Isauria,
the district of Pisidia, forming the S. W. corner of the modern
Karamania, was under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of
Iconium. “In the heart of the Roman monarchy, the
Isaurians long continued a nation of wild barbarians.
Succeeding powers, unable to reduce them to obedience either by arms
or policy, were compelled to acknowledge their weakness by
surrounding the hostile and independent spot with a strong chain of
fortifications (Hist. Aug. 197) which often proved
insufficient to restrain the invasions of these domestic
foes.” Gibbon. chap. X. Raids and Arian
persecution had disorganised the Isaurian Episcopate.
(Maran, Vit. Bas.)