Thracian/Dacians in Roman empire after 2 century

[diegis]

It is know that in empire was a mix of many nationalities, but before germanic rulers take control, (especially in west), it was a lot of emperor and a lot of soldiers who was from thracian/dacian origins (Maximinus Thrax, Decius, Aurelian, Maximian, Galerius, Constantine the Great, Justinian etc.), and, i will want to know if any know more about one of them, Caius Galerius Valerius Maximianus (250-311 a.C.). He was the emperor who extend the empire to his most eastern border, and ,how is see on his Arch of Triumph from Tesalonik (Greece), most of his soldiers was dacians (look, clothes, and especially weapons and flags, famous "draco"). Acording with Lactantius, an early roman christian autor who live in that period, and who write about him in his "De Mortibus Persecutorum" (The deaths of the persecutors), Galerius strongly afirmed his dacian identity,when he reach the highest power, and "he had avowed himself the enemy of the roman name, and he proposed the the empire should be called not the Roman, but the Dacian empire", and threated the romans as a conqueror treated the conquered, as Traian treated his forefathers dacians two centuries ago. It was in that time the roman element of empire so weak, that he can be changed that way, even his name ? Was posible such change ?

[Kosmo]

Of course a christian writer said bad things about an emperor that violently persecuted christians, but it's not necessary true. Actually I don't believe it.

Even his dacian origins are doubtfull. If he was born in Serdica (Sofia) in 250 that was in Moesia Superior. Only after 265 Aurelian abandoned Dacia proper and created a new province with this name south of Danube. The inhabitants of the area were thracians and illyrians at the time of his birth, not dacians.

Some say that Aurelian colonised people from Dacia south of Danube, but this depends on the control Aurelian had on former Dacia. It is very likely that Dacia (or large parts of it) was already abandoned before Aurelian's reign. If the withdrowal was made by mutinous units under pressure from barbarians it is unlikely that a massive withdrowal of civilians could be made.

Later barbarian kings claimed and used roman heritage. A co-emperor could not do less.

[diegis]

First, yes, he was born at Serdica, but his mother was from north of Danube, the old Dacia, and go to south because the volatile situation in north ( free Dacian tribes atacks against romans, combined with other "barbarians"atacks, who go because the lack of stability, dacians revolts. etc). She influenced the Galerius very much, especialy in religion (she believe in a mountain deity, most probably the old Zamolxis religion). And why to lie Lactantius about Galerius ? In that times was not a science fiction culture, to invent new emperors who exist just in writings, just if you presume that "De mortibus persecutorum" was such a s.f. thing. Why he said is was Dacian, not Thracian, or Illiryan for example, since this nationalities was very know in that times. The ancient writers, was, besides the archeology, the only reliable sources to know what was than,true, sometimes with exagerations (like the 700,000 troops army of Darius the First who come in Europe), with personal interpretations, but mainly true. Dont forget about Homer and his Troian war story "Iliada"(and Odiseea).Nobody believed a long time that Troia actually existed, until was discovered. And Galerius army who conquered Mesopotamia (including persian capital Ctesiphon and teritory east of Tigris, the greatest extention of Roman empire on east) was formed mainly from Dacians type warriors, how is see on his Triumph Arch. I want to say just in that times, the "non roman" ethnies, but with roman citizenship began to take almost full control over the empire, and the empire began to be conquered by inside, by his older enemies, transformed in romans.

[Philhellene]

By the way, though Aurelian left Dacia but this province was returned under Diocletian. The only source I know is Pan. Lat. IV, 3, 2

[Kosmo]

Romans kept some bridgeheads on the left bank of Danube when they abandoned the province. They also had some bridgeheads on Danbue east of the province.

This bridgeheads were later expanded in a large area that was paralel with the southern course of Danube. This was defended by a earth ditch/wall very long that goes from West (in Carphatians) to East reaching again Danube as the river heads north.

This roman defence system had areas that formerly belonged to the province of Dacia (a small part of the province, only the South of Oltenia) and areas outside it (east of Olt/Alutus river) The whole area was taken over by huns.

Aurelian's Dacia that was south of Danube in today Serbia shared the faith of the whole Illiricum being devastated by goths (and setlled) huns etc. It became part of Justiniana Prima diocesis and was lost to slavic invasions at an unknown date, probably during Heraclius wars with the persians (630's), toghether with most Balkanic areas.