Praefectus vigilum
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The praefectus vigilum (lit. 'prefect of the watchmen', pl.: praefecti vigilum) was, starting with the reign of the
Description
Headquarters
The offices of the praefectus vigilum were located in the
Powers and duties
Without the participation of the Senate or the Roman people, the praefectus vigilum was appointed by the Emperor for an indefinite period and just as arbitrarily removed again. He supervised the fire prevention and fire fighting service in the city of Rome. He was also responsible for maintaining order in the streets at night. The Prefect was vested with both military (he was the head of the corps)[4] and civil (judicial)[3] powers, the latter giving him jurisdiction over arsonists, burglars, thieves, robbers and fences.[5] He could impose light sentences (lashes or sticks) but important cases were transferred to the responsibility of the prefect of the city (praefectus urbi).[6][7] His staff therefore consisted of two types of personnel, the first military (officers and non-commissioned officers) and the second civilian (regular administrative staff).[8] Each night, the prefect must personally lead one of the surveillance rounds and circulate in the town throughout the night.[9][10] He had the right to search private homes to check whether fire safety standards were being respected.[11] The praefectus vigilum was assisted by a subpraefectus and tribuni, who on their part were backed by civil servants.[12] From the end of the fourth century onwards, the organisation of the Corps was modified. The prefect of the watchmen was placed under the orders of the prefect of the city, of whom he became one of the heads of department.[13]
Prestige of the function
The Prefect of Vigils was not a
The subprefectus vigilum
In Rome
From the 2nd century onwards, under the reign of Trajan, the prefect had more and more legal powers and the presence of a sub-prefect became necessary. One of the first sub-prefects was Gaius Maesius Tertius, appointed in 113. The sub-prefect of the vigiles had his own offices, similar to those of his chief of service, but with a smaller staff. When necessary, he replaced the prefect.[16] The position of sub-prefect represented one of the centenarii of the career of the procurator (procurator centenarius was the governor of a part of a province). The position was accessible through the regular career but primipili could also access it directly.[8] According to Hans-Georg Pflaum, a subpraefectus vigilum got a wage of 100,000 sestertii.[17]
In Ostia
Under Claudius, a corps of vigiles was detached from the garrison of Rome and stationed in the port of Ostia. This detachment was temporarily placed under the orders of a sub-prefect during the 3rd century, who was himself under the orders of the prefect of the Vigiles of Rome. There would then have been two sub-prefects of the vigiles, one in Rome and the other in Ostia.[16]
History
Republican Age
During the Republic, the firefighting service was limited to groups of slaves made available by wealthy individuals, such as one set up by Marcus Licinius Crassus and one set up by Marcus Egnatius Rufus while aedile in 21 BC.[14] Their number, less than 600 "firemen", remained very insufficient in the face of the risk of fire which increased with the accelerated urbanisation of the city from the end of the Republic.[2][18]
Creation of the vigiles urbani
The night watches were reorganised by Augustus in 6 AD because of the frequent fires in the city, which were especially dangerous at night. but the corps was also open to citizens of the provinces of the Empire and later to Roman citizens.
The troops received accommodation in the city[21] and, although initially paid from the state treasury, the large sums needed soon forced the emperor to demand new taxes or increase existing taxes dedicated to financing the corps.[22]
The vigiles were distributed throughout all quarters of the city, kept watch at night and ensured that fires were quickly detected and extinguished. As fire guards, they were equipped with rope ladders, fire hooks and other extinguishing equipment and trained to climb from wall to wall.[23][12]
The praefectus vigilum under the Julio-Claudian dynasty
The first known praefectus vigilum dates back to the middle reign of Emperor Tiberius, and during the period of existence of the cohortes vigilum (about three centuries) only 43 prefects are known.[14] Among these, only seven are mentioned by historians, and all for reasons unrelated to their duty.[14] As the commander of a significant force directly available in Rome, the praefectus vigilum became important as early as during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, where his confidant
Neronian Fire
It is noteworthy that no ancient author mentions the praefectus vigilum who was in office during the
After the 2nd century
The office existed under later emperors, but it was not a permanent one. Starting under
The office also existed in Constantinople in the later imperial period.[26]
Known praefecti vigilum
This is a list of the known praefecti vigilum. [a] Only 43 prefects were known as of 1992.[14] The main reason for this is that the fasti with regard to this office are largely incomplete. Consequently, identification is possible mainly through epigraphic findings and secondary through classical sources.
