Protectores Augusti Nostri
Encyclopedia
Protector Augusti Nostri (lit 'Protector of Our Augustus') was a title given to individual officers of the Roman Army. The term first appears in the joint-reign of Valerian
and Gallienus
. The term Protector Divini Lateris (i.e. 'Protectors of the Sacred Side') also appears around this time. L. Petronius Taurus Volusianus was the first recorded Protector.
It seems that, when it was first bestowed, this title signified an honour conferred on rather than a function carried out by the recipient. It seems to have been granted to officers who had distinguished themselves serving directly under Gallienus in his wars against barbarian invaders of the Balkan and German provinces and Italy and would-be usurpers in those regions such as Ingenuus
and were marked out for accelerated promotion under his patronage. The first recipients were Tribunes of the Praetorian Cohorts - such as Volusianus - or equestrian commanders of legions. (So far as is known it was never bestowed on any officer of senatorial rank - senators were excluded from service in the army soon after the first protectores appeared). Collectively, therefor, at first the Protectors were a guild or an order rather than a defined military unit under a single command. There is reference to a Princeps Protectorum, but it is likely that this officer's functions related to ceremonial than to leadership in battle. Membership of the corps was not inconsistent with appointments to regular military command any more than membership of the Order of the Garter
is a bar to promotion in the modern British Army - on the contrary.
The purpose of the Protectores at this time seems to have been two-fold: (i)to encourage a personal loyalty to the Augusti (particularly Gallienus: there is no reason to suppose that Valerian had any real interest in this innovation) among the most energetic and charismatic officers of the Imperial Field Army and thus combat the spirit of military dissent that was tearing the Empire apart at this time; (ii) to demonstrate to the provincial garrisons that their Emperor valued them which would, of course, serve the same purpose.
After the death of Gallienus the Protectores seem to have taken on more of the characteristics of a military unit. It was as commander of this body that the future Emperor Diocletian
made his successful bid for the purple in 284 AD, challenging the Praetorian Prefect
Aper whose power-base was the Praetorian Guard
. However, membership of the corps still seems to have continued to be reserved for young soldiers marked out for rapid promotion as the career. Constantine I
was probably a member at the court of Galerius
and Ammianus Marcellinus
got his first step on the ladder of promotion in this capacity. Thus by that time day it had acquired some of the characteristics of an Imperial staff college.
Valerian (emperor)
Valerian , also known as Valerian the Elder, was Roman Emperor from 253 to 260. He was taken captive by Persian king Shapur I after the Battle of Edessa, becoming the only Roman Emperor who was captured as a prisoner of war, resulting in wide-ranging instability across the Empire.-Origins and rise...
and Gallienus
Gallienus
Gallienus was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and alone from 260 to 268. He took control of the Empire at a time when it was undergoing great crisis...
. The term Protector Divini Lateris (i.e. 'Protectors of the Sacred Side') also appears around this time. L. Petronius Taurus Volusianus was the first recorded Protector.
It seems that, when it was first bestowed, this title signified an honour conferred on rather than a function carried out by the recipient. It seems to have been granted to officers who had distinguished themselves serving directly under Gallienus in his wars against barbarian invaders of the Balkan and German provinces and Italy and would-be usurpers in those regions such as Ingenuus
Ingenuus
Ingenuus was a Roman military commander, the imperial legate in Pannonia, who became a usurper to the throne of the emperor Gallienus when he led a brief and unsuccessful revolt in the year 260. Appointed by Gallienus himself, Ingenuus served him well by repulsing a Sarmatian invasion and securing...
and were marked out for accelerated promotion under his patronage. The first recipients were Tribunes of the Praetorian Cohorts - such as Volusianus - or equestrian commanders of legions. (So far as is known it was never bestowed on any officer of senatorial rank - senators were excluded from service in the army soon after the first protectores appeared). Collectively, therefor, at first the Protectors were a guild or an order rather than a defined military unit under a single command. There is reference to a Princeps Protectorum, but it is likely that this officer's functions related to ceremonial than to leadership in battle. Membership of the corps was not inconsistent with appointments to regular military command any more than membership of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
is a bar to promotion in the modern British Army - on the contrary.
The purpose of the Protectores at this time seems to have been two-fold: (i)to encourage a personal loyalty to the Augusti (particularly Gallienus: there is no reason to suppose that Valerian had any real interest in this innovation) among the most energetic and charismatic officers of the Imperial Field Army and thus combat the spirit of military dissent that was tearing the Empire apart at this time; (ii) to demonstrate to the provincial garrisons that their Emperor valued them which would, of course, serve the same purpose.
After the death of Gallienus the Protectores seem to have taken on more of the characteristics of a military unit. It was as commander of this body that the future Emperor Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
made his successful bid for the purple in 284 AD, challenging the Praetorian Prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
Aper whose power-base was the Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
. However, membership of the corps still seems to have continued to be reserved for young soldiers marked out for rapid promotion as the career. Constantine I
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
was probably a member at the court of Galerius
Galerius
Galerius , was Roman Emperor from 305 to 311. During his reign he campaigned, aided by Diocletian, against the Sassanid Empire, sacking their capital Ctesiphon in 299. He also campaigned across the Danube against the Carpi, defeating them in 297 and 300...
and Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus was a fourth-century Roman historian. He wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from Antiquity...
got his first step on the ladder of promotion in this capacity. Thus by that time day it had acquired some of the characteristics of an Imperial staff college.