MARCUS ANTONIUS’UN KORSANLARA KARŞI SEFERİ VE LEX DE PROVINCIIS PRAETORIIS

Rome, which had not dealt sufficiently with Asia Minor due to her internal problems and external threats at the end of the 2nd century, has turned her face again to the East considering the piracy as most urgent problem to be intervened, after famous statesman Marius overcomes these problems. Because piracy, which became widespread on the southern shores of Asia Minor during the period of Roman struggle against the external threats, expanded its influence as far as the shore of the Province of Asia. Therefore famous orator Marcus Antonius has set sail against the pirates with a fleet, which has substantially derived from Roman allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is observed that after the return of Marcus Antonius from the expedition, a wide range of legal regulations was conducted in Rome about the provinces and allies, which has been neglected for a long time, in Asia Minor and broadly in the east of Adriatic. In this law, called as the Lex de Provinciis Praetoriis, it is stated that the province of Cilicia has founded as a second Roman province in Asia Minor and Lycaonia will remain within the borders of Asian province. The article in the law indicating that these measures have been taken for the interests and safety of the Romans and also friends and allies of Rome in the Eastern Mediterranean, is particularly important. With this law, which seemingly introduced by popular politicians, who supported Marius at the peak of his power, Roman merchants and businessmen were protected on one hand, while the power of Rome was once more emphasized in Greek world, which was neglected for some time.