the Third Century and during the 4th Century who hailed from the region of Illyricum, and were raised chiefly from the ranks of the Roman army. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, the Illyricum and the other Danubian provinces held the largest concentration of Roman forces, 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 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 were placed as heads of the legions and filled the army's command structure.
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. 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.

List

The Illyriciani emperors' list is the following:
See also Concise List of Roman Emperors for more details.