List of governors of Roman Egypt

During the Roman Empire, the governor of Roman Egypt (praefectus Aegypti) was a prefect who administered the Roman province of Egypt with the delegated authority (imperium) of the emperor.

Egypt was established as a Roman province in consequence of the Battle of Actium, where Cleopatra as the last independent ruler of Egypt and her Roman ally Mark Antony were defeated by Octavian, the adopted heir of the assassinated Roman dictator Julius Caesar. Octavian then rose to supreme power with the title Augustus, ending the era of the Roman Republic and installing himself as princeps, the so-called "leading citizen" of Rome who in fact acted as an autocratic ruler. Although senators continued to serve as governors of most other provinces (the senatorial provinces), especially those annexed under the Republic, the role of Egypt during the civil war with Antony and its strategic and economic importance prompted Augustus to ensure that no rival could secure Aegyptus as an asset. He thus established Egypt as an imperial province, to be governed by a prefect he appointed from men of the equestrian order.

As Egypt was a special imperial domain, a rich and strategic granary, where the Emperor enjoyed an almost pharaonic position unlike any other province or diocese, its head was styled uniquely Praefectus Augustalis, indicating that he governed in the personal name of the emperor, the "Augustus". The praefectus Aegypti was considered to hold the highest ranking equestrian post during the early empire. Later, the post would fall second to that of the praetorian command, but its position remained highly prestigious.

A prefect of Egypt usually held the office for three or four years.^[1] An equestrian appointed to the office received no specialized training, and seems to have been chosen for his military experience and knowledge of Roman law and administration.^[1] Any knowledge he might have of Egypt and its arcane traditions of politics and bureaucracy—which Philo of Alexandria described as "intricate and diversified, hardly grasped even by those who have made a business of studying them from their earliest years"—was incidental to his record of Roman service and the emperor's favor.^[1]

Remove ads

Unless otherwise noted, governors from 30 BC to AD 299 are taken from Guido Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 17 (1975), pp. 263–321, 323–328

30–26 BC: Gaius Cornelius Gallus
26–24 BC: Aelius Gallus
24–22 BC: Gaius Petronius or Publius Petronius
13–12 BC: Publius Rubrius Barbarus
7–4 BC: Gaius Turranius
AD 2–3: Publius Octavius
3–10: Quintus Ostorius Scapula
10–11: Gaius Julius Aquila
11–12: Lucius Antonius Pedo
12–14: Marcus Magius Maximus
circa 15: Lucius Seius Strabo
circa 15: Aemilius Rectus
16–32: Gaius Galerius
circa 32: Vitrasius Pollio (died in office)
circa 32: Hiberus (Vice prefect)
33–38: Aulus Avilius Flaccus
circa 38: Quintus Naevius Cordus Sutorius Macro
38–41: Gaius Vitrasius Pollio
41–42: Lucius Aemilius Rectus
between 42 and 45: Marcus Heius
45–48: Gaius Julius Postumus
48–52: Gnaeus Vergilius Capito
circa 54: Lucius Lusius Geta
55–59: Tiberius Claudius Balbillus Modestus
60–62: Lucius Julius Vestinus
63–66: Gaius Caecina Tuscus
66–69: Tiberius Julius Alexander
70: Lucius Peducaeus Colo(nus?)
71–73: Tiberius Julius Lupus
circa 74: Gaius Valerius Paulinus
75–76: [S]ept[imius?] Nu[...]
76/77 or 77/78:^[2] Lucius Julius Ursus
78–79: Gaius Aeterius Fronto
80–82: Gaius Tettius Cassianus Priscus
83–84: Lucius Laberius Maximus
85–88: Gaius Septimius Vegetus
89–92: Marcus Mettius Rufus
92–93: Titus Petronius Secundus
94–98: Marcus Junius Rufus
98–100: Gaius Pompeius Planta
100–103: Gaius Minicius Italus
103–107: Gaius Vibius Maximus
107–112: Servius Sulpicius Similis
113–117: Marcus Rutilius Lupus
117–119: Quintus Rammius Martialis
120–124: Titus Haterius Nepos
126: Petronius Quadratus^[3]
126–133: Titus Flavius Titianus
133–137: Marcus Petronius Mamertinus
137–142: Gaius Avidius Heliodorus
142–143: Gaius Valerius Eudaemon
144–147: Lucius Valerius Proculus
147–148: Marcus Petronius Honoratus
150–154: Lucius Munatius Felix
154–159: Marcus Sempronius Liberalis
159–160: Titus Furius Victorinus
161: Lucius Volusius Maecianus
161–164: Marcus Annaeus Syriacus
164–167: Titus Flavius Titianus
167–168: Quintus Baienus Blassianus
168–169: Marcus Bassaeus Rufus
170–176: Gaius Calvisius Statianus
176: Gaius Caecilius Salvianus (Vice prefect)
176–179^[4] Titus Pactumeius Magnus
179–180: Titus Aius Sanctus
circa 181: Titus Flavius Piso
181–183: Decimus Veturius Macrinus
circa 184:Vernasius Facundus
185: Titus Longaeus Rufus
185–187: Pomponius Faustinianus
188: Marcus Aurelius Verrianus
circa 188: Marcus Aurelius Papirius Dionysius
189–190: Quintus Tineius Demetrius
190: Claudius Lucilianus
192: Larcius Memor
192–194: Lucius Mantennius Sabinus
195–196: Marcus Ulpius Primianus
197–200: Quintus Aemilius Saturninus
200–203: Quintus Maecius Laetus
203–206: Claudius Julianus
206–211: Tiberius Claudius Subatianus Aquila
212–213: Lucius Baebius Aurelius Juncinus
214–215:^[5] Marcus Aurelius Septimius Heraclitus (executed by Caracalla)
216: Aurelius Antinous (vice prefect)
216–217: Lucius Valerius Datus
218: Julius Basilianus
218–219: Callistianus
219–221: Geminius Chrestus
222: Lucius Domitius Honoratus
222–223: Marcus Aedinius Julianus
224: Marcus Aurelius Epagatus
224–225: Tiberius Claudius Herennianus
229–230: Claudius Masculinus
231: Marcus Aurelius Zeno Januarius
232–237: Maebius Honoratianus
circa 240: Lucius Lucretius Annianus
241–242: Gnaeus Domitius Philippus
242–245: Aurelius Basileus
245–248: Gaius Valerius Firmus
249–250: Aurelius Appius Sabinus
251–252: Faltonius Restitutianus
252–253: Lissenius Proculus
253: Septimius [...]^[6]
253: Lucius Titinius Clodianus
253–256: Titus Magnius Felix Crescentillianus
257–258: Ulpius Pasion
circa 258: Claudius Theodorus
258–262: Lucius Mussius Aemilianus
262–263: Aurelius Theodotus
circa 264: Gaius Claudius Firmus
266: Cussonius I[...]
267: Juvenius Genialis
270: Tenagino Probus
271: Julius Marcellinus
271–273: Statilius Ammianus
273: Gaius Claudius Firmus
280–281: Sallustius Hadrianius
283: Celerinus
283–284: Pomponius Januarianus
circa 284: Marcus Aurelius Diogenes
285: Aurelius Mercurius
circa 286: Peregrinus
287–290: Gaius Valerius Pompeianus
291–292:^[7] Titius Honoratus
292–293: Rupilius Felix
297: Aristius Optatus
297: Aurelius Achilleus
298: Aemilius Rusticianus
298–299: Aelius Publius
299–300: Heraclius
between 303 and 311: Apollonius
circa 303: Eustratius (?)
303–306: Clodius Culcianus
307: Sossianus Hierocles^[8]
308: Valerius Victorinus
308–309: Aelius Hyginus
circa 310: Titinnius Clodianus
312: Aurelius Ammonius
before 328: Aurelius Apion
328: Julius Julianus

