What Were the Provinces of the Roman Empire?

Question: What Were the Provinces of the Roman Empire?

Answer: Roman provinces (Lat. proviniciae) were administrative and territorial units of the Roman Empire. Governors of provinces were often former consuls. Former praetors could also serve as governor. In some places (like Judaea) prefects were appointed governor. The provinces provided a source of income for the governor and resources for Rome.

Provinces changed over time. During the Dominate, the latter period of the Roman Empire, the provinces were split into smaller units. The following are the provinces at the time of Actium (31 B.C.) with the dates (B.C.) (from Pennell) they were established (not the same as the date of acquisition):

1. Sicilia (227)
2. Sardinia and Corsica (227)
3. Hispania Citerior (205)
4. Hispania Ulterior (205)
5. Illyricum (167)
6. Macedonia (146)
7. Africa (146)
8. Asia (133)
9. Achaia (146)
10. Gallia Citerior (80)
11. Gallia Narbonensis (118)
12. Cilicia (63), Syria (64)
13. Bithynia and Pontus (63)
14. Cyprus (55)
15. Cyrenaica and Crete (63)
16. Numidia (46)
17. Mauritania (46)

The following provinces were added under the emperors

1. Rhaetia
2. Noricum
3. Pannonia
4. Moesia
5. Dacia
6. Britannia
7. Aegyptus
8. Cappadocia
9. Galatia
10. Rhodus
11. Lycia
12. Judaea
13. Arabia
14. Mesopotamia
15. Armenia
16. Assyria

Source: Pennell - Roman Roads and Provinces

Italian Provinces

• Venetia et Histria
• Aemilia
• Liguria
• Flaminia et Picenum Annonarium
• Tuscia et Umbria
• Picenum Suburbicarium
• Campania
• Apulia et Galabria
• Lucania et Bruttii
• Samnium
• Valeria
• Alpes Cottiae

Source: A History of Rome, by Robert Fowler Leighton. New York: Clark & Maynard. 1888

See: Rome: Map of the Empire