View source for Scythia Minor

{{Short description|Ancient region}}
{{other uses}}
{{See also|Dobruja}}
{{Infobox Former Subdivision
| native_name            = {{aut|Scythia Minor}}<br>{{lang|grc|Μικρά Σκυθία}}
| common_name            = Lesser Scythia
| image_map              = Scythia Minor map-en.svg
| image_map_caption      = Major towns and colonies in Scythia Minor. Shoreline ca. 1
| era                    = [[Late Antiquity]]
| subdivision            = [[Roman province|Province]]
| nation                 = the [[Eastern Roman Empire]]
| year_start             = c. 290
| year_end               = c. 680
| p1                     = Moesia Inferior
| flag_p1                = 
| s1                     = First Bulgarian Empire
| flag_s1                = 
| capital                = [[Constanța|Tomis]]
| event_start            = division by emperor [[Diocletian]]
| event1                 = fall of the Danubian limes
| date_event1            = 7th century
| event_end              = Bulgar conquest
| today                  = {{plainlist|
*[[Bulgaria]]
*[[Romania]]}}
}}

'''Scythia Minor''' or '''Lesser Scythia''' ([[Ancient Greek|Greek]]: {{lang|grc|Μικρά Σκυθία}}, {{small|[[Romanization of Ancient Greek|romanized:]]}} {{Transliteration|grc|Mikra Skythia}}) was a [[Roman province]] in [[late Antiquity]], occupying the lands between the lower [[Danube]] and the [[Black Sea]], the modern-day  [[Dobruja]] region in [[Romania]] and [[Bulgaria]].{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991}}{{sfn|Rizos|2018}} It was detached from [[Moesia Inferior]] by the Emperor [[Diocletian]] to form a separate province sometime between 286 and 293 CE.{{sfn|Zahariade|2017|pp=509–510}} The capital of the province was Tomis (modern-day [[Constanța]]).{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991}} It ceased to exist around 679–681, when the region was [[Battle of Ongal|overrun by the Bulgars]], which the Emperor [[Constantine IV]] was forced to recognize in 681.{{sfn|Zahariade|2006|p=236}}

According to the ''[[Laterculus Veronensis]]'' of {{circa|314}} and the ''[[Notitia Dignitatum]]'' of {{circa|400}}, Scythia belonged to the [[Diocese of Thrace]]. Its governor held the title of ''[[praeses]]'' and its ''[[dux]]'' commanded two [[Roman legion|legions]], [[Legio I Iovia]] and [[Legio II Herculia]].{{sfn|Rizos|2018}} The office of ''dux'' was replaced by that of ''[[quaestor exercitus]]'', covering a wider area, in 536.{{sfn|Wiewiorowski|2008|p=11}}

The indigenous population of Scythia Minor was [[Thracian]] and their material culture is apparent archaeologically into the sixth century. [[Roman villa]]s have also been found. The cities were either ancient Greek foundations on the coast (like Tomis) or more recent Roman foundations on the Danube.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991}} Roman fortifications mostly date to the [[Tetrarchy]] or the [[Constantinian dynasty]]. Substantial repairs were made under Emperors [[Anastasios I|Anastasius I]] and [[Justinian I]], who granted the province fiscal immunity. By the fifth century, most of the troops stationed in Scythia were ''[[foederati]]'' of [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]], [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]], [[Huns|Hunnic]] or (perhaps) [[Slavs|Slavic]] origin. They were a constant source of tension in the province.{{sfn|Rizos|2018}}

[[Christianity]] flourished in Scythia Minor in the fifth and sixth centuries. Numerous Christian inscriptions have been found.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991}} Already in the fourth century, there is evidence of martyr cults there. Churches typically had relic crypts.{{sfn|Rizos|2018}} Several prominent theologians hailed from Scythia, including [[John Cassian]], [[Dionysius Exiguus]] and the [[Scythian monks]].{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991}}

==See also==
*[[List of ancient towns in Scythia Minor]]

==References==
{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFRizos2018}}
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{ODB |first=Alexander |last=Kazhdan |title=Scythia Minor}}
*{{ODLA |first=Efthymios |last=Rizos |title=Scythia Minor}}
*{{cite journal |first=Jacek |last=Wiewiorowski |year=2008 |location=Poznán |title=Duces of Scythia Minor: A Prosopographical Study |journal=Xenia Posnaniensia. Monografie Vol. Viii, Poznań 2008, Pp. 93, Isbn 978-83-60251-15-7 |url=https://www.academia.edu/5850298}}
*{{cite book |first=Mihail |last=Zahariade |title=Scythia Minor: A History of a Later Roman Province (284–681) |publisher=Hakkert |year=2006}}
*{{cite book |first=Mihail |last=Zahariade |chapter=The Scythian Section of ''Notitia Dignitatum'': A Structural and Chronological Analysis |pages=509–518 |title=Roman Frontier Studies 2009: Proceedings of the XXI International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies (Limes Congress) held at Newcastle upon Tyne in August 2009 |editor1=Nick Hodgson |editor2=[[Paul Bidwell]] |editor3=Judith Schachtmann |publisher=Archaeopress |year=2017}}

{{Scythia}}
{{Late Roman Provinces|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Late Roman provinces]]
[[Category:Provinces of the Byzantine Empire]]
[[Category:Moesia]]
[[Category:Scythia]]
[[Category:Geography of ancient Thrace]]
[[Category:Romanization of Southeastern Europe]]
[[Category:Ancient history of Romania]]
[[Category:History of Dobruja]]
[[Category:Praetorian prefecture of the East]]
[[Category:Ancient Bulgaria]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 7th century]]