Isaurian

The Isaurians were an ancient people who inhabited the mountainous region of Isauria in southern Asia Minor, roughly corresponding to the modern-day provinces of Antalya and Konya in Turkey. They are first mentioned in historical records by the Greek historian Strabo in the 1st century BC. The Isaurians were known for their martial prowess and their difficult, rugged homeland, which made them formidable adversaries and provided them with a degree of independence.

Throughout the Roman and Byzantine periods, the Isaurians played a significant role in military affairs. They were often recruited into the Roman army, where their fighting skills were highly valued. Their involvement became particularly prominent in the late Roman Empire. In the 5th century AD, an Isaurian named Zeno rose to become the Byzantine Emperor, reigning from 474 to 491 AD. His reign was marked by considerable instability and internal conflict, partly due to the prejudice against his foreign origin.

Despite facing some discrimination, Zeno and other Isaurians left a lasting mark on Byzantine history. Their influence extended to the military and political spheres. The region of Isauria itself remained a strategic area, and its inhabitants continued to be a distinct cultural and ethnic group for centuries, though their prominence gradually diminished with the changing geopolitical landscape of Anatolia.