The ''donativum'' (plural ''donativa'') was a gift of money by the
Roman emperors to the soldiers of the
Roman legions or to the
Praetorian Guard. The English translation is ''
donative
The ''donativum'' (plural ''donativa'') was a gift of money by the Roman emperors to the soldiers of the Roman legions or to the Praetorian Guard. The English translation is ''donative''.
The purpose of the ''donativa'' varied. Some were expres ...
''.
The purpose of the ''donativa'' varied. Some were expressions of gratitude for favors received, and others outright bribery for favours expected in return. ''Donativa'' were normally rendered at the beginning of each new emperor's reign. During the 2nd and 3rd centuries, that form of bribery became a crucial part of any successful ruler in Rome. Such was the case with many of the soldier-emperors from 235 to 248.
The Praetorian Guard, intimate to the emperor's person, was an even greater threat to security. The
cohorts
Cohort or cohortes may refer to:
* Cohort (educational group), a group of students working together through the same academic curriculum
* Cohort (floating point), a set of different encodings of the same numerical value
* Cohort (military unit), ...
stationed in Rome were difficult to appease and quick to assassinate. The ''donativum'' thus provided a significant way to purchase the Guard's support and loyalty.
Emperor
Augustus bequeathed the Praetorian Guard a substantial sum in his will, but it was not until the reign of
Tiberius that gifts of money were thought to be mandatory. The Praetorian Guard received such gifts for turning a blind eye when
Sejanus
Lucius Aelius Sejanus (c. 20 BC – 18 October AD 31), commonly known as Sejanus (), was a Roman soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Of the Equites class by birth, Sejanus rose to power as prefect of the Praetorian Guar ...
, the
praetorian prefect
The praetorian prefect ( la, praefectus praetorio, el, ) was a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders be ...
, fell from power. Each Praetorian Guard received 10 gold pieces in return for not defending Sejanus.
In 41, after the assassination of
Caligula
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula (), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the popular Roman general Germanicu ...
, the Guard supported
Claudius
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54) was the fourth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Nero Claudius Drusus, Drusu ...
, and the Senate briefly learned that the Guard had installed him on the throne. Claudius gave them 150 gold pieces, or some 3,750
denarii to which the senators' 100
sesterces
The ''sestertius'' (plural ''sestertii''), or sesterce (plural sesterces), was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions. During the Roman Empire it was a large brass coin.
The na ...
were added annually to commemorate Claudius's accession. The inevitable result of the custom of the ''donativum'' was the Guard's auctioning of the empire to
Didius Julianus in 193.
Imperial Donativa to the Praetorian Guard 14–193
See also
*
Congiarium
References
{{Reflist
Economy of ancient Rome
Roman Empire
Roman military payments
Praetorian Guard
Economic history of Italy