Rank and duties of a Prefect

[Pict]

Hi all. Long time student of all things Roman especially the army.
Born in Scotland I grew up in south Wales and now live in Canada. I have always have had a love of history being surrounded by so much of it in my younger days. I was always facinated by Roman engineering, especially road building, the forts and especially the walls. I remember, as a nipper, sitting on Hadrians's Wall and thinking I was touching a rock that was last touched two thousand years back by some unknown legionary. It has always stuck with me.

As a big fan of all things from the Republic and early Imperial times, I enjoyed the Rome TV series and to a lesser extent the movie Gladiator. In the Gladiator I found the first battle scenes engrossing and likely quite accurate but the plot of a former senior general turning up as a gladiator far fetched to the point of rediculous. Other issues, like costuming, especially the gladiators spoiled it for me. I like things to be accurate.

In the Rome series, I felt staging and costuming were more accurate but again the plot line wandered a bit but not enough to put me off. There were many things that came up that didn't make sense to me or that I don't really understand and I'm glad that I found this site as I think some of my questions will get answered.

For my first ( of many) questions: Can anyone explain the rank of prefect in the context of Lucius Vorenus when he re-ups with Mark Antony? In all my research and even searching this site, I can't find any real information as to how this rank fits in the structure of the legion other than as a "camp commander". It would appear to be a staff rank but are there ever line duties i.e. as commander of cavalry or scouts say?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

cheers,
Pict (Andy)

[PhilusEstilius]

I think Andy it all depends on which Prefect you wish to refer to, for it's basicly one who is in charge. It can be the Preatorian Prefect or it can be the Prefectus Castorum, or then it can be the Prefectus Fabricae. The Preatorian was generaly selected by the Emperor as one that he could trust such as with Vespasianus who put his Son Titus into that job. Then the Castorum this was the ultimate rank in the Centurinate, however not all would achieve it for after being a Primus Pilus for one year there was only one direction which was retirement but should a Prefectus Castorum die of old age the next Primus Pilus in line would fill that post more or less filling a dead mans shoes.The Fabricae of which there were many possibly could be senior Centurians in charge of workshops produceing weaponry and equipments for the military, simply the guy who would whip up all the workers to meet his monthly targets.

[Alexandr K]

Hi Andy,

well, I haven't been watching the Rome series so I'm not very knowledgeable about the context. But as far as I can say, different praefecti in late republican times mostly commanded the allied troops or navy. Apart from this they could be also assigned with some additional tasks such as for example command over a captured city etc.

Somewhat special position had the praefectus fabrum. Although the name would suggest his connection with the fabri (or legionary craftsmen), at this time he acted in the commander's staff as his close aide-de-camp. He could have been entrusted with a great variety of different duties - command of troops (of course), some building activities, political activities, acting as an envoy etc.

For praefecti in republican times you can find more information in this book:

Suolahti, J., 1955. The Junior Officers of the Roman Army in the Republican Period: A Study on Social Structure, Helsinki.

For the specific role of praefectus fabrum see:

Welch, K., 1995. The Office of Praefectus Fabrum in the late Republic. Chiron, 25, 131-145.

Greetings
Alexandr

[Pict]

Thanks guys.

For not seeing the series, Alexander, I believe you have hit the nail on the head. When Antony scoots off to Egypt Vorenus goes with him and any scene with Antony, Vorenus is close at hand and seems to direct the escort troop., talks with court officials, legionary officers and couriers etc.. So in this context, he is aide to the general.

Interesting position.

cheers all.
Pict (Andy)

[Pict]

Interesting information contained in the post on Roman marines. There is a reference to a website provided by Zuiglander which speaks to the British fleet. In it, they provide funerary references to individuals who served as praefectus of the fleet.

As this position likely equates to modern admiral it would thus appear that the rank could also be a line rather than purely staff position as previously discussed.

One of the individuals had also been a prefect of heavy cavalry so it would seem line duties in the surface forces in special detachments could occur.

This now begs another question or two. Would the prefect of say the heavy cavalry detachment rank above a tribune and if so would a tribune or two (juniors) likely be assigned to him?

I was originally trying to see how a prefect rank fitted in to the hierarcy of the legion. From the information provided it would seem that it is not a standardized rank but more specialized for special circumstances. Would that seem correct?

Again all information is appreciated.

Cheers,
Pict (Andy)

[Carlton Bach]

AFAIK 'Prefect' isn't really a rank in the modern sense, but a tag like 'commander' or 'in charge'. Position and status depend mostly on what you are the prefect *of* (it always goes with a genitive). My trusty Kleiner Pauly says that the defining characteristic of a prefect was that he was appointed to his post by a magistrate of the Roman People, but was not himself a magistrate. Varro uses the term to describe leaders of work gangs on large estates, even.

You get prefects in civilian and military posts, ranging from promotion ex caliga to high-ranking senatorial positions. The prefects of the state treasuries for example were always senators of praetorian rank and the Prefect of the City a consular. In the Principate military, the highest-ranking prefects would be the Prefect of the City (commanding the urban cohorts), the Prefect of Egypt (commanding all troops in the province), the Praetorian Prefect (commanding the Praetorian guard), and the Prefects of the Egyptian legions (in place of the legates that commanded legions elsewhere). Except for the Prefect of the City, these were equestrian offices, and all of them very senior. Then you have the Prefect of the Camp and the Prefect of the Engineers in every legion, high equestrian officers (often promoted primipilares) and very senior members of the legionary legate's staff. Fleets and Auxiliary units also were commanded by prefects. Their respective rank was determined by the size of the unit (cohors quingenaria the lowest, ala the highest) and its status and significance (fleet prefects ranged from fairly low in the pecking order to very senior indeed - the Italian fleets were important).

Another biog problem is that prefectures are often very traditional positions and subject to a broad interpretation of their duties. we find Prefects of the Engineers (praefecti fabrum) who apparently functioned as judges, and the office of Praetorian Prefect ultimately morphed from bodyguard commander into a senior administrative oficial. By the third century, prefect also shows up in some cases when senatorial positions are filled with equestrians.

In general terms, a prefect in the military is always senior and will often be in charge of a specific unit, but there is no 'rank' of prefect. You're always the prefect 'of' something. It might be best to think of it as broadly analogous to 'CO' or 'skipper' in the navy - it's all important, but it still makes a big difference if you're captain of a minesweeper or captain of USS Abraham Lincoln.

[Pict]

Thank you Carlton, that really clarifies it for me.

Cheers,
Pict