Julio-Claudian dynasty (2 BC – AD 68)
- Before 31: Naevius Sutorius Macro[28]
- 31: Publius Graecinius Laco[29][30][31]
- ? – 48: Decrius Calpurnianus[32]
- 48 – 51: Julius Pelignus[33][34]
- Before 44: Cornelius Laco[35]
- ? – 54: Laelianus[36]
- [55 – 60]: Annaeus Serenus.[37][38][39]
- 60? – 62:
Year of the Four Emperors (AD 68 – 69)
- ? – 69: Plotius Firmus[41][14]
Flavian dynasty (AD 69 – 96)
- [69 – 79]: Gaius Tettius Cassianus Priscus[42]
- [71 – 130]: Sextus Sammius Voltina[43]
- 92: Sextus Procilius Papirianus (dubious)[44]
Five Good Emperors to Didius Julianus (AD 96 – 193)
- Before 102 – ?: Gnaeus Octavius Titinius Capito[45][46][27]
- At least 111 – 113: Quintus Rammius Martialis[47][48]
- [117 – 138]: Titus Haterius Nepo (attributed)[49]
- 149: [Con?]cors[50]
- At least 156-158: Gaius Tattius Maximus[48][51]
- ? – 158: Titus Furius Victorinus[52]
- [161 – 166]: Umbricius Aemilianus[53]
- 166 – 168 circa: Marcus Bassaeus Rufus[54][55]
- 175 (attested): Quintus Cervidius Scaevola[56][57][58]
- 178 – 180: Tiberius Claudius Vibianus Tertullus[59][60][61]
- 181 (attested): Sempronius Laetus[62]
- 190 (attested): Aelius Julianus[63][64]
- 191 (attested): Marcus Clodius Catullus[64][65]
Severan dynasty (AD 193 – 235)
- 193 – 196: Gaius Fulvius Plautianus[66][67][68]
- [197 – 202?]: Titus Flavius Pomptina Magnus[69][70]
- 203 – 205: Junius Rufinus[69][71][65]
- March 205 – 208: Gnaeus Marcius Rustius Rufinus[72][73][74]
- 208 – 211: Gaius Julius Quintilianus[75][76][77]
- 212 (attested): Quintus Cerellius Apollinaris[78][79][80]
- Summer 213 (attested): Lucius Valerius Datus[81]
- 215 – 217: Quintus Marcius Dioga[82][83][84]
- 217 (attested): Valerius Titanianus[85]
- 218? – 222: Gordius[86][87]
- 222 – ?: Gaius Julius Paternus[88]
- 226 (attested): Aelius Florianus[89]
Crisis of the Third Century (AD 235 – 285)
- [235 – 238]: Herennius Modestinus[90]
- 239 – 242: Gnaeus Domitius Philippus[91][92]
- 242 – 243: Valerius Valens[93]
- 244 (attested): Faltonius Restitutianus.[89]
- 259 (attested): Lucius Petronius Taurus Volusianus[94]
- 269 (attested): Julius Placidianus[95]
Constantine I (AD 285 – 324)
- 314? – 326: Julius Antiochus[96]
- Shortly before 330?: Av... Maximilianus[97][98]
Late Empire (AD 324 – 476)
- [324 – 337]: Postumius Isidorus[99][100]
- [333 – 337]: Rupilius Pisonianus[101][102]
- [367 – 375]: Flavius Maximus[103][104][105]
- [375 – 400]: Publius Aelius Apollinaris[106][107]
Uncertain Years
- P. Cassius ...[108]
- 2nd Century: Anonymous[109]
- 3rd Century, between Severan dynasty and Tetrarchy: Aur(elius) Concord[ius][110]
- [...]mo[111]
References
Footnotes
- ^ The vast majority of the periods or years in which they were in office came from Sablayrolles (1996), Appendix 1.
