Hispania Balearica - Government

Government

Before being separated, Hispania Balearica was the fourth district of the Tarraconensis with a native local government headed by a council. They served to provide for local needs and as a link directly to Rome. During the reign of Augustus the Balearicans requested help in stopping a plague of rabbits for which the Emperor dispatched troops.

Hispania Balearica became an independent province during the reign of Emperor Diocletian sometime after 284 AD. Previously, under Constantine I the empire was split into four prefects with Spain being controlled from Trier in Gaul. Under Diocletian, sweeping reforms of the provincial administration was enacted, designed to separate military and civic authority. Also, to reduce the power of other officials, the provinces were systematically reduced in size. All provinces were now under the direct control of the Emperor. All officials were chosen by him including the legati pro praetore, men of praetorian rank who ran civic affairs in the province, and curators who ran the municipalities within provinces. Balearica was separated because it was not reliant on the mainland for any staples and had special needs as a trading center that were more difficult to fulfil as a municipality than as a province. By the time of Diocletian, the islands population was over 30,000 and was granted its own Roman Bishop in 418 AD.