Praefectus Aegypti

• The Praefectus Aegypti was the Roman Governor of Egypt.
• He had 2 Legions under his control as well as a Naval Fleet, the Classis Alexandrina.

Description

• Egypt was an Imperial Procuratorial Province. It was not an Imperial or a Senatorial Province and Senators were not allowed to enter Egypt without the Emperor’s permission.
• Egypt was the personal property of the Roman Emperor, beginning with Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE).
• The Prefect was an Equestrian and not a Senator.
• He resided in Alexandria, was paid c. 75,000 Denarii and held Office for between 3 to 4 years.
• Sometimes, he was appointed Prefect of the Praetorian Guard either before or after serving in Egypt.

Main Duties

• Ensure the collection of Grain and on time sailing of the Alexandrian Grain Fleet.
• Defend the Southern Frontier from Kush and Ethiopia and prevent Rebellions that might jeopardise the export of Grain to Rome.
• Administer the Law by travelling throughout Egypt, acting as a judge in each local court and hearing petitions. These visits allowed the Prefect to keep in touch with the local magistrates, who also acted as the Tax Collectors.
• Ensure the safety of the Camel Caravans carrying the Red Sea cargos from Myos Hormos and Berenice.  They travelled between the warehouses on the Nile at Coptos, along a series of fortified watering holes called Hydreumata which had to be maintained.

First Four Prefects of Egypt

• 30-26 BCE Gaius Cornelius Gallus:
  • The first Prefect of Egypt. In 29 BCE he led a campaign to supress a Revolt in Thebes. He later fell into disgrace and was removed by Augustus.
• 26-24 BCE Aelius Gallus:
  • The second Prefect of Egypt. He set off on a disastrous expedition into Arabia Felix and returned aving lost most of his army.
• 24-20 BCE Gaius Petronius:
  • The third Prefect of Egypt. He invaded the Kingdom of Kush with its Capital at Meroe, and razed the city of Napata, Capital of the Kushans, in 22 BCE.
• c.20-12 BCE Publius Rubrius Barbarus.
  • The fourth Prefect of Egypt.

Other notable Prefects

• 14-15 CE Lucius Seius Strabo
  • Previously, he had been Prefect of the Praetorian Guard until 14 CE.
  • His son Sejanus became a notorious Prefect of the Praetorian Guard.
• 126-133 CE: Titus Flavius Titianus
  • His Mother was Flavia Domitilla. She is a Saint in the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church and was sent in Exile in 95 CE to the island of Ventotene by Domitian, and died circa 100 CE.
  • Flavia Domitilla was the granddaughter of Vespasian and the niece of Domitian.
• 133-137 CE: Marcus Petronius Mamertinus
  • Subsequently, in 139-143 CE he became Prefect of the Praetorian Guard.
• 137-142 CE: Gaius Avidius Heliodorus

Alexandria