From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Syrmium)
Jump to: navigation, search
Sremska Mitrovica
Carska palata Sirmijum1.JPG
Ruins of Imperial Palace at Sirmium
Sirmium is located in Serbia
Type ancient city, fortification, mixed
Site information
Open to
the public
Site history
Built before 4th century BC
Materials Stone


Sirmium had 100,000[2] inhabitants and was one of the biggest cities of its time. Colin McEvedy, however, puts the population at only 7,000, based on the size of the archaeological site.[3] Ammianus Marcellinus called it "the glorious mother of cities".[citation needed]




With the Scordisci as allies, the Roman proconsul Marcus Vinicius took Sirmium in around 14 BC.[9][10] In the 1st century AD, Sirmium gained a status of a colony of the citizens of Rome, and became an important military and strategic center of Pannonia province. The war expeditions of Roman emperors Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Claudius II were prepared in Sirmium.

In 103, Pannonia was split into two provinces: Upper Pannonia and Lower Pannonia, and Sirmium became the capital city of Lower Pannonia.


In 293, with the establishment of tetrarchy, the Roman Empire was split into four parts; Sirmium emerged as one of the four capital cities of the Roman Empire, the other three being Trier, Mediolanum, and Nicomedia and was the capital of emperor Galerius. With the establishment of Praetorian prefectures in 318, the capital of the prefecture of Illyricum was Sirmium, remaining so until 379, when the westernmost Diocese of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum, Pannonia (including Sirmium), was dettached and joined to the Praetorian prefecture of Italia assuming the name of Diocese of Illyricum. The eastern part of Illyricum remained a separate prefecture under the East Roman Empire with its new capital in Thessalonica.

From the 4th century, the city was an important Christian center, and the seat of the Bishop of Sirmium. Five church councils, the Councils of Sirmium, were held in Sirmium. The city also had an emperor's palace, horse racing arena, mint, arena theatre, theatre, as well as many workshops, public baths, temples, public palaces and luxury villas. Ancient historian Ammianus Marcellinus called it "the glorious mother of cities".

The mint in Sirmium was connected with the mint in Salona and silver mines in the Dinaric Alps through Via Argentaria.

At the end of the 4th century, Sirmium was brought under the sway of the Goths, and later, was again annexed to the Eastern Roman Empire. In 441, Sirmium was conquered by the Huns, and after this conquest, it remained for more than a century in the hands of various other tribes, such as Eastern Goths and Gepids. For a short time, Sirmium was the centre of the Gepid State and King Cunimund minted golden coins there. After 567, Sirmium reverted to the Eastern Roman Empire. The city was finally conquered and destroyed by the Avars in 582.

Roman emperors[edit]




Archeological findings[edit]

Julian solidus, ca. 361, from Sirmium mint

Famous residents[edit]

  • Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor (161-180), used Sirmium as a residence in between Pannonian military campaigns 170-180
  • Maximinus, Roman emperor (235-238), ruled from residence in Sirmium.
  • Hostilian, Roman emperor (251), born in Sirmium
  • Decius Traian, Roman emperor (249-251), born in village Budalia near Sirmium.
  • Claudius II, Roman emperor (268-270), born in Sirmium and spent most of his life there.
  • Quintillus, Roman emperor (270), born in Sirmium
  • Aurelian, Roman emperor (270-275), born in Sirmium and also proclaimed emperor there.
  • Probus, Roman emperor (276-282), born in Sirmium.
  • Maximianus Herculius, Roman emperor (285-310), born near Sirmium.
  • Galerius, Roman emperor (305-311), ruled as Caesar during the Tetrarchy from residence in Sirmium (293-296).
  • Constantius II, Roman emperor (337-361), born in Sirmium.
  • Gratian, Roman emperor (367-383), born in Sirmium.
  • Theodosius I the Great, Roman emperor (378-395). He became emperor in Sirmium.
  • Valerius Licinius, prefect of the Diocese of Pannonia with residence in Sirmium (308-314).
  • Petronius Probus, prefect in Sirmium (374).
  • Leontius, prefect in Sirmium (426).

See also[edit]


  1. ^
  2. ^
  4. ^
  5. ^
  6. ^
  7. ^
  11. ^
  12. ^
  13. ^

Further reading[edit]


External links[edit]