Prefect of the court - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

The Préfet of the Prétoire ( præfectus prætorio ) is the officer ordering the Praetorian Garde with Rome, under the High-Empire, and a senior official with the head of a group of provinces, the prefecture of the court, in late Antiquity.

The prefect of the court under Principat

Function

This load was created by Auguste and was reserved to the members of the equestrian Ordre. It lasted until the end of the Empire.

The two prefects of the court had thus charges protection with it with the emperor. Tibère gave this load to only one man; however it placed the troop of service at the palate under its direct command. The emperor Vespasien showed his will to associate with the throne his son Titus by entrusting to him the load of prefect of the court, although it was never knight.

Antonin the Piles, briefly, then Marc Aurèle almost systematically and Commode - except at the end of its reign - named two prefects again, which was the standard at the third century. Later Constantin {{Ier}} changed the number from there to four, when it shared the empire into four Préfecture S. Since the Principat of Septime Sévère, the monitoring of the maintenance of the Italian roads seems to be assured by the prefect the court, whose the curators depend on the Italian roads.

They were at the beginning only chiefs of the Praetorian Garde, then only armed force present in Rome. Its Cohorte S had double manpower of those of a normal legion. Little by little, the prefects of the court acquired a jurisdiction, at the point to obtain a capacity close to that of the emperor, and with the {{IIe}} and 3rd centuries, they monopolized almost all the authority. It was then the time of their more great power: they gave sometimes the empire to an applicant or allotted it.

The prefect of the court was then the second character of the Empire; this function was the top of an equestrian and military career.

Famous prefects of the court

Under the High-Empire:

Séjan under Tibère
Sextus Afranius Burrus under Néron
Tigellin under Néron
Macrin, under Caracalla, first knight become emperor
Ulpien, under Severe Alexandre
Timésithée, under Gordian III (241 - 243)
Philippe the Arab, briefly under Gordian III (243)
Iulius Placidianus, under Aurélien (270 - 275)
Ablabios

The prefect of the court in late Antiquity

Function

In 312, Constantin, after his victory over Maxence removed the Praetorian troops. In the years which followed, under Constantin himself and the reign of its sons, the function was deeply altered, reducing it to a civil capacity. But it gave them however authority with each one on a quarter of the empire, already divided into four prefectures, which they controlled from now on: the Gaulle S, the Italy, the Illyrie and the the East. To præfectus prætorio , one added then per Gallias , per Italiam , per Illyricum , per Orientem .

List prefects of the court of late Antiquity

Prefecture of the court of Italy

of Italy

343 - C. 345: M.Maecius Memmius Furius Baburius Caecilianus Placidus
C. 345 - 347: Vulcacius Rufinus
350 : Anicetus; in June 350, he is opposed in Rome to Nepotianus and is made kill.
354 : Maecilius Hilarianus
355 - 361: Flavius Taurus
before 368 - fine 375: Petronius Probus ; Probus was then prefect of Illyrie, Africa and Italy: five months after, Ausone replaces it in the prefecture of Africa and Italy: the title of prefect of Illyrie is given to the old man Julius Ausonius.
376 : Ausone, prefect of Africa and Italy
377 - 378: Flavius Claudius Antonius
382 : Flavius Afranius Syagrius
384 : Vettius Agorius Praetextatus
390 - 393: Nicomaque Flavien
397 - 399: Flavius Manlius Theodorus, known as also Flavius Mallius Theodorus or Theodore ; according to de.wiki, prefect of Gaules in 382-383 and Italy in 397-399.
towards 406 - 408: Flavius Macrobius Longinianus; August 13rd 408, Longinianus, which was prefect of the court of Italy, is cut the throat of in Pavia by soldiers who mutinés themselves.
409 : Cécilien; in January 409, a Roman embassy goes to Ravenne near Honorius. The purpose of this embassy carried out by Attale and Cécilien, prefect of the court of Italy, is to make fulfill in Honorius its obligations with respect to Alaric.
412 - 416: Monachius; January 412, September 416 (possible as prefect of Illyrie/to be validated)
towards 452: Trigetius; the pope Leon Ier and the prefect of the Trigetius court negotiate with Attila. This one gives up Rome and is withdrawn from Italy, against payment of an annual tribute.

