Isaurian
Quick Summary
The Isaurians were a mountain people from ancient inland Anatolia. Described as warlike and uncivilized by Greco-Roman authors, they were conquered by the Roman general Publius Servilius Vatia in 76–74 bc. Their homeland, with its capital Isaura Palaia, was later incorporated into the Roman province of Galatia.1
The term "Isaurian" can also refer to a native or inhabitant of this region, or an adjective describing something related to Isauria or its people. Notably, the East Roman (Byzantine) emperor Zeno, who reigned from 474 to 491, was from Isauria, a period sometimes called the "Isaurian Ascendancy".231
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- Leo I
…rely on a force of Isaurians from the mountains of southern Anatolia to counterbalance Aspar’s German troops. With Aspar’s overthrow and murder in 471, Leo’s power was unchallenged. In October 473, the year before his death, Leo appointed his grandson, Leo II, as colleague and successor.
Read More…rely on a force of Isaurians from the mountains of southern Anatolia to counterbalance Aspar’s German troops. With Aspar’s overthrow and murder in 471, Leo’s power was unchallenged. In October 473, the year before his death, Leo appointed his grandson, Leo II, as colleague and successor.
Read More 
Byzantine EmpireRelations with the barbarians…empire by favouring the warlike Isaurians and their chieftain, Tarasicodissa, whom he married to the imperial princess, Ariadne. The Isaurian followers of Tarasicodissa, who was to survive a stormy reign as the Emperor Zeno (474–491), were rough mountain folk from southern Anatolia and culturally probably even more barbarous than the…
Read More…empire by favouring the warlike Isaurians and their chieftain, Tarasicodissa, whom he married to the imperial princess, Ariadne. The Isaurian followers of Tarasicodissa, who was to survive a stormy reign as the Emperor Zeno (474–491), were rough mountain folk from southern Anatolia and culturally probably even more barbarous than the…
Read More