The ("prefect of the provisions"), also called the ("prefect of the grain supply") was a

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

official charged with the supervision of the grain supply to the city of

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. Under the

Republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

, the job was usually done by an

aedile ''Aedile'' ( ; la, aedīlis , from , "temple edifice") was an elected office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings () and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enf ...

. However, in emergencies, or in times of extraordinary scarcity, someone would be elected to the office, and would take charge of supplying the entire city with provisions. Lucius Minucius Augurinus, the accuser of

Spurius Maelius Spurius Maelius (died 439 BC) was a wealthy Roman plebeian who was slain because he was suspected of intending to make himself king. Biography During a severe famine, Spurius Maelius bought up a large amount of wheat and sold it at a low price to ...

, was the first individual appointed to this office, serving from 439 BC. During the early 60s BC, following the sacking of the port of Ostia by pirates,

Pompey Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (; 29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey or Pompey the Great, was a leading Roman general and statesman. He played a significant role in the transformation of ...

held the powers of the office. Around 7 BC, the first Roman Emperor,

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...

, followed this example, and after vesting himself with these powers, specified that two former

praetor Praetor ( , ), also pretor, was the title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to a man acting in one of two official capacities: (i) the commander of an army, and (ii) as an elected '' magistratus'' (magistrate), assigned to discharge vario ...

s should be appointed each year to carry out the functions of this office. Augustus transferred powers from the aediles to this office, and specified that all holders of the office be members of the

Equestrian order The ''equites'' (; literally "horse-" or "cavalrymen", though sometimes referred to as "knights" in English) constituted the second of the property-based classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the senatorial class. A member of the equestrian ...

. Augustus also specified that these officers were to be aided by an ''adjutor'' (from the second century termed a ''subpraefectus''). Later, Augustus specified that the ''praefecti'' should be of

consular A consul is an official representative of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, as well as to facilitate trade and friendship between the people ...

rank. After Augustus' reign, one person would usually hold this office, frequently for a span of several years. This continued until the fall of the Roman Empire. During the later Empire, further ''praefecti annonae'' were established for the city of

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...

(Egypt) and the

province of Africa Africa Proconsularis was a Roman province on the northern African coast that was established in 146 BC following the defeat of Carthage in the Third Punic War. It roughly comprised the territory of present-day Tunisia, the northeast of Algeria, ...

, the two chief sources of grain for the provisioning of Rome.

List of known ''praefecti annonae urbis Romae''

The entries from AD 14 to 337 are based on d'Esurac, ''La préfecture de l'annone, service administratif impérial d'Auguste à Constantin''. * Gaius Turranius (AD 14–48) * Pompeius Paulinus (c. 49–54) *

Faenius Rufus Lucius Faenius Rufus, an ''eques Romanus'', was praefectus annonae from AD 55 to 62. Tacitus reports that (unlike most holders of that office) he did ''not'' profit from it. With Tigellinus, he succeeded Sextus Afranius Burrus as praetorian pref ...

(55–62) *

Gaius Poppaeus Sabinianus The gens Poppaea was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear under the early Empire, when two brothers served as consuls in AD 9. The Roman empress Poppaea Sabina was a descendant of this family, but few others ...

(c. 62–65) *

Arrius Varus Arrius Varus was a Roman soldier who rose to prominence during the Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69) as a supporter of Vespasian. Varus managed to hold two of the most senior equestrian posts, praetorian prefect and ''praefectus annonae''. What is k ...

(70) * Gaius Valerius Paulinus (c. 71–73)Added from Magioncalda, "La carriera di l. Iulius Ursus e le alte prefetture equestri nel I sec. D.C." *

Lucius Julius Ursus Lucius Julius Ursus was a relative of the Flavian dynasty, who was originally one of the equites who held several imperial appointments, but afterwards was promoted to the Roman senate. He was suffect consul three times: once under Domitian and tw ...

(c. 74–76) *

Gaius Tettius Cassianus Priscus Gaius Tettius Africanus Cassianus Priscus was a Roman '' eques'' who held a number of appointments during the reigns of the emperor Vespasian and his sons. Pavis d'Escurac observes that Priscus is the only known ''eques'' to hold the ranks of both ...

(?76–79/80) *

Lucius Laberius Maximus Lucius Laberius Maximus was a governor of Roman Egypt in 83 CE, and prefect of the imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian, in 84 CE. Prior to achieving these positions, Laberius Maximus h ...