Citation notes
- ^ Cassius Dio 54, 4.
- ^ a b c Lefebvre (2011), p. 185
- ^ a b c Homo (1971), p. 164
- ^ Becker, Marquardt: Handbuch der römischen Alterthümer, p. 276.
- ^ a b Vgl. Wilhelm Adolf Becker, Joachim Marquardt: Handbuch der römischen Alterthümer. Vol. II.3. Leipzig 1849, p. 285.
- ^ Vogler 2007, p. 204
- ^ Digesta I.15.1
- ^ a b Homo (1971), p. 165
- ^ Homo (1971), p. 177
- ^ Digesta I.15.3
- ^ Lefebvre (2011), p. 186
- ^ a b c d "Vigiles". ostia-antica.org. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Homo (1971), p. 183
- ^ JSTOR 3297648. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Salles (2010) p. 61
- ^ a b Homo (1971) p. 166
- ^ Pflaum (1960), p. 174–175.
- ^ Salles (2010) p. 62-64
- ^ Suetonius, Augustus 30; Cassius Dio 55,26.
- ^ Suetonius, Augustus 30; Cassius Dio 55, 8.
- ^ Hollady (1962) p. 80
- ^ Hollady (1962) p. 48
- ^ CIL VI, 3744 = 31075 (362 AD).
- ^ Cassius Dio 58, 9, 12.
- AnnalsXI, 35.
- ^ Becker, Marquardt, Handbuch der römischen Alterthümer, p. 285 f.
- ^ a b CIL VI, 798 = ILS 1448
- ^ Sandra J. Bingham. The praetorian guard in the political and social life of Julio-Claudian Rome Archived 2017-03-01 at the Wayback Machine. Ottawa: National Library of Canada (1997), p. 63.
- ^ CIL XIV, 4533
- ^ CIL VI, 31857
- ^ Tacitus, Annals VI, 25.
- ^ Tacitus, Annals XI, 35.
- ^ Cassius Dio 61, 6, 6.
- ^ Tacitus, Annals XII, 49.
- ^ Cassius Dio 60, 23, 3.
- ^ Laelianus held the office until 54, when he was transferred (as successor to Pollio) to Armenia, where he died. see Cassius Dio 61, 6.
- ^ Pliny, Naturalis Historia XXII, 96.
- ^ Tacitus, Annals XIII, 13.
- ^ The American researcher Miriam T. Griffin suggests that Serenus took up the office of praefectus vigilum after 54, after the transfer of Laelianus, and probably died before 62, when Tigellinus held this office; see Griffin: Seneca. Clarendon Paperbacks, 1992, p. 447.
- ^ Tacitus, Historiae I, 72.
- ^ Tacitus, Historiae I, 46.
- ^ CIL XI, 5382, Asisium
- ^ CIL VI, 29718
- ^ CIL 06, *00422
- ^ CIL VI, 798
- )
- ^ CIL VI, 221
- ^ a b CIL VI, 222
- ^ CIL XI, 5213
- ^ AE, 1971, 33
- ^ Franziska Beutler (2009). "Ein neues Flottendiplom und ein enger Vertrauterdes Antoninus Pius als praefectus classis". Chiron. 39 (in German): 14. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ CIL VI, 41143 = ILS 9002. Two other inscriptions (CIL XIV, 440, CIL V, 648) are fragmentary copies of the first.
- ^ CIL XIV, 4509
- ^ CIL VI, 1599
- ^ CIL XIV, 4500
- ^ CIL XIV, 4502
- ^ PIR2 C681
- ^ K. Kłodziński. "Praetorian Prefects of Emperor Commodus". p. 71. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ CIL III, 7126
- ^ "Stela - 1874,0205.7". The British Museum. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ CIL III, 6574
- ^ CIL XIV, 4503
- ^ CIL XIV, 4378
- ^ a b CIL VI, 414 b
- ^ a b Rodolfo Lanciani (1898). "Ancient Rome in the Light of Recent Discoveries". Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company. p. 226. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ Ostia inscriptionCIL XIV, 4380
- ^ Sablayrolles (1996) pp. 493f and note 62;
- ^ Anthony R. Birley: The African Emperor. Septimius Severus, 2nd edition, London 1988, pp. 121, 221; Markus Handy: Die Severer und das Heer, Berlin 2009, p. 49.