of the town of Rome

317 - 319: Septimus Bassus
322 : Maximus; April 322
345 - 346: Petronius, prefect of Rome
347 - 349: Ulpius Limenius (June 12th, 347 - April 8th, 349)
349 - 349: Eustathius (April 8th, 349 - May 19th, 349)
349 - 350: Hermogenes (May 19th, 349 - February 27th, 350)
350: Fabius Titianus ; appointed prefect of Gaules before 343, it serves Constant Ier until the any end of its reign then puts at the service Magnence which appoints it prefect of Rome on February 27th, 350.
367 - 369: Vettius Agorius Praetextatus
380 : Arborius.
381 : Valerianus, prefect of the City; February 22nd, 381, May 8th, 381.
381 : Flavius Afranius Syagrius
382 : Anicius Auchenius Bassus
384 - 385: Quintus Aurelius Symmaque or Symmaque; in 384, Hesperius was sent by Valentinien II in Rome to examine the complaints carried against Symmaque, then prefect of this city.
389 : Aurelius Victor
395: Basile; count of the generosities crowned into 382-383 and Préfet of the city in 395
407: Curtius; November 15th, law of Curtius, prefect of the court: suppression of the allowances being used to pay the epula crowned and the ritual plays of the old Latin paganism. Their furnace bridges are destroyed.
408 : Pompeïanus, assassinated by Roman crowd
409: Jovius
before December 409: Attale, prefect of the city. It is made emperor by Alaric.
414 : Claudius Rutilius Namatianus (or Namantius); it leaves Rome in October 417 after having been prefect of the city into 414 and regains Toulouse its birthplace; also pagan poet.
420 - 421: Pétrone Maxime
433: Pétrone Maxime
438: Flavius Paulus;
454 : Boethius; he is assassinated.
458 : Palladius Rutilius Taurus Aemilianus
466 - 467: Flavius Synesius Gennadius Paulus
468 : Caius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius
470 : Symmacus
474 : Castalius Innocentius Audax

Prefecture of the court of Africa

In theory prefecture Africa or Illyrie, but it seems that in 375, the prefectures of Africa and Illyrie are distinct.

343/344 - 346: Anatolius, to distinguish from another Anatolius prefect of Illyrie between 357 and 360
347 -? 353: Vulcacius Rufinus ; prefect of Illyrie
355 - 356: Q.Flavius Maesius Egnatius Lollianus, prefect of Illyrie
357 - 360: Anatolius, died into 360; prefect of Illyrie
360 - 361: Flavius Florentius ; prefect of Illyrie
before 368 - fine 375: Probus; at the end of 375, Probus was then prefect of Illyrie, Africa and Italy: five months after, Ausone replaces it in the prefecture of Africa and Italy: the title of prefect of Illyrie is given to Julius Ausonius.
376 : Julius Ausonius, prefect of Illyrie
408: Jovius, prefect of Illyricum
439: Talassius; September 439
463: Eusebius;
468 : Heraclius; it gathers the troops of Egypt, Thébaide and Libya which it takes along to Tripoli where it subjects the towns of this province.
469 : Callicrates;
486 : Paulus; January 486

Prefecture of the court of the East

It seems that there were two prefects, that of the East and that of Constantinople.

