[princepspatrick]

mabye im crazy but im not understanding this clearly,,

whats the difference between a Praefectus and a Praetor, from what Ive read I dont get it, I guess I just need easy definitions of the two, thanks

[Primus Pilus]

A simple comparison...

A praefectus was an appointed rank that was symbolic of a governors role or military command, ie Praefectus Aegypti (governor of Egypt), Praefectus Praetori (Commander of the Praetorian guard), etc, and the title became increasingly more popular in the imperial period. There were a great number of praefects overseeing a nearly limitless number of tasks, available to both equestrians and patricians. As a praefectus was appointed by a magistrate (Republican period) and by the Emperor in the imperial period (for those positions of great responsibility, obviously the emperor did not appoint the praefects of every minor role throughout the empire).

The Praetor was a position in the cursus honorum (essentially the political path of rank and honor) along the Senatorial path and generally reserved for members of the Patrician order (at least prior to the Imperial period). The Praetor had duties including governorships and military commands as a Propraetor (meaning after having served his term as Praetor) and they were responsible for a great number of governmental administrative tasks. The positions were very similar and in several cases a having served as a Praetor was required for appointments to such positions as the Praefectus Aerarii Saturni (essentially the guardians of the state treasury).

In the Republican period the role of Praetor was one of great honor and tradition and was considered a precursor to serving as Consul. In the imperial period, as the Republican positions of honor were diminished by the 'Emperors' it could be argued that both Praetors and Praefectii served in an capacity of near equals.

[P.Clodius]

PP, correct me if I'm wrong. (Pro)Praetors, (pro)consuls, and dictators were the only one's to have imperium?

[Primus Pilus]

Yes, Praetors and Consuls were only regular magistrates to hold imperium, as evidenced by their right to the lictors (6 and 12 each respectively). Dictators, by virtue of their special position were accorded 24 lictors (double the number of both Consuls combined to show his supremacy over both). The Proconsular and Propraetor commands were really an extension of the original imperium, and only became a necessity with the expansion of the empire, and each was appointed 6 lictors putting them on par with a standing praetor, and not the standing Consuls.

However, Lictors were also provided to such positions as the Pontifex Maximus and even the Vestal Virgins, but these were special religious lictores curiati and were not an indication of imperium.

[P.Clodius]

Given this, governors must have held one of the above powers because they had millitary forces under them. Correct?

[Primus Pilus]

P.Clodius, on Nov 28 2005, 10:56 AM, said:

Given this, governors must have held one of the above powers because they had millitary forces under them. Correct?

Indeed this is true in the case of the Republic and there is plenty of evidence suggested throughout the late Republic with magistrates seeking to avoid political prosecution by both election to office and/or appointments to governorships. However, my knowledge of the position in the imperial period is sketchy. Legionary commanders were apparantly granted 5 lictors to show inferiority to the governors, who were granted 6. However Praefects were not generally entitled to lictors in the Republican period though they did serve as governors after Augustus reformed the nature of the provincial authority. In that case they too must have had 6 lictors, though obviously the nature of imperium was a much different situation in the imperial period anyway. I suppose that discussion regarding positions of authority in the imperial period will be a never ending debate.

[M. Porcius Cato]

Primus Pilus, on Nov 28 2005, 11:14 AM, said:

Legionary commanders were apparantly granted 5 lictors to show inferiority to the governors, who were granted 6.

What good was an extra lictor anyway?

[P.Clodius]

The more lictors the better, I'd want 24 ;-)

[Ursus]

M. Porcius Cato, on Dec 8 2005, 10:07 PM, said:

Primus Pilus, on Nov 28 2005, 11:14 AM, said:

Legionary commanders were apparantly granted 5 lictors to show inferiority to the governors, who were granted 6.

What good was an extra lictor anyway?

Status. Everything in Roman society was about status, at least for the elites.

[Primus Pilus]

Ursus, on Dec 9 2005, 05:48 AM, said:

M. Porcius Cato, on Dec 8 2005, 10:07 PM, said:

Primus Pilus, on Nov 28 2005, 11:14 AM, said:

Legionary commanders were apparantly granted 5 lictors to show inferiority to the governors, who were granted 6.

What good was an extra lictor anyway?

Status. Everything in Roman society was about status, at least for the elites.

And I suppose if a Legate and a governor ever got into a fistfight, that extra guy with the fasces might come in handy. ;)

[WotWotius]

couldn't consuls be granted consular imperium, whereby they had the right to move armies around italy?