- Source
- Digesta Iustiniani Augusti. Mommsen, Theodor & Krueger, Paul, editors. Berlin: Weidmann, 1870.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:1.11.1.pr-1.11.1.2
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-24
The text explains that the origin of the office of the praetorian prefect is analogous to the master of the horse under dictators, and describes their unique privileges, including the prohibition of appeals from their judgments and their exclusive power to grant restoration to minors.
[AURELIUS ARCADIUS CHARISIUS magister libellorum libro singulari de officio praefecti praetorio.]
[AURELIUS ARCADIUS CHARISIUS, Master of Petitions, in his single book On the Office of the Praetorian Prefect.]
Breuiter commemorare necesse est, unde constituendi praefectorum praetorio offici origo1 manauerit. ad uicem magistri equitum praefectos praetorio antiquitus institutos esse a quibusdam scriptoribus traditum est. nam cum apud ueteres dictatoribus ad tempus summa potestas crederetur et magistros equitum sibi eligerent, qui adsociati participales curae ad militiae gratia secundam post eos potestatem gererent: regimentis rei publicae ad imperatores perpetuos translatis ad similitudinem magistrorum equitum praefecti praetorio a principibus electi sunt. data est plenior eis licentia ad disciplinae publicae emendationem.
It is necessary to briefly recount from where the origin of establishing the office of praetorian prefects flowed. It is recorded by certain writers that the praetorian prefects were established in antiquity in the place of the master of the horse. For whereas among the ancients supreme power was entrusted for a time to dictators, and they chose for themselves masters of the horse, who, associated as partners in their concern for military affairs, held the second authority after them: once the governance of the state was transferred to perpetual emperors, the praetorian prefects were chosen by the emperors in the likeness of the masters of the horse. A fuller power was granted to them for the correction of public discipline.
His cunabulis praefectorum auctoritas initiata in tantum meruit augeri, ut appellari a praefectis praetorio non possit.2 nam cum ante quaesitum fuisset, an liceret a praefectis praetorio appellare et iure liceret et extarent exempla eorum qui prouocauerint: postea publice sententia principali lecta appellandi facultas interdicta est. credidit enim princeps eos, qui ob singularem industriam explorata eorum fide et grauitate ad huius officii magnitudinem adhibentur, non aliter iudicaturos esse pro sapientia ac luce dignitatis suae, quam ipse foret iudicaturus.
Initiated with these cradle beginnings, the authority of the prefects deserved to be increased to such an extent that no appeal can be made from the praetorian prefects. For whereas it had previously been questioned whether it was permitted to appeal from the praetorian prefects, and it was permitted by law, and there existed examples of those who had appealed: afterwards, upon the public reading of an imperial opinion, the capacity of appealing was forbidden. For the emperor believed that those who, on account of their singular industry, and with their loyalty and weightiness thoroughly tested, are admitted to the greatness of this office, would, in accordance with their wisdom and the light of their dignity, judge no differently than he himself would judge.
Subnixi sunt etiam alio priuilegio praefecti praetorio, ne a sententiis eorum minores aetate ab aliis magistratibus nisi ab ipsis praefectis praetorio restitui3 possint.
The praetorian prefects are also supported by another privilege, namely, that minors cannot be restored from their judgments by other magistrates, but only by the praetorian prefects themselves.
- 1.11.1.prconstituendi praefectorum praetorio offici origo
The gerundive constituendi agrees in gender, number, and case with the genitive noun offici (a contracted genitive singular of officium), forming the meaning "of establishing the office." The plural genitive praefectorum praetorio modifies offici ("the office of the praetorian prefects"). Together, the phrase means "the origin of establishing the office of the praetorian prefects."
- 1.11.1.1appellari a praefectis praetorio non possit
appellari is a present passive infinitive used impersonally here, meaning "that it is not possible for an appeal to be made from the praetorian prefects."
- 1.11.1.2restitui
This refers to the legal remedy of "restitutio in integrum" (restoration to the original state), a protection for minors (under twenty-five years of age) in Roman law. It explains the privilege that other ordinary magistrates cannot grant this restoration against decisions of the praetorian prefects, but only the prefects themselves.