Roman Secret Service

The Roman Secret Service was based on a version of the Imperial Courier Service. It became formalised as the Frumentarii and later changed to become the Agentes in Rebus.
Few sources exist for the Roman Republic, but under the Roman Empire, its organisation was well documented.

Delator means informer. Sejanus appears to have created the Delatores, who are mentioned for the first time during the reign of Tiberius (14-37 CE).
These were professional Informers who reported on Opponents of the State and testified against them at their Treason Trials.

History:
- Hadrian (117-138 CE) established this service using the existing organisation of Wheat Collectors (Frumentarius) in each Province.
Headquarters:
- The Castra Peregrinorum was the Headquarters of the Frumentarii, the ruins of which are now located under the San Stefano Rotondo Church, but they are not open to the Public to visit.
Known Head of the Frumentarii:
- Marcus Oclatinus Adventus became Head of the Frumentarii, then Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, and was finally promoted to become a Senator by Macrinus in 217 CE.
Disbanded in 284 CE.

History:
- Meaning ‘Those who are active in matters’
- Diocletian (284-305 CE) disbanded the unpopular Frumentarii, but is thought to have established the Agentes in Rebus to replace them, although they are not mentioned until later in 319 CE.
Organisation:
- Five ranks based on the cavalry officers ranks:
- Equites, Circitores, Biarchi, Centenarii and Ducenarii.
- By 430 CE there were 1,174 Agentes in Rebus.

Messengers and couriers could travel quickly by using the Cursus Publicus, also known as the Cursus Vehiculorum, which was the Postal Service of the Roman Empire. This transported mail, officials and tax revenues between Rome and the Provinces.
The Statio was a Station or Post at set intervals along all the Roman Roads of the Roman Empire.
They were manned by the Milites Stationarii, who were Roman Legionaries, temporarily seconded to police the roads of Italy and the Roman Provinces.

Darius I (522-486 BCE) established a secret service called ‘the eyes and ears of the king’ to control his Empire from Egypt to the River Indus.
King Darius I (c.550-489 BCE) built the Persian Royal Road to keep himself informed at the Capital, Persepolis of news from the Frontiers.
It had 111 postal stations and relays, and connected with other routes, so that a Royal Messenger could travel the entire distance in 90 days on foot and in 7 days by horse.

San Stefano Rotondo Church