| Provincia Augustamnica ἐπαρχία Αὐγουσταμνικῆς | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Province of theByzantine Empire | |||||||||
| 315–641 | |||||||||
| Capital | Pelusium | ||||||||
| Historical era | Antiquity | ||||||||
• Established | 315 | ||||||||
| 641 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Egypt | ||||||||
Augustamnica (Latin) orAugoustamnike (Greek) was aRomanprovince ofEgypt[1] created during the 4th century and was part of theDiocese of Oriens first and then of theDiocese of Egypt, until theMuslim conquest of Egypt in the 640s.
Some ancient episcopal sees of the province are included in theCatholic Church's list oftitular sees.[2]
The province was instituted intetrarchic times under the name ofAegyptus Herculia (forDiocletian's colleagueMaximian), with ancientMemphis as capital (315-325), but later re-merged in Aegyptus. In 341 the province was reconstituted, but the name was changed intoAugustamnica to remove pagan connotations. It consisted of the Eastern part of theNile Delta and the ancientHeptanomia, and belonged to theDiocese of Oriens.[3][4]
Augustamnica was the only Egyptian province under acorrector, a lower ranking governor.
Around 381 the provinces of Egypt become a diocese in their own right, and so Augustamnica became part of the Diocese of Egypt. Between 386 and the end of the 4th century the new province ofArcadia Aegypti, named after EmperorArcadius, was created with territory from Augustamnica, theHeptanomia;[4] Augustamnica's capital was moved toPelusium.
From the military point of view, the province was under theComes limitis Aegypti. According to theNotitia dignitatum, the province hosted several military units:[5]
Before 539, Augustamnica was divided into two provinces:Augustamnica Prima (First - North) andAugustamnica Secunda (Second - South).[4]
Augustamnica Prima hadPelusium asmetropolis (administrative centre) and was under acorrector, who governed the following cities:Pelusium, Setroithes (or Sethroitis), Tanis,Thmuis, Rhinocorura,Ostracine (or Ostracina), Pentaschoinon,Casium, Aphnaion,Hephaestus, Panephysis, the Tents outside Gerra, the Tents inside Gerra,Thennesus, Panephusis.[6]
Leontopolis was the capital of Augustamnica Secunda.
Ancient episcopal sees of Augustamnica I listed in theAnnuario Pontificio astitular sees:[2]
Ancient episcopal sees of Augustamnica II listed in theAnnuario Pontificio astitular sees:[2]
