<Articles>The Establishment of the Praefectus Praetorio

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  • <論説>元首政期ローマ帝国における近衛長官職の確立
  • 元首政期ローマ帝国における近衛長官職の確立
  • ゲンシュセイキ ローマ テイコク ニ オケル コノエチョウ カンショク ノ カ

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Abstract

At the beginning of the Principate the praefectus praetorio (praetorian prefect) was merely a minor office. By the mid-third century, however the powers of the praetorian prefect had expanded to encompass both military and civil aspects of state administration. Indeed, during this period, the praetorian prefect was so powerful as to be known as "vice-emperor". Scholars have generally asserted that such powerful praetorian prefect arose during the Severan Period. To them, the pattern by which the praetorian prefect became entrusted with civil powers was best exemplified by the appointment of the great jurists Papinian and Ulpian as praetorian prefects(jurist-prefects). According to this view jurist-prefects were the most powerful men in government. Closer scrutiny reveals however that the powers of these jurist-prefects have been vastly overrated, because each was dually appointed and held rank inferior to the other(non-jurist) prefect. In other words, the role of jurist-prefects was less significant than ever indicated. I believe that both the military and civil powers of the praetorian prefect expanded most markedly during the Antonine period. In addition to securing significant civil powers, the praetorian prefect played a greater role in warfare as well. Furthermore, many prefects were bestowed the ornamenta consularia, which led to a dramatic increase in the authority of that office. Indeed, the status of the prefect became equal to that of a senator or more than that. In other words, it was the Antonine period which witnessed the development of the praetorian prefect into a significant post. During this same period, a system of equestrian office also became highly developed. The increase in the powers and status of the praetorian prefect coincided with the development of the equestrian order, with the praetorian prefect being officially admitted as its highest officer. Because the framework for the rise of this equestrian order in the third century was already extant in the Antonine Period, it is during that age that one can posit the beginnings of the transition to the later Roman Empire.

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  • 史林

    史林 79 (2), 157-191, 1996-03-01

    THE SHIGAKU KENKYUKAI (The Society of Historical Research), Kyoto University

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