Praefectus annonae

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Dedication inscription for the Senator Attius Caecilius Maximilianus around the year 357, who as Praefectus annonae was responsible for the grain supply in Rome ( CIL 06, 41332 )

The praefectus annonae took care of the grain supply in the Roman Empire . It is uncertain whether this function already existed at the time of the Twelve Tables Law . From 7 AD for the first time Augustus appointed a permanent praefectus annonae from the middle of the knighthood .

Grain supply

Annona (Latin initially: the annual yield , later: supply of food, especially grain ) means the satisfaction of the grain demand in Rome and the municipalities but also market price, especially grain price, as well as natural delivery to the provinces. The annona civica describes the proportion of natural deliveries from Egypt and Africa destined for Rome.

The cura annonae included the state provision for grain, which in the Roman Republic belonged to the official area of ​​the aediles . The state provided a sufficient quantity of grain at a reasonable price. The aediles intervened against the overgrowth of grain. After the Second Punic War , the Roman population increased and the cultivation of grain decreased, which is why Sicily and Sardinia were obliged to deliver grain. The lex frumentaria of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus 123 BC saw the sale (frumentatio) of reduced-price grain to registered citizens (1 modius for 6 1/3 aces per month) at the expense of the state treasury ( aerarium ) . BC before. Publius Clodius Pulcher began distributing grain for free in 58 BC. Chr. Gaius Iulius Caesar reduced the number of entitled persons from 320,000 to 170,000 for reasons of cost; Augustus increased it. The beneficiaries received a token ( tessera ) and with this the grain in a magazine ( horreum ) . The grain distribution ensured the livelihood of the impoverished part of the population and was supposed to provide this for the incumbents of the republic and afterwards the emperors .

Praefectus annonae

The aediles were sometimes unable to perceive the cura annonae , which is why extraordinary officials were appointed. In 57 BC Pompey obtained the cura annonae by popular law for five years . Caesar entrusted two new aediles (Aediles ceriales) with the cura annonae . 22 BC Augustus took over the cura annonae and between 8 and 14 AD appointed a permanent praefectus annonae from the equestrian order, who and his staff (officium annonae) were responsible for the grain supply. Seneca describes its tasks: Transporting sufficient grain into the storage facilities without loss through fraud or negligence and protection against shrinkage and spoilage due to moisture. In addition to the praefectus annonae, the staff in Rome consisted of: subpraefectus annonae (annonae urbis, annonae sacrae urbis), adiutor praefecti annonae, dispensator annonae, tabellarius ex officio annonae, cornicularius praefecti annonae (military adjutant), subcenturio annonae. There were also staff in the ports of Ostia , Portus , Puteoli and the provinces. In the municipalities, the cura annonae was incumbent on the aediles and special officials. The praefectus annonae was not part of the magistrate, but was an extra ordinem utilitatis causa constitutus with judicial power conferred by the emperor and appeal to the emperor. There was a praefectus annonae for Constantinople , a praefectus annonae Africae because of the grain deliveries to Rome and, since Constantine I, a praefectus annonae Alexandriae because of the grain deliveries to Constantinople.

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b Titus Livius 4:12, 8; to Hans Volkmann : Praefectus, praefectura, 4. p. annonae. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 4, Stuttgart 1972, Sp. 1098 f.
  2. ^ Johann Oehler : Annona . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume I, 2, Stuttgart 1894, Col. 2316.
  3. ^ Johann Oehler: Annona civica . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume I, 2, Stuttgart 1894, Col. 2320.
  4. ↑ Livy 4:12, 10f .; 30,26,6; 31,4,6; 33.42.8. In addition Gerhard Schrot: Frumentum. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 2, Stuttgart 1967, Col. 622 f.
  5. ↑ Livy 2.9; 34; 10.11. These Walther Sontheimer : Annona. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 1, Stuttgart 1964, Col. 363 f.
  6. ^ Johann Oehler: Annona . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume I, 2, Stuttgart 1894, Col. 2317.
  7. ↑ Marcus Tullius Cicero , Pro Sestio 103; Gerhard Schrot: Frumentum. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 2, Stuttgart 1967, Col. 622.
  8. ^ Livy, Epitome 60.
  9. ↑ Hans Volkmann: Lex, leges, 30. Sempronia. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 3, Stuttgart 1969, Col. 608.
  10. ↑ Cassius Dio 38:13.
  11. ↑ Cassius Dio 43.21.
  12. ↑ Cassius Dio 50.10.
  13. ^ Gerhard Schrot: Largitio. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 3, Stuttgart 1969, column 497.
  14. ↑ Cicero, ad Atticum 4,1,7.
  15. ↑ Digest 1,2,2,32.
  16. ^ Johann Oehler: Annona . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume I, 2, Stuttgart 1894, Col. 2318.
  17. ↑ Seneca , De brevitate vitae , translated by J. Moser (1782–1871), Stuttgart 1829, 18–19, pp. 591ff. Pp. 551-595 (PDF: pp. 11-55) pp. 551-595 (pdf: pp. 5-49) .
  18. ^ Johann Oehler: Annona . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume I, 2, Stuttgart 1894, Col. 2318-2320.
  19. ↑ Cassius Dio 52,33,1