Remove ads

Prefects of the province of Egypt. Names and dates taken from the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 1, pp. 1084–1085.

330: Magnilianus
331: Florentius
331–332: Hyginus
333–335: Paterius
335–337: Philagrius I
(337?–)338: Antonius Theodorus
338–340: Philagrius II
341–343: Longinus
344: Palladius
345–352: Nestorius
353–354: Sebastianus
355 – 11 Feb. 356: Maximus
10 Jun. 356 – 357: Catafronius
357–359: Parnassius
3 months in 359: Italicianus
359–361: Faustinus
uncertain, before 361?: Hermogenes
early–mid 4th century?: Himerius
30 Nov. 361 – 4 Feb. 362: Gerontius
Oct. 362 – 16 Sep. 363: Ecdicius Olympus
364: Hierius
364: Maximus
364 – 21 Jul. 366: Flavianus
366–367: Proclianus
27 Jan. 367 – 6 Oct. 370: Eutolmius Tatianus^[9]
370–371: Olympius Palladius
371–374: Aelius Palladius
376?: Publius?
379: Bassianus?
379: Hadrianus?
17 Mar. 380: Julianus
381(–382?): Antoninus?
14 May 382: Palladius
29 Apr. – 8 May 383: Hypatius I
4 Feb. 384: Optatus
20 Dec. 384 – 16 Jun. 386: Florentius
25 Jul. – 30 Nov. 386: Paulinus
387: Eusebius
30 Apr. 388: Ulpius Erythrius
388 – 18 Feb. 390: Alexander
16 Jun. 391: Evagrius
Apr. 392: Hypatius II
5 May – 30 Jul. 392: Potamius
uncertain, late 4th century?: Damonicus
late 4th century: Theodorus

Remove ads

Names and dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (2006).^[10]

Titles:

Prefect (395–539)^[10]
Dux (539–616)^[10]