- ^ a b CIL VI, 220
- ^ CIL 06, 03761 (p 3071, 4337, 4342) = CIL 06, 31320
- ^ CIL VI, 1055
- ^ CIL VI, 1056
- ^ CIL VI, 4381
- ^ CIL IX, 1582
- ^ CIL VI, 1058
- ^ CIL VI, 1059
- ^ CIL XIV, 4388
- ^ CIL VI, 1063
- ^ AE, 1969-1970, 193, Veii
- S2CID 180458237.
- ^ AE, 1983, 45, Rome
- ^ CIL XIV, 4389
- ^ CIL XIV, 4493
- ^ CIL XIV, 4681
- ^ CIL XIV, 4393
- ^ SHA, Vit. Elag., 12, 1
- ^ AE, 1966, 12
- ^ CIL VI, 30960
- ^ a b CIL VI, 266
- ^ "Modestinus Herennius". Brill's New Pauli. October 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ CIL VI, 1092
- ^ Ebru N. AKDOĞU-ARCA (2016). "The Procurator Domitius Philippus and Nysa ad Maeandrum in the First Half of the 3rd Century AD". Philia. 2: 152–162. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ CIL XIV, 4398
- ^ CIL XI, 1836 = ILS 1332.
- ^ CIL XII, 2228.
- ^ Cod. Theod. I 2, 1; II 10, 1; 2. XV 14, 3
- ^ CIL VI, 233
- ^ Av... can be interpreted either as Aurelius or Avianus
- ^ CIL VI, 1144
- ^ "Postumius Isidorus". Last Statues of Antiquity. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ CIL VI, 1157
- ^ "Rupilius Pisonianus". Last Statues of Antiquity. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ CIL VI, 1180
- ^ CIL VI, 1181
- ^ "Flavius Maximus". Last Statues of Antiquity. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ AE, 1904, 108
- ^ "STATUA A COLLEGIIS PRAENESTINIS PROPTER LARGITIONEM ERECTA" (in Latin). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ AE, 1912, 20
- ^ CIL IX, 5440
- ^ CIL VI, 1226
- ^ NSA, 1914, 186
Sources
- Wilhelm Adolf Becker; Joachim Marquardt (1849). Handbuch der römischen Alterthümer (in German). Vol. II.3. Leipzig.
- William Smith (Ed.): Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Boston, 2. Ed. 1859. Sub voce„Exercitus, Cohortes Vigilum“. p. 510.
- Hans-Georg Pflaum: Les carrières procuratoriennes équestres sous le Haut-Empire Romain, Paris 1960, Vol. 1
- Roy E. Hollady (1962). "The Vigiles of ancient Rome". Michigan State university. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- Homo, Léon (1971). Rome impériale et l'urbanisme dans l'Antiquité. L'évolution de l'humanité (in French). Albin Michel.
- Robert Sablayrolles (1996). "Libertinus miles. Les cohortes de vigiles". Publications de l'École Française de Rome. 224 (in French). 224 (1). Rome.
- Miriam T. Griffin: Seneca. A Philosopher in Politics. Clarendon Paperbacks, 1992. Appendix: Annaeus Serenus as Prefect of the Watch. ISBN 0-19-814774-0.
- Miriam T. Griffin (2000). Nero. The End of a Dynasty. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415214643.
- Vogler, Chantal (2007). François Vion-Delphin; François Lassus (eds.). "La lutte contre les incendies dans la Rome impériale". Les hommes et le feu de l'antiquité à nos jours (in French). Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté: 199–211.
- Salles, Catherine (2010). "Les pompiers de Rome". L'Archéologue. february/march (in French). 106. Archéologie nouvelle: 60–62.
- Lefebvre, Sabine (2011). L'administration de l'empire romain d'Auguste à Dioclétien (in French). Armand Colin.