301 : Aurélianus is named prefect of the court in Constantinople (July).
???? : Domitien
???? : Musonien
towards 316: Maternus Cynegius, prefect of the court of the East
323: Florentius; April 323
344 - 351: Flavius Philippus, consul in 348.
354 - 358: Strategius Musonianus, prefect of the East
358 - 360: Hermogenes, prefect of the East
360 - 361: Helpidius, prefect of the East; deposited by Julien at the end of 361.
361 - 363: Sallustius, named by Julien
towards 380: Domitius Modestus, at the time of the emperors Valens (364-378), Valentinien (364-392) and Gratien (367-383)
384 - 388: Cynegius Maternus
388 - 392: Flavius Eutolmius Tatianus says also Tatianos , of pagan religion. Prefect of the court of the East under Théodose Ier (379-395) of 388 with 392, date on which his/her son is carried out and itself returned in Lycie (it was originating in Sidyma). (NOTE: Rufinus is known as to succeed Tatianos, but Pb of dates between Aurélien and Tatianos; perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that Aurélien is prefect of Constantinople and not of the East)
393 - 394: Aurélien, former prefect of Constantinople
394 - 395: Flavius Rufinus, prefect of the court of Constantinople
395 - 397: Flavius Caesarius (time)
397 - 399: Flavius Eutychianus
399 - 401: Aurelianus (time); Aurélianus is named prefect of the court of the East (July); its career is braked under Eutrope, but the adversaries of this last, opposed to its policy favorable to the barbarians gather around him. Summer 399, Aurélien reaches the load of prefect of the court of the East
401: Flavius Caesarius (time); Césaire, more favorable to Goths, succeeds his/her Aurélien brother and finds his load of prefect of the court.
402 - 404: Aurelianus (time)
405 - 414: Anthémius, maternal grandfather of Anthémius (Attention, several Anthémius/to be seen) prefect of the court of the East from 405 to 414
415 - 416: Aurelianus (time)
416 - 420: Monaxius
435 - 436: Isidorus, maternal uncle of Anthémius prefect of the court of the East, in 435-436
438: Flavius Florentius
439 - 441: Cyrus Panopolites says also Kyros de Panopolis
towards 454: Palladius, prefect of the court (of Constantinople?)
towards 469: Amasius, prefect of the court of Constantinople or the East (to be specified).
479 : Sebastian;
491 : Matronianus
494 - 496: Hierius
496 : Euphemius
498 : Polycarpus
502 : Constantine (time)
503: Appion
503 - 504: Leontius
505 : Constantine (time)
505 - 506: Eustathius
511 - 512: Zoticus
512 : Marinus (time)
517: Sergius
519 : Marinus (time)
520 - 524: Demosthenes (520-524)
531 - 532: Jean de Cappadoce (time)
533: Phokas (533)
533 - 540: Jean de Cappadoce (time)
541: Thomas

Prefecture of the court of Gaules

Prefects, of origins for the majority Gallo-Roman, often pulled about between their local fasteners and their Roman function (cf Arvandus.), have a civil and nonmilitary role although sometimes in the context of the time, the distinction is difficult to make (see Exuperantius, Tonantius Ferreolus, Paeonius). Another characteristic of the prefects of the court of Gaules, lies in the presence of true " dynasties" family member elects of this function, such as for example in Ve century families of Avitus and Sidoine Apollinaire.
In 407, the seat of the prefecture of the court of Gaules is repatriated of Trier to Arles.
L' critical History of the establishment of Francoise monarchy in Gaules - BOOK 1 CHAPTER 7 describes the organization of the prefecture of the court of Gaules at this beginning of the fifth century:

It there avoit under the prefect of the court of the department of Gaules three general vicars, of which one étoit for Gaules, the second for Spain, and the third for Great Britain. We will limit ourselves here to that of Gaules, which appelloit the vicar of the seventeen provinces. This officer avoit under him seventeen governors or vice-chancellors of these provinces; six of them portoient the title of president, and the eleven others that of proconsul. The counts who in each city particuliere veilloient with the administration of justice, and with the businesses of police force and finance, étoient subordinates with the governor in the province whose étoit their city, either that this governor was called president, or whom it was called proconsul.

After 477, following the annexation of Provence by the Visigoths, the prefecture of the court of Gaules disappears until in 509, date of its re-establishment by Théodoric.