(c. 80–82) *

Marcus Mettius Rufus Marcus Mettius Rufus was a Roman '' eques'' who flourished during the reign of the emperors Domitian and Trajan. He was appointed to a series of imperial offices, including ''praefectus'' or governor of Roman Egypt. Hans-Georg Pflaum first traced ...

(before 88) *

Claudius Athenodorus Claudius Athenodorus was a Roman '' eques'' who flourished during the reign of the emperor Domitian. He was appointed to a series of imperial offices, including '' praefectus annonae'' for the city of Rome. Hans-Georg Pflaum noted that Athenodorus ...

(c. 95) *

Gaius Minicius Italus Gaius Minicius Italus was a Roman '' eques'' who flourished during the reign of the emperors Vespasian, Domitian, and Trajan. He was appointed to a series of imperial offices, both military and civil, culminating with ''praefectus'' or governor of R ...

(between 95 and 100) *

Servius Sulpicius Similis Servius Sulpicius Similis (died c. 125) was an eques of ancient Rome who held several imperial positions, both civil and military, under Trajan and Hadrian, culminating with ''praefectus'' or governor of Egypt from 107 to 112. His place of origin ...

(between 103 and 107) *

Marcus Rutilius Lupus Marcus Rutilius Lupus was a Roman '' eques'' who was active during the reign of emperor Trajan. He was appointed to a series of imperial offices, the most important of which was ''praefectus'' or governor of Roman Egypt. It was while he was govern ...

(between 107 and 111) * Claudius Julianus (between 118 and 138) * Gaius Junius Flavianus (c. 138) * Lucius Valerius Proculus (142–144) * Marcus Petronius Honoratus (between 144 and 147) * Tiberius Claudius Secundinus Lucius Statius Macedo (after 147) *

Lucius Volusius Maecianus Lucius Volusius Maecianus (c. 110 – 175) was a Roman jurist, who advised the Emperor Antoninus Pius on legal matters, as well educating his son the future Marcus Aurelius in the subject. Originally of the equestrian class, Maecianus held a ...

(150s) * Quintus Baienus Blassianus (between 150 and 161) *

Titus Furius Victorinus Titus Furius Victorinus (died 168 AD) was a Roman '' eques'' who held a number of appointments during the reigns of the Emperors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. The most prominent of these offices were ''praefectus vigilum'', ''praefectus'' or ...

(before 159) * Titus Flavius Titianus (between 161 and 164) * Ulpius Saturninus (166?) *

Titus Flavius Piso Titus Flavius Piso was a Roman '' eques'' who held at least two senior postings during the reign of the Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Few details of Piso's life before these two senior postings are known. One source preserves his full na ...

(c. 177) *

Lucius Julius Vehilius Gratus Julianus Lucius Julius Vehilius Gratus Julianus was a soldier and an eques who held a number of military and civilian appointments during the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus. Julianus received honors two separate times for his military ser ...

(until 189) *

Papirius Dionysius Marcus Aurelius Papirius Dionysius (died c. 190) was a Roman '' eques'' and jurist who held a number of military and civilian positions during the reign of the Emperors Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus, including ''praefectus annonae'', or over ...

(189–190) * Claudius Julianus (c. 201) * Quintus Marcius Dioga (between 211 and 217) * Claudius (c. 218) *

Domitius Ulpianus Ulpian (; la, Gnaeus Domitius Annius Ulpianus; c. 170223? 228?) was a Roman jurist born in Tyre. He was considered one of the great legal authorities of his time and was one of the five jurists upon whom decisions were to be based according to ...

(31 March 222 - 1 December 222) * Gaius Attius Alcimus Felicianus (2nd quarter 3rd century) * Caecina Largus (1 February 250) * Flavius Arabianus (between 270 and 275) * Hostilius Antipater (between 268 and 328) * Flavius Domitianus (end 3rd century–beginning 4th century) * Manilius Rusticianus (307 or 309–310) * Scribonius (between 286 and 312) * Aurelius Victorianus (313?) * Gaius Caelius Saturninus (after 312) * Profuturus (318–319) * Mastichianus (326) *

Neratius Cerealis Neratius (or Naeratius) Cerealis ( 328–358) was a Roman senator and politician, ''Praefectus urbi'' and Consul. Biography He was the brother of Galla, wife of Julius Constantius, and half-brother of Vulcacius Rufinus, and probably had a s ...

