Donativum

Under the Roman Empire, a donativum is an exceptional reward granted to a body of troop, generally equivalent to several years of balance. The Praetorian (personal guard of the emperor) frequently receive a donativum : at the time of the advent of a new emperor, during a birth or of a marriage in the imperial family.

The other bodies of troop (legions, auxiliary troops) receive some less often, even never.

Examples

Some examples of donativa brought back by the Roman historians:

  • In 41, Claude, fearing for his life after the assassination of Caligula, offers 15.000 Sesterce S per capita to Praetorian which had taken it along in their camp It was the first emperor to be made sure thus of the fidelity of its guard.

  • In 68, Galba refuses to give to Praetorian gratification more considerable than usually, guarantor “whom it had habit to enlist of the soldiers, and not to buy them”. The Praetorian ones corrupted by Othon assassinate it shortly after. (Lives of the twelve Césars, Bent, XVI).
  • In 69, Vitellius “felt the threat of the donativum suspended on him, and as it did not have money, it granted all the remainder to the soldiers”. (Tacit, Stories, delivers II, XCIV).
  • In 69, Vespasien puts a crushing argument at the higher bid, with more effectiveness: “as for the troops which had taken part in its victory, well far from their granting some extraordinary favor, it even made them await their legitimate rewards a long time” (Suétone Vie of the twelve Césars, Vespasien, VIII)
  • In 193, the senator Pertinax, also fearing for its life, promises 3000 drachmas with Praetorian which surrounded it, and which proclaim it then emperor. He pours half, but is assassinated of it shortly after by the Praetorian ones.
  • Its successor Didius Julianus buys its proclamation against a fabulous promise of 6250 drachmas per capita. He perishes before to have poured them
.

Complete listing

See too

Sources

  • Lives of the twelve Césars , Suétone
  • general History of the Roman Empire , Paul Small, Editions of the Threshold, 1974

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