Praetorian Prefectures

  • The Praetorian Prefectures were four areas of administrative control responsible for twelve Dioceses, created in 293 CE by Diocletian and known as the Tetrarchy (284-305CE).
  • In 324 CE Constantine I replaced the Four Tetrarchs with Four Praetorian Prefects.

The Four Tetrarchs under Diocletian (293-324 CE)

  • In 293 CE Diocletian divided the Empire into East and West and installed Four Tetrarchs.
  • He placed an Emperor (Augusti) and a junior Emperor (Caesare), called a Praetorian Prefect, in each half.

The Four Praetorian Prefects under Constantine I (324-337 CE)

  • Then in 324 CE Constantine I reunited the Roman Empire and replaced the Four Tetrarchs (Co-Emperors) with Four Praetorian Prefects.
  • Four Eparchies:
    • The 4 Tetrarchies then became 4 Eparchies, each ruled by a Praetorian Prefect who reported directly to the Emperor.
  • Twelve Dioceses:
    • Each Praetorian Prefecture controlled 3 or 4 of the 12 Dioceses.
    • Each Diocese was governed by a Vicar who reported to the Praetorian Prefect.

The Four Praetorian Prefectures

  1. Prefecture of the Gauls:
    • Capital at Trier, Germany (Augusta Treveriorum) until 407 CE then Arles (Arelate)
  2. Prefecture of Italy and Africa:
  3. Prefecture of Illyricum:
    • Capital at Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia), then after 379 CE Thessalonica, Greece
  4. Prefecture of Oriens:
  5. In 367 CE A fifth Prefecture of Egypt was created out of the Prefecture of Oriens

Magister Militum

  • Command of the Army was given to the Magister Militum who was the Military Commander of the Prefecture.
  • Under Constantine I, the Praetorian Prefect’s power was counterbalanced by removing control of the Army, making it a purely Civilian Office.
  • Initially, there were two Commanding Officers for each Prefecture:
    1. Magister Peditum (Master of the Foot)
    2. Magister Equitum (Master of the Horse)
  • By the end of the Empire both Offices had been merged back into one, which regained the title of Magister Militum.

Magister Officiorum

  • The Magister Officiorum was the Head of the Civil Service and of the Palace Bureaucracy.
  • Constantine I (307-337 CE) created this role to limit the power of the Praetorian Prefects. All Provincial Administration was funneled through this Office, so that the Emperor could supervise the activities of the Praetorian Prefects.
  • The Magister Officiorum was also given control of the Cursus Publicus, Rome’s network of roads and control of the Agentes in Rebus, a branch of the Roman Secret Service.

Diocletian's Praetorian Prefectures

  • The List names the Four Praetorian Prefectures and their Twelve Dioceses.

 

Posted in .