Ein Bollwerk für Syrien. Septimius Severus und die Provinzordnung Nordmesopotamiens im dritten Jahrhundert

Abstract

Contrary to general opinion, an investigation of the tradition concerning the first Parthian War of Septimius Severus leads to the conclusion that the establishment of the provincia Mesopotamia, including its two legions, did not take place in 198 AD but already in the year 195. It also shows that Roman Osrhoena was first administered by a procurator as a subdivision of Syria Coele and had never been a separate province under the governance of a praesidial procurator. Later (still under Severus?), the Osrhoena was again separated from Syria Coele and joined with Mesopotamia, to which the former small kingdom of Edessa also belonged after 212/213. Apart from a short interruption between 239 and 242, this arrangement remained the provincial order in Northern Mesopotamia until the end of the third century AD. This result is in accordance with the evidence for the political aims and achievements of Septimius Severus during the first years of his reign.