Praetorian Prefect

• The Praetorian Prefect was one of Four Praetorian Prefects created in 324 CE by Constantine I to rule the Four Praetorian Prefectures which had been created earlier in 293 CE by Diocletian.
• The title is not to be confused with the Commander of the Praetorian Guard, who was called the Praefectus Praetorio.

Description

• In 293 CE Diocletian created the Tetrarchy of Four Tetrarchs consisting of two co-Emperors, each assisted by a Praetorian Prefect.
• Each of the Four Tetrarchs was responsible for one of the four Praetorian Prefectures.
• The Four Praetorian Prefectures each had between two to four Dioceses (12 in total), and each Diocese was run by a Vicar who answered to a Praetorian Prefect.
• In 324 CE Constantine I then replaced the Four Tetrarchs (the two co-Emperors and their Assistants) with four Praetorian Prefects, and these reported directly to the Emperor.

The Four Praetorian Prefectures

1. Prefecture of the Gauls
2. Prefecture of Italy and Africa
3. Prefecture of Illyricum
4. Prefecture of Oriens

Responsibilities of the Praetorian Prefect

• Head of the Roman Provincial Administration
  • with the Vicars and Governors of the Dioceses reporting directly to him.
• Chief Judge
• Chief Finance Officer
• Chief Tax Collector

Duties removed from the Praetorian Prefect

• Control of the Army
  • This was given to the Magister Militum of each Prefecture, making the Praetorian Prefecture a purely civilian position.
• Provincial Administration and Decisions
  • The Magister Officiorum in Rome was put in charge of all Provincial Administration and Decisions, restricting the independence of the Praetorian Prefects.

Diocletian's Praetorian Prefectures

• A List of the Four Praetorian Prefectures and their 12 Dioceses.