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Praetorian prefecture of the East

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One of four territorial divisions of the Late Roman Empire
Praetorian prefecture of the EastPraefectura praetorio Orientis
Ἐπαρχότης τῶν πραιτωρίων τῆς Ανατολῆς
Ἑῴα Ὑπαρχία
Praet. Prefecture of the East Roman Empire
337–7th century

Praetorian Prefectures of the Roman Empire (395). The Praetorian Prefecture of the East is in grey.
CapitalConstantinople
Historical eraLate Antiquity
• Established 337
• Loss of Diocese of the East and Diocese of Egypt to the Rashidun Caliphate and reorganization into themata 7th century
Political subdivisionsDiocese of Thrace
Diocese of Asia
Diocese of Pontus
Diocese of the East
Diocese of Egypt

The praetorian prefecture of the East, or of the Orient (Latin: praefectura praetorio Orientis, Greek: ἐπαρχότης/ὑπαρχία τῶν πραιτωρίων τῆς ἀνατολῆς) was one of four large praetorian prefectures into which the Late Roman Empire was divided. As it comprised the larger part of the Eastern Roman Empire, and its seat was at Constantinople, the praetorian prefect was the second most powerful man in the East, after the Emperor, in essence serving as his first minister.

Structure

The Prefecture was established after the death of Constantine the Great in 337, when the empire was split up among his sons and Constantius II received the rule of the East, with a praetorian prefect as his chief aide. The part allotted to Constantius encompassed four (later five) dioceses, each in turn comprising several provinces. The authority of the prefecture stretched from the Eastern Balkans, grouped into the Diocese of Thrace, to Asia Minor, divided into the dioceses of Asiana and Pontus, and the Middle East, with the dioceses of Orient and Egypt.

List of known praefecti praetorio Orientis

References

  1. Palme 2007, p. 245.
  2. PLRE I, Thalassius 1
  3. Alan Cameron states that the first term of Aurelianus lasted until April 400
  4. Cameron's dates for Aurelianus overlap those of Eutychianus in 400
  5. Cameron, Alan (1977). "Some Prefects Called Julian". Byzantion. 47. Peeters Publishers: 42–64. ISSN 0378-2506. JSTOR 44170499.

Sources

Late Roman and early Byzantine provinces (4th–7th centuries AD)
History
As found in the Notitia Dignitatum. Provincial administration reformed and dioceses established by Diocletian, c. 293. Permanent praetorian prefectures established after the death of Constantine I. Empire permanently partitioned after 395. Exarchates of Ravenna and Africa established after 584. After massive territorial losses in the 7th century, the remaining provinces were superseded by the theme system in c. 640–660, although in Asia Minor and parts of Greece they survived under the themes until the early 9th century.
Western Roman Empire (395–476)
Praetorian prefecture
of Gaul
Diocese of Gaul
Diocese of Vienne
Diocese of Spain
Diocese of the Britains
Praetorian prefecture
of Italy
Diocese of Suburbicarian Italy
Diocese of Annonarian Italy
Diocese of Africa
Eastern Roman Empire (395–c. 640)
Praetorian prefecture
of Illyricum
Diocese of Pannonia
Diocese of Dacia
Diocese of Macedonia
Praetorian prefecture
of the East
Diocese of Thrace
Diocese of Asia
Diocese of Pontus
Diocese of the East
Diocese of Egypt
Other territories
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