List of the prefects

towards 303: Rictiovarus - it would have ordered the torment of Victoric and Fuscien two young Romans, in the north of France, at the time of persecutions of Dioclétien.
towards 340: Ambrosius, father of Holy Ambroise
341: Aconius Catullinus (or of Italy or Illyrie)
342 - 350: Fabius Titianus ; appointed prefect before 343, it serves Constant Ier as a Gaulle until the any end of its reign then puts at the service Magnence which appoints it prefect of Rome on February 27th, 350.
? 353 - 354: Vulcacius Rufinus ; former prefect of Italy (345-347) and Illyrie (347-353).
354 - 355: C.Ceionius Rufius Volusianus
355 - 357: Honoratus
towards 357 - 360: Flavius Florentius, man of Constancy II. In the current of the winter 358 - 359, it would have had to consider a civil servant marked of peculation and would have been opposed to Sallustius (prefect of the East into 361), adviser of Julien; consul in 361?
360 - 361: Nebridius
361 : Decimius Germanianus
361 - 363: Flavius Sallustius (note: probably an error, cf Sallustius, prefect of the East in 361-363)
towards 361 - 363: Felix Philagre, patrician, aeuïl supposed Avitus, prefect of the court of Gaules under Julien. He would have been arien.
376 - 377: Flavius Claudius Antonius
377 - a. 378: Ausone, Co-prefect of Gaules; in 376, Gratien names the Gallic poet Ausone prefect of Gaules
378 - 380: Hespére, wire of Ausone with which it probably shared the load of prefect
before 396: Flavius Manlius Theodorus, known as also Flavius Mallius Theodorus or Theodore ; according to de.wiki, prefect of Gaules in 382-383 and Italy in 397-399.
towards 384 - 386: Evodius, charged by Maxime with the business Priscillien, it condemned to dead Priscillien and its companions for heresy; meet the bishop Saint Martin
389: Constantius; November 389
towards 389: Arbogast - It makes carry out the césar Victor, wire of Maxime, on order of Théodose Ier, with Trier, spring 389.
before Theodore: Hilarius
before 396: Flavius Manlius Theodorus, known as also Flavius Mallius Theodorus or Theodore ; according to de.wiki, prefect of Gaules in 382-384 and Italy in 397-399.
396 - 400: Vincent (Flauius Vincentius), successor of Theodore. He is prefect of the court of Gaules during five years and often remains with Tours; consul in 401.
towards 401: Andromachus
towards 402: Claudius Posthumus Dardanus, faithful to the emperor legitimates Honorius against the usurper Jovin; twice prefect - Rich person owner arlésien, Dardanus converts with Christianity and withdraws himself in the Alps where he undertakes a correspondence with Saint Jerome and Saint Augustin
404 - 405: Romulianus; after April 22nd, 404 at August 6th, 405.
…: probably another prefect of the court (Pétronius?) between Romulianus and Limenius.
402 - 408? : Pétronius, first prefect of the Court residing at Arles
towards 408: Limenius - assassinated on August 13rd 408 with Pavia - Sidoine Apollinaire, often partial, evokes its cowardice.
towards 408: Apollinaris, paternal grandfather of Sidoine Apollinaire
409 - 411: Rustic Ten-per-cent tax prefect of Gaules.
412 - 413: Claudius Posthumus Dardanus, faithful to the emperor legitimates Honorius against the usurper Jovin, it would have personally carried out Jovin after its capture in 413; twice prefect - Rich person owner arlésien, Dardanus converts with Christianity and withdraws himself in the Alps where he undertakes a correspondence with Saint Jerome and Saint Augustin
413: Vicentius; May 413
towards 414: Julius - it would have remained with Autun
416 - 418: Agricola, recipient in 418 of the edict of Honorius fixing at Arles the assembly of the Seven-Provinces, consul of Rome in 421.
421 - 424: Exsuperantius, citizen of the diocese of Poitiers, it is named prefect by Constance III then killed by the Roman garrison of Arles at the time of the seat of the city by the Visigoths. Under Honorius, probably in 416 or 417, it treats with Armoriques, to bring back them under the authority of Rome.
towards 425: Amatus or Amatius. Recipient in 425, with the bishop of Arles Patrocle, one of the first decrees of the emperor Valentinien III where it is stipulated prohibition made to the Jews occupy of the legal functions, to be useful in the army and to have Christian servants.
426 - 427?: Aétius; it obtains Galla Placidia the prefecture of Gaules
430: Castus or Cassius? Certain affublé Castus of the title of governor would have intercepted, into 430, the monk Hilaire who started from Arles after the funeral of the archbishop Honorat; according to Emilienne Demougeot, there exists called Cassius, magister militum per Gallias into 430. In conclusion this Castus or Cassius was probably not prefect of the court.
