Vir clarissimus

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Vir clarissimus or clarissimus vir (Latin, superlative to clarus : "loud, bright, famous", literally "highly respected man") was a Roman honorary title that was bestowed on senators during the Roman Empire .

The system of rank titles

The origin of this and similar titles is not entirely clear, they probably originated from tax classes, as the lowest ranking titles still indicate ( viri sexagenarii , centenarii , ducenarii ). During the imperial era, vir clarissimus represented the general honorary title of senators. Outstanding senators and senatorial officials in higher offices were given additional titles: the vir spectabilis stood above the simple vir clarissimus , above the vir illustris . In the later imperial period , the viri illustres were further divided into the illustres , the illustres magnificentissimi and the illustres gloriosissimi , over which the members of the imperial family stood as nobilissimi . Since Constantine the Great , the title vir clarissimus was hereditary in contrast to the higher ranks. Since Constantius II , the members of the Eastern Roman Senate in Constantinople , who had initially only been viri clari , had this title.

Generally, the higher titles were simply added, so a senator who was vir illustris called himself vir clarissimus et illustris . The title clarissimus was also translated into Greek , mostly as λαμπρότατος (lamprótatos), especially in the early days as κράτιστος (krátistos).

In addition to the regular award of the title to senators, there were occasional exceptions, for example in the 4th century some vicars as heads of dioceses only carried the title vir perfectissimus assigned to the knighthood , although they all belonged to the governors of the provinces (even if they came from the Knighthood originated) viri clarissimi were, were superior. The tension created in this way between office and title hierarchy can perhaps be interpreted in the sense of “ checks and balances ”.

When the number of clarissimi had increased by 430 to several thousand due to the mass award and inheritance of the title , it was decreed that they should continue to belong to the ordo senatorius and enjoy corresponding privileges; the right to participate in Senate meetings in Rome and Constantinople was from then on limited to the illustres .

Afterlife

After the end of the Roman Empire , the title of vir clarissimus did not simply disappear in the Latin West, but has an afterlife to this day. Scholars were addressed as viri clarissimi in Latin letters and addresses until modern times . The next higher title vir spectabilis was assigned to the deans of the faculties. This solemn form of address for deans is still in use today. University rectors also bear the title of magnificence to this day, which is derived from the title vir illustris magnificentissimus . Political decision-makers (princes, mayors, councilors) were addressed as viri illustres . This form of address was translated into German as “erlaucht”, “durchlaucht” and the like, although it is not clear which German designation goes back to clarissimus and which to illustris because of the relationship of meaning . In Italy, all university professors are entitled to the title “chiarissimo professore”, with chiarissimo being nothing more than the Italian form of clarissimus .

literature

  • Henrik Löhken: Ordines dignitatum. Investigations into the formal constitution of the late antique ruling class. Böhlau, Cologne et al. 1982, ISBN 3-412-03081-3 (= Cologne historical treatises. Volume 30).
  • Jochen Bleicken : Constitutional and social history of the Roman Empire. Volume 1, 3rd edition, Schoeningh, Paderborn 1989, p. 150 (table of rank classes), p. 257-259.
  • Kirsten Groß-Albenhausen: Vir clarissimus. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 12/2, Metzler, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-476-01487-8 , Sp. 241.