Editing Epidamnos (section)

== Byzantine and medieval period ==
Dyrrachium became the capital of the newly established [[Roman province]] of [[Epirus Nova]] in the late 3rd century AD, reinforcing its religious and administrative importance. Its [[bishopric]] was elevated to a [[Metropolitan see|metropolitan]] see, overseeing the dioceses of the province. The city's fortifications were reinforced under Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century to defend against barbarian invasions.

In the 9th century, Emperor [[Nikephoros I|Nikephoros]] I reorganized the province as the ''[[Dyrrhachium (theme)|Theme of Dyrrachium]]'', an important Byzantine military district. The city served as a key stronghold against Slavic and Norman incursions, playing a pivotal role in the empire's defense of the Adriatic coast. The Normans, under Robert Guiscard, besieged and captured Dyrrachium in 1081, only for the Byzantines to reclaim it later.

Throughout the Middle Ages, control of Dyrrachium frequently shifted between the Byzantines, Venetians, and the Despotate of Epirus. The Byzantines continued to refer to the city by its original name, Epidamnus, as late as the 13th century, as recorded in the [[Synopsis Chronike (Skoutariotes)|''Synopsis Chronike''.]]<ref>[http://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/php/pdf_pager.php?rec=/metadata/9/b/0/metadata-181-0000011.tkl&do=71268_07.pdf&pageno=594&pagestart=1&width=369&height=578&maxpage=930&lang=el Synopsis Chronike, published by K. Sathas, Paris, 1894, p. 344 (pdf 594), line 31, and pdf pages 617, 684]</ref>