During the Classical Roman Empire, the governor of Roman Egypt (praefectus Aegypti) was a prefect who administered the Roman province of Egypt with the delegated authority (imperium) of the emperor.
Egypt was established as a Roman province in consequence of the Battle of Actium, where Cleopatra as the last independent ruler of Egypt and her Roman ally Mark Antony were defeated by Octavian, the adopted heir of the assassinated Roman dictator Julius Caesar. Octavian then rose to supreme power with the title Augustus, ending the era of the Roman Republic and installing himself as princeps, the so-called "leading citizen" of Rome who in fact acted as an autocratic ruler. Although senators continued to serve as governors of most other provinces (the senatorial provinces), especially those annexed under the Republic, the role of Egypt during the civil war with Antony and its strategic and economic importance prompted Augustus to ensure that no rival could secure Aegyptus as an asset. He thus established Egypt as an imperial province, to be governed by a prefect he appointed from men of the equestrian order.
A prefect of Egypt usually held the office for three or four years.[1] An equestrian appointed to the office received no specialized training, and seems to have been chosen for his military experience and knowledge of Roman law and administration.[2] Any knowledge he might have of Egypt and its arcane traditions of politics and bureaucracy—which Philo of Alexandria described as "intricate and diversified, hardly grasped even by those who have made a business of studying them from their earliest years"—was incidental to his record of Roman service and the emperor's favor.[3]
Classical Roman Empire
Prefects of the province of Egypt[4]
Date |
Prefect |
30 BC – 26 BC |
Gaius Cornelius Gallus |
26 BC – 24 BC |
Aelius Gallus |
24 BC – 22 BC |
Gaius Petronius or Publius Petronius |
13 BC – 12 BC |
Publius Rubrius Barbarus |
7 BC – 4 BC |
Gaius Turranius |
AD 2 – AD 3 |
Publius Octavius |
3 – 10 |
Quintus Ostorius Scapula |
10 – 11 |
Gaius Iulius Aquila |
11 – 12 |
Lucius Antonius Pedo |
12 – 14 |
Quintus Magius Maximus |
circa 15 |
Lucius Seius Strabo |
circa 15 |
Aemilius Rectus |
16 – 23 |
Gaius Galerius |
circa 32 |
Vitrasius Pollio (died in office) |
circa 32 |
Hiberus (Viceprefect) |
33 – 38 |
Aulus Avilius Flaccus |
circa 38 |
Quintus Naevius Cordus Sutorius Macro |
38 – 41 |
Gaius Vitrasius Pollio |
41 – 42 |
Lucius Aemilius Rectus |
between 42 and 45 |
Marcus Heius |
45 – 48 |
Gaius Julius Postumus |
48 – 52 |
Gnaeus Vergilius Capito |
circa 54 |
Lucius Lusius Geta |
55 – 59 |
Tiberius Claudius Balbillus Modestus |
60 – 62 |
Lucius Julius Vestinus |
63 – 65 |
Gaius Caecina Tuscus |
66 – 69 |
Tiberius Julius Alexander |
70 |
Lucius Peducius Colo(nus?) |
71 – 73 |
Tiberius Julius Lupus |
circa 74 |
Valerius Paulinus |
75 – 76 |
[S]ept[imius?] Nu[...] |
78 – 79 |
Gaius Aeterius Fronto |
80 – 82 |
Gaius Tettius Cassianus Priscus |
83 |
Lucius Laberius Maximus |
83 – 84 |
Lucius Julius Ursus |
85 – 88 |
Gaius Septimius Vegetus |
89 – 92 |
Marcus Mettius Rufus |
92 – 93 |
Titus Petronius Secundus |
94 – 98 |
Marcus Junius Rufus |
98 – 100 |
Gaius Pompeius Planta |
100 – 103 |
Gaius Minucius Italus |
103 – 107 |
Gaius Vibius Maximus |
107 – 112 |
Servius Sulpicius Similis |
113 – 117 |
Marcus Rutilius Lupus |
117 – 119 |
Quintus Rammius Martialis |
120 – 124 |
Titus Haterius Nepos |
126 |
Petronius Quadratus |
126 – 133 |
Titus Flavius Titianus |
133 – 137 |
Marcus Petronius Mamertinus |
137 – 142 |
Gaius Avidius Heliodorus |
142 – 143 |
Gaius Valerius Eudaemon |
144 – 147 |
Lucius Valerius Proculus |
147 – 148 |
Marcus Petronius Honoratus |
150 – 154 |
Lucius Munatius Felix |
154 – 159 |
Marcus Sempronius Liberalis |
159 – 160 |
Titus Furius Victorinus |
161 |
Lucius Volusius Maecianus |
161 – 164 |
Marcus Annaeus Syriacus |
164 – 167 |
Titus Flavius Titianus |
167 – 168 |
Quintus Baienus Blasianus |
168 – 169 |
Marcus Bassius Rufus |
170 – 176 |
