The Administration of the Provinces
In order to facilitate the administration of the empire and to minimise the risk of internal revolt Diocletian increased the number of the provinces to a hundred and twenty (including Italy).
The governors of the various provinces were divided into three categories depending on their rank. The highest among them were the proconsules who ruled the provinces of Africa, Asia and Achaia. Below them in terms of authority were the correctores and the praesides. The provinces were grouped into fourteen greater administrative units, called dioceses,[1105] with each diocese (dioecesis) being headed by a vicar (vicarius).[1106] Neighbouring dioceses were joined into a larger unit called prefecture (praefectura), of which there were four: Gaul, Italy, Illyricum and the Orient. From the time of Constantine the Illyrian prefecture was at times merged with the prefecture of Italy, but from the end of the fourth century AD it acquired a separate status and, together with the prefecture of the Orient, made up the Roman Empire of the East; Italy and Gaul constituted the Empire of the West. Each prefecture was headed by a praefectus praetorio. Of these the most important was the prefect of the Orient who, from 334 AD, bore the title of comes orientis. The provincial governors, vicars and praetorian prefects were purely civilian officials;[1107] military command was entrusted to officers called duces whose authority extended over more than one province.[1108]The provincial governors exercised administrative as well as judicial functions (hence they were sometimes referred to as indices). In carrying out their administrative duties the governors were aided by bureaus whose members, called cohortales, were usually appointed by the emperor.
In some provinces there were also provincial councils made up of great landowners (possessores) and former members of the provincial city councils (honorati). Among the main functions of these bodies were the publication of imperial laws and the issuing of decrees (decreta) which, after their approval by the emperor, were binding within the province. In 368 AD Emperors Valentinian I and Valens introduced the office of the defensor civitatis or defensor plebis. This officer was entrusted with the protection of the lower classes of the population against abuses committed by great land-owners and state officials. The defensor supervised all provincial magistrates, advised the governors on administrative matters and exercised jurisdiction over minor disputes between citizens. He had the right to report directly to the emperor, bypassing the provincial governor. The defensores were chosen from among former magistrates and other persons of influence, initially by the praefectus praetorio and later by local councils with the participation of bishops and local clerics.[1109] The institution of the defensor civitatis proved largely unsuccessful, however, as many of those who held the office often committed abuses themselves or were manipulated through bribery or intimidation. In the fifth century AD the office lost its initial prestige and became an additional burden imposed upon members of the municipal councils.
More on the topic The Administration of the Provinces:
- The Administration of Italy and the Provinces
- B. ROMAN LAW AND THE PROVINCES
- The provinces
- The provinces
- The Organisation of Italy and the Provinces
- The Administration of Justice
- Acquisition and Administration of the Inheritance
- The Administration of Justice: Civil Procedure
- Government and Civil Administration during the Later Empire
- The Administration of Justice: Civil Procedure
- The Administration of Justice:Civil Procedure
- The Administration of Criminal Justice in the Principate Age