If the governor misconducted himself in the performance of his
official duties, the provincials might apply for redress to the
Senate, and to influential Romans who were their patrons.

The governor received no salary, but was allowed to exact certain
contributions from the people of the province for the support of
himself and his retinue, which consisted of quaestors, secretary,
notary, lictors, augurs, and public criers. His authority was supreme
in military and civil matters, and he could not be removed from
office. But after his term had ended, he could be tried for
mismanagement.

Many of the governors were rascals, and obtained by unfair means vast
sums of money from the provincials. One of the most notorious of these
was Verres, against whom Cicero delivered his Verrine orations.

At the time of the battle of Actium there were eighteen provinces;
viz. Sicilia (227 [Footnote: The figures in parentheses indicate the
date at which the province was established.]), Sardinia and Corsica
(227), Hispania Citerior (205), Hispania Ulterior (205), Illyricum
(167), Macedonia (146), Africa (146), Asia (133), Achaia (146), Gallia
Citerior (80), Gallia Narbonensis (118), Cilicia (63), Syria (64),
Bithynia and Pontus (63), Cyprus (55), Cyrenaica and Crete (63),
Numidia (46), and Mauritania (46).

Under the Emperors the following sixteen were added: Rhoetia,
Noricum, Pannonia, Moesia, Dacia, Britannia, Aegyptus, Cappadocia,
Galatia, Rhodus, Lycia, Judaea, Arabia, Mesopotamia. Armenia, and
Assyria.