Административное деление позднеримской Британии и проблема провинции Valentia в англо-американской историографии

Abstract

История административного устройства отдаленной римской провинции остается и по сей день предметом научных споров. Это касается всех периодов римского господства на острове, но в особенности эпохи поздней античности. За почти четыре столетия римской власти в Британии было проведено несколько административных реформ, из которых внимание автора статьи будет сосредоточено на реформах IV века. The paper deals with the administrative reforms in late Roman Britain and the problem of the province of Valentia. After the recovery of the island from the usurpers the administrative reform of Diocletian was spread on Britain. Four provinces were created: Britannia Prima, Britannia Secunda, Flavia Caesariensis and Maxima Ceasariensis. The names of these provinces are found in number of ancient texts, including the Notitia Dignitatum. Ammianus Marcellinus says about the creation of new province — Valentia — in 368. In historiography there is no unanimity on the question of the localisation of this province. Among the most popular theories are two viewpoints: 1) Valentia was created by the division of the province of Britannia Secunda; 2) the name Valentia appeared after renaming of one of existing provinces (likely Maxima Caesariensis) or entire diocese of Britannia. The solution of this problem is possible only with the discoveries of new texts (e.g., epigraphic). According to most researches, sixth province — Orcades — mentioned by Polemius Silvius, never existed.