435 - 437: Auxiliaris; it grants remissions of taxes to Saint Germain bishop of Auxerre. Auxiliaris is then prefect of Gaules and resides at Arles. Friend of the archbishop of Arles Hilaire, it probably intervenes in 446 or 447, to reconcile this last with the pope Leon Ier. Auxiliaris at that time occupies the post of prefect of Rome or Italy.
439 ? : Avitus, prefect of the court of origin arverne, large Gallic diplomat, and future emperor in 455-456
439: Florentius; February 439, July 439, December 439; possible former prefect of the East of 438 (Flavius Florentius).
440 -??? : Albinus; it would have démélés with Aetius towards 440
towards 441 - 445: Marcellus; towards 441 - 445, it would have taken part financially with the bishop of Marseilles Venerius (431-452) and Agroecius and Salutius, laic rich person Narbonnese, under the direction of Rusticus bishop of Narbonne from 427 to 461, with the rebuilding of the cathedral of Narbonne destroyed by a fire.
448 - 449: the father of Sidoine Apollinaire, whose exact name is not preserved to us.
between 419 and 455: Trigetius, friend of Sidoine Apollinaire, perhaps prefect of Gaules (or prefect of Rome) under Valentinien III (probably rather about years 450)
451 - 453: Tonantius Ferreolus, prefect of the court of the Gaules of 451 with 452 - 453 (of other sources 450 indicate - 453)
before 456: Priscus Valerianus cousin of the Avitus emperor and relative of Holy Eucher, bishop of Lyon (+ 449)
after 456 - 458: Paeonius - After the deposition of the Avitus emperor in 456, followed little time after its death, Sidoine Apollinaire speaks to us about a " Marcelliana" conspiracy; as a Gaulle, directed by one named Paeonius which, assuming " de facto " the vacant title of prefect of the court of Gaules. Take part with the Majorien emperor and the former Magnus prefect in a meeting in Arles in 461.
459 - 460: Magnus - Originating in Narbonne, named by Majorien, it would have succeeded Paeonius - consul in 460. He would have had three children: Magnus Felix, Probus, Araneola.
Of other sources indicate at the end of 458 - at the end of 459.
464 - 469: Arvandus of Gallic origin (or Armenian?); condemned with died to Rome for treason with the profit of Euric, its sorrow is commuted to a banishment on intervention of Sidoine Apollinaire
Towards 470: Magnus Felix says sometimes Felix (prefect of the court, but doubt if it is about that of Italy or Gaules), wire of the consul Magnus. Friend and school-fellow of Sidoine Apollinaire, Patrice towards 468, give up the political life and withdraw themselves with Arles between 475 and 480 near the bishop Leonce. According to a letter of the bishop Fauste, it is still in life in 483. His/her son becomes under Théodoric II, the single consul of 511.
towards 471: Seronatus. Perhaps simple vicar of the prefect of Gaules, it is carried out in 471 for attempt at treason to the profit of Euric. Evoked by Sidoine Apollinaire which far from defending it like Arvandus, overpowers it.
towards 471: Entrope, friend of Sidoine Apollinaire, it is originating in Auvergne or the Lyonese (note: possible also towards 474).
towards 473: Aurelianis or Trotadius
??? - Ecdicius - Wire of Avitus, he became prefect of Gaules (? /douteux); named magister militum praesentalis in 474
475 - after 477: Polème, resulting from a Roman family but born in Bordeaux or in its surroundings, he is probably relative of Sidoine Apollinaire. He is named prefect of the court of Gaules by Julius Nepos and he assumes this load during more than two years, even after the dismissal of the Népos emperor.

The prefect of the court to the Early middle ages

Function

Like many institutions (like the Roman Senate), the prefecture of the court survived in Occident the fall of the Roman Empire in 476. It was allotted by cruel sovereigns who controlled Roman in the past territories, and which perpetuated the Roman habits. The true nature of their role is not known, but it is known that Libère, named by the ostrogoth Théodoric, king d' Italie with Ravenne, had for example to fight against the Burgondes in the years 520, which shows a new evolution: of strictly administrative, the function probably became again militaire.
According to Edourd Baratier, the Prefect of Gaules would have remained with Arles after 536, date of the fastening of Provence to the Francs; he would have been the representative, for controlled Provence undivided , of the kings Théodeberg and Childebert.

The prefects of the court disappear at the 7th century, the known last being Alexandre, attested in 626.

List

Prefecture of the court of the East:

before 528: Basyle
towards 533: Carried out

Prefecture of the court of Gaules:

510 - 534: Releases, known as also Liberius , named by Théodoric; with the Orange council of 529, Releases, prefect of the court and seven other “famous men” sign under the signatures of the bishops.
after 536: Martias?
after 536: Parthénius?
after 536: Agricola?

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