(328) * Lucius Crepereius Madalianus (337–341) * Marcus Maecilius Memmius Furius Baburius Caecilianus Placidus (before 340) *

Lucius Aurelius Avianius Symmachus Lucius Aurelius Avianius Symmachus Phosphorius (died 376) was an aristocrat of the Roman Empire, and father of Quintus Aurelius Symmachus. Biography A member of the aristocratic family of the Symmachi, he was the son of Aurelius Valerius Tullia ...

(340–350) * Antiochus (350–400) * Publius Attius Clementinus (350–400) * Flavius Hesychius (361–363) * Maximus (365) * Julianus (366) * Aurelianus (367) * Maximinus (368–370) * Ursicinus (372) * Sempronius Faustus (375–378) * Proculus Gregorius (377) * Herculius (383–388) * Nicetius (385) * Ragonius Vincentius Celsus (before 389) * Numerius Projectus (393–394) * Caecilianus (396–397) * Petronius (400–500) * Acholius Abydius (400–600) * Vitalius (403) * Flavius Alexander Cresconius (425–450) * Achilles (450–550) * Sabinus (522) * Paschasius (533–537)

List of known ''praefecti annonae urbis Alexandriae''

* Claudius (349) * Flavius Soterichus (350/450)

List of known ''praefecti annonae Africae''

* Amabilianus (315-316) * Isidorus (368/375) * Demetrianus (369-372)

Notes

References

{{reflist

Bibliography

* Titus Livius (

Livy Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy ( ), was a Ancient Rome, Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled , covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditiona ...

), ''

History of Rome The history of Rome includes the history of the city of Rome as well as the civilisation of ancient Rome. Roman history has been influential on the modern world, especially in the history of the Catholic Church, and Roman law has influenced m ...

''. *

Lucius Cassius Dio Lucius Cassius Dio (), also known as Dio Cassius ( ), was a Roman historian and senator of maternal Greek origin. He published 80 volumes of the history on ancient Rome, beginning with the arrival of Aeneas in Italy. The volumes documented the ...

, ''Roman History''. * ''Digesta'', or ''Pandectae'' ( The Digest). *

Barthold Georg Niebuhr Barthold Georg Niebuhr (27 August 1776 – 2 January 1831) was a Danish–German statesman, banker, and historian who became Germany's leading historian of Ancient Rome and a founding father of modern scholarly historiography. By 1810 Niebuhr wa ...

, ''The History of Rome'', Julius Charles Hare and Connop Thirlwall, trans., John Smith, Cambridge (1828). *

A. H. M. Jones Arnold Hugh Martin Jones FBA (9 March 1904 – 9 April 1970) (known as A. H. M. Jones or Hugo Jones) was a prominent 20th-century British historian of classical antiquity, particularly of the later Roman Empire. Biography Jones's best-known wor ...

& J. R. Martindale, eds., ''

The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire ''Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire'' (abbreviated as ''PLRE'') is a work of Roman prosopography published in a set of three volumes collectively describing many of the people attested to have lived in the Roman Empire from AD 260, the date ...

'' (abbreviated ''PLRE''), Cambridge University Press (1971–1992). * Guido Bastianini
a al 299^p"">"Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p"
in ''

Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik The ''Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik'' (commonly abbreviated ZPE; "Journal of Papyrology and Epigraphy") is a peer-reviewed academic journal which contains articles that pertain to papyrology and epigraphy. It has been described as " ...

'', vol. 17 (1975). *

Henriette Pavis d'Escurac Henriette may refer to: *Princess Henriette of France *Henriette of Cleves *Henriette Willemina Crommelin (1870-1957), Dutch labor leader and temperance reformer *Henriette Dibon (1902–1989), French poet and short story writer. *Henriette Hansen ...

''La préfecture de l'annone, service administratif impérial d'Auguste à Constantin''
(Bibliothèque des Écoles françaises d'Athènes et de Rome, No. 226), École française de Rome, Rome (1976). * Andreina Magioncalda
"La carriera di l. Iulius Ursus e le alte prefetture equestri nel I sec. D.C."
in ''Cahiers du Centre Gustave Glotz'', No. 23, pp. 113–129 (2012). Annonae Political office-holders in ancient Rome