Gaius Calvisius Statianus |
176 |
Gaius Caecilius Salvianus |
176 – 177 |
Titus Pactumeius Magnus |
178 – 180 |
Titus Taius (?) Sanctus |
circa 181 |
Titus Flavius Piso |
181 – 183 |
Decimus Veturius Macrinus |
circa 184 |
Vernasius Facundus |
185 |
Titus Longaeus Rufus |
185 – 187 |
Pomponius Faustinianus |
188 |
Marcus Aurelius Verrianus |
circa 188 |
Marcus Aurelius Papirius Dionysius |
189 – 190 |
Tinius Demetrius |
190 |
Claudius Lucilianus |
192 |
Larcius Memor |
192 – 194 |
Lucius Mantennius Sabinus |
195 – 196 |
Marcus Ulpius Primianus |
197 – 200 |
Quintus Aemilius Saturninus |
200 – 203 |
Quintus Maecius Laetus |
203 – 206 |
Claudius Julianus |
206 – 211 |
Tiberius Claudius Subatianus Aquila |
212 – 213 |
Lucius Baebius Aurelius Juncinus |
215 |
Marcus Aurelius Septimius Heraclitus |
216 |
Aurelius Antinous |
216 – 217 |
Lucius Valerius Datus |
218 |
Julius Basilianus |
218 – 219 |
Callistianus |
219 – 221 |
Geminius Chrestus |
222 |
Lucius Domitius Honoratus |
222 – 223 |
Marcus Aedinius Julianus |
224 |
Marcus Aurelius Epagatus |
224 – 225 |
Tiberius Claudius Herennianus |
229 – 230 |
Claudius Masculinus |
231 |
Marcus Aurelius Zeno Januarius |
232 – 237 |
Maebius Honoratianus |
circa 240 |
Lucius Lucretius Annianus |
241 – 242 |
Gnaeus Domitius Philippus |
242 – 245 |
Aurelius Basileus |
245 – 248 |
Gaius Valerius Firmus |
249 – 250 |
Aurelius Appius Sabinus |
251 – 252 |
Faltonius Restitutianus |
252 – 253 |
Lissenius Proculus |
253 |
Septimius [...][5] |
253 |
Lucius Titinius Clodianus |
253 – 256 |
Titus Magnius Felix Crescentillianus |
257 – 258 |
Ulpius Pasion |
circa 258 |
Claudius Theodorus |
258 – 262 |
Lucius Mussius Aemilianus |
262 – 263 |
Aurelius Theodotus |
circa 264 |
Gaius Claudius Firmus |
266 |
Cussonius I[...] |
267 |
Juvenius Genialis |
270 |
Tenagino Probus |
271 |
Julius Marcellinus |
271 – 273 |
Statilius Ammianus |
273 |
Gaius Claudius Firmus |
280 – 281 |
Sallustius Hadrianius |
283 |
Celerinus |
283 – 284 |
Pomponius Januarianus |
circa 284 |
Marcus Aurelius Diogenes |
285 |
Aurelius Mercurius |
circa 286 |
Peregrinus |
287 – 290 |
Gaius Valerius Pompeianus |
292 |
Titius Honoratus |
292 – 293 |
Rupilius Felix |
297 |
Aristius Optatus |
297 |
Aurelius Achilles |
298 |
Aemilius Rusticianus |
298 – 299 |
Aelius Publius |
Later Roman Diocese (323 – 640)
# |
Governor |
Start |
End |
Title as governor |
Termination |
1 |
Julius Julianus |
328 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
2 |
??? |
329 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
3 |
Magntianus |
330 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
4 |
Florintius |
331 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
5 |
Heginus |
332 |
333 |
|
- |
6 |
Patirius |
333 |
334 |
|
- |
7 |
Flavius Philagrius |
334 |
337 |
|
- |
8 |
Flavius Anthonius Tudurus |
337 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
9 |
Flavius Philagrius |
338 |
340 |
|
- |
10 |
Longinus |
341 |
343 |
|
- |
11 |
Paladius |
344 |
345 |
|
- |
12 |
Nesturius |
345 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
13 |
Sebastianus |
352 |
354 |
|
- |
14 |
Maximus |
355 |
356 |
|
- |
15 |
Catafronius |
356 |
357 |
|
- |
16 |
Hermoginus Parnasius |
357 |
359 |
|
- |
17 |
??? |
359 |
359 |
|
- |
18 |
Faustinus |
359 |
361 |
|
- |
19 |
Gerontius |
361 |
362 |
|
- |
20 |
Icdicius Olympus |
362 |
363 |
|
- |
21 |
Herius |
364 |
364 |
|
- |
22 |
Maximus |
364 |
364 |
|
- |
23 |
Flavianus |
364 |
366 |
|
- |
24 |
Procolitianus |
366 |
367 |
|
- |
25 |
Flavius Itulimius |
367 |
370 |
|
- |
26 |
Olympus Paladius |
370 |
371 |
|
- |
27 |
Elius Paladius |
371 |
374 |
|
- |
28 |
Hadrianus |
379 |
380 |
|
- |
29 |
Julius Julianus |
380 |
382 |
|
- |
30 |
Paladius |
382 |
383 |
|
- |
31 |
Hebatius |
383 |
383 |
|
- |
32 |
Anthonius |
383 |
384 |
|
- |
33 |
Optatus |
384 |
384 |
|
- |
34 |
Florintius |
384 |
386 |
|
- |
35 |
Euzipius |
386 |
386 |
|
- |
36 |
Paulinus |
386 |
387 |
|
- |
37 |
Flavius Olpius Artherius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
