Abstract

BUONGIORNO, Pierangelo. Fundamina (Pretoria) [online]. 2014, vol.20, n.1, pp.81-89. ISSN 2411-7870.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the powers conferred on Flavius Maternianus in 217 AD during Caracalla's Parthian campaign. The paper starts with an examination of Herodian's (4.12.4) and Xiphylin's (337, 19 ff. R.St. = Dio 78.4.2 Boissevain) accounts. Then a survey is presented of the main extant manuscript and epigraphic sources describing the granting of imperia to members of the senatorial order in the absence of theprinceps. The paper concludes by suggesting that Maternianus's powers were granted to him in the form of an imperium in order to enable him to manage (as long as Caracalla was absent) both the current political affairs and the troops near Rome who were not involved in the Parthian campaign.

        · text in Italian     · Italian ( pdf )