Creta Et Cyrenaica

Creta et Cyrenaica was a senatorial province of the Roman empire created in 20 BC. It comprised the island of Crete and the region of Cyrenaica in north Africa (mod. E. Libya).

Marcus Antonius Creticus attacked Crete in 71 BC and was repelled. Rome sent Quintus Caecilius Metellus with three legions to the island. After a ferocious three-year campaign Crete was conquered for Rome in 69 BC, Metellus earning the agnomen "Creticus" for his efforts. At the archaeological sites, there seems to be little evidence of widespread damage associated with the transfer to Roman power: a single palatial house complex seems to have been razed. Gortyn seems to have been pro-Roman and was rewarded by being made the capital of the joint province of Creta et Cyrenaica.

History of Crete
  • Minoan period
  • Mycenean period
  • Classical and Hellenistic period
  • Roman period
  • First Byzantine period
  • Arab period
  • Second Byzantine period
  • Venetian period
  • Cretan War
  • Ottoman period
  • Great Cretan Revolution
  • Cretan State
  • Battle of Crete
  • Resistance
Provinces of the Roman Empire at its greatest extent
  • Achaea
  • Aegyptus
  • Africa
  • Alpes Cottiae
  • Alpes Maritimae
  • Alpes Poeninae
  • Arabia Petraea
  • Armenia
  • Asia
  • Assyria
  • Bithynia et Pontus
  • Britannia
  • Cappadocia
  • Cilicia
  • Corsica et Sardinia
  • Creta et Cyrenaica
  • Cyprus
  • Dacia
  • Dalmatia
  • Epirus
  • Galatia
  • Gallia Aquitania
  • Gallia Belgica
  • Gallia Lugdunensis
  • Gallia Narbonensis
  • Germania Inferior
  • Germania Superior
  • Hispania Baetica
  • Hispania Tarraconensis
  • Italia
  • Iudaea
  • Lusitania
  • Lycia et Pamphylia
  • Macedonia
  • Mauretania Caesariensis
  • Mauretania Tingitana
  • Mesopotamia
  • Moesia Inferior
  • Moesia Superior
  • Noricum
  • Pannonia Inferior
  • Pannonia Superior
  • Raetia
  • Sicilia
  • Syria
  • Thracia