And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares. Where did the veterans from the Eastern Balkan provinces settle?

In this study we examine the settlement patterns of Roman military veterans across four Eastern Balkan provinces—Achaia, Macedonia, Thrace, and Lower Moesia—between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD. Drawing primarily on epigraphic evidence, this research maps veteran destinations and investigates their demographic, social, and cultural impacts on local communities. Findings confirm that most veterans remained near their last place of service, with a minority returning to their places of origin or relocating independently. Our study highlights the significance of urban centers—particularly Roman coloniae, municipia, and key Greek poleis—as primary settlement sites, but also identifies rural concentrations of veterans. The paper employs GIS-based mapping for visual analysis and provides insight into veterans’ mobility, integration, and legacy within the provincial landscape.