38 |
Tudurus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
39 |
Flurus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
40 |
Alexander |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
41 |
Poethus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
42 |
Anthimius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
43 |
Theoctisius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
44 |
Theognostus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
45 |
Pergamius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
46 |
Apollonius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
47 |
Arsinius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
48 |
Eustathius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
49 |
Neodusius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
50 |
Deoscurus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
51 |
Rudun |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
52 |
Petrus Marcellinus Felix Liberius |
c.538 |
542 |
|
- |
53 |
Alexander |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
54 |
Evagrius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
55 |
Hebatius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
56 |
Potamius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
57 |
Evagrius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
58 |
Genadius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
59 |
Remegius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
60 |
Archilaus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
61 |
Pentadius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
62 |
Pothalius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
63 |
Aurestus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
64 |
Calistus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
65 |
Cleopatar |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
66 |
Carmosinus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
67 |
John Laxarion |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
68 |
Hefastus |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
69 |
Germanus Gestinius |
؟؟؟ |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
70 |
John |
582 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
71 |
Paulus |
585 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
72 |
John (restored) |
588 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
73 |
Costantinus |
592 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
74 |
Menas |
595 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
75 |
Petrus Gestinius |
600 |
603 |
|
- |
76 |
John |
606 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
77 |
Nectias |
614 |
؟؟؟ |
|
- |
Sassanian Occupation
# |
Governor |
Start |
End |
Termination |
1 |
Shahrbaraz |
618 |
before 621 |
|
2 |
Sahralanyozan |
ca. 621 |
unknown |
|
3 |
Shahrbaraz |
ca. 626? |
ca. 628 |
Egypt recorded as being under Shahrbaraz's control when he concluded his agreement with Heraclius on withdrawal of Persian troops |
References
- ↑ Alan K. Bowman, Egypt After the Pharaohs 332 BC-AD 642: From Alexander to the Arab Conquest (University of California Press, 1986, 1996), p. 66.
- ↑ Bowman, Egypt After the Pharaohs, p. 66.
- ↑ Bowman, Egypt After the Pharaohs, p. 66.
- ↑ Unless otherwise noted, governors from 30 BC to AD 299 are taken from Guido Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30a al 299p", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 17 (1975), pp. 263-321, 323-328
- ↑ Added from Guido Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30a al 299p: Aggiunte e correzioni", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 38 (1980), pp. 75-89
Further reading
- Oscar William Reinmuth: The Prefect of Egypt from Augustus to Diocletian. Leipzig 1935.
- Arthur Stein: Die Präfekten von Ägypten in der römischen Kaiserzeit. Francke, Bern 1950.
- Heinz Hübner: Der Praefectus Aegypti von Diokletian bis zum Ende der römischen Herrschaft. Filser, München-Pasing 1952.