395 – 5 February 396: Charmosynus
5 February 396 – 30 March 396: Gennadius (also known as Torquatus)
30 March 396 – 17 June 397: Remigius
17 June 397 – ?: Archelaus
? – 403: Unknown
403 – 404: Pentadius
404 – ?: Euthalius
? – 415: Unknown
415 – ?: Orestes
? – 422: Unknown
422 – ?: Callistus
? – 435: Unknown
435 – ?: Cleopater
? – 442: Unknown
442 – ?: Charmosinus
? – 451: Unknown
451 – ?: Theodorus
? – 453: Unknown
453 – ?: Florus
? – 468: Unknown
468 – ?: Alexander
? – 476: Unknown
476 – 477: Boethus
477 – 478: Anthemius
478 – 479: Theoctistus
479 – ?: Theognostus
? – 482: Unknown
482 – ?: Pergamius
? – 485: Unknown
485 – ?: Eutrechius
? – 487: Unknown
487: Theodorus
487 – ?: Arsenius
? – 501: Unknown
501 – ?: Eustathius
? – c. 510: Unknown
c. 510 – ?: Theodosius
? – 520: Unknown
520 – ?: Licinius
? – 527: Unknown
527 – ?: Hephaestus
? – 535: Unknown
535 – ?: Dioscorus
? – 537: Unknown
537 – ?: Rhodon
? – 539: Unknown
539 – 542: Liberius
542 – ?: Ioannes Laxarion
? – c. 560: Unknown
c. 560 – ?: Flavorinus
? – 566: Unknown
566 – ?: Iustinus
? – 582: Unknown
582 – ?: Ioannes
? – c. 585: Unknown
c. 585 – ?: Paulus
? – c. 588: Unknown
c. 588 – ?: Ioannes
? – c. 592: Unknown
c. 592 – ?: Constantinus
? – c. 595: Unknown
c. 595 – ?: Menas
? – 600: Unknown
600 – 603: Petrus (also known as Iustinus)
603 – c. 606: Unknown
c. 606 – ?: Ioannes
? – 614: Unknown
614 – ?: Nicetas
? – 616: Unknown

Remove ads

More information #, Governor ...

#	Governor	Start	End	Termination
–	Benjamin (Patriach-Prefect)^[10]	616	628
1	Shahrbaraz	618	before 621
2	Sahralanyozan	ca. 621	625?
3	Shahrbaraz	ca. 626?	ca. 628	Egypt recorded as being under Shahrbaraz's control when he concluded his agreement with Heraclius on withdrawal of Persian troops

Close

More information #, Governor ...

#	Governor	Start	End	Termination
1	Unknown^[10]	628^[10]	629^[10]
2	Cyrus of Alexandria	629	November 640	recalled by Emperor Heraclius
3	Anastasius^[10]	November 640^[11]	14 September 641^[11]	Temporary governor during Cyrus and Theodorus's visit to Constantinople
4	Cyrus of Alexandria	14 September 641	21 March 642	Died
5	Theodorus^[10]	21 March 642^[11]	17 September 642^[11]	Left Egypt with all remaining Roman troops. Egypt was then governed by Amr ibn al-As

Close

Remove ads

[1]
Alan K. Bowman, Egypt After the Pharaohs 332 BC–AD 642: From Alexander to the Arab Conquest (University of California Press, 1986, 1996), p. 66.
[2]
Following here Magioncalda Andreina, "La carriera di l. Iulius Ursus e le alte prefetture equestri nel I sec. D.C.", Cahiers du Centre Gustave Glotz, 23 (2012), pp. 118f
[3]
O.W. Reinmuth disagrees, dating Quadratus between 180 and 190. ("A Working List of the Prefects of Egypt, 30 B.C. to 299 A.D.", in Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists, 4 (1967), p. 104)
[4]
Guido Bastianini ("Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 38 (1980), p. 83) found a document from his term dated to 179
[5]
Bastianini ("Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", p. 86) found a document from his term dated to 214
[6]
Added from Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", pp. 75–89
[7]
Guido Bastianini ("Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", p. 86) found a document from his term dated to 291
[8]
However, John R. Martindale dates his tenure to 310 ("Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Addenda et Corrigenda to Volume I", Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, 23 (1974) p. 248)
[9]
First governor to be styled "Augustal prefect". PLRE 1, p. 876
[10]
Stewart, John (2006). African States and Rulers (Third ed.). London: McFarland. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.
[11]
Butler, Alfred J. (1903). The Arab Conquest of Egypt and the Last Thirty Years under Roman Dominion (PDF). Oxford University Press. ISBN 1724498029.

Remove ads

Heinz Hübner: Der Praefectus Aegypti von Diokletian bis zum Ende der römischen Herrschaft. Filser, München-Pasing 1952.
Oscar William Reinmuth: The Prefect of Egypt from Augustus to Diocletian. Leipzig 1935.
Arthur Stein: Die Präfekten von Ägypten in der römischen Kaiserzeit. Francke, Bern 1950.

3

[Bowman-66-1] [1]
Alan K. Bowman, Egypt After the Pharaohs 332 BC–AD 642: From Alexander to the Arab Conquest (University of California Press, 1986, 1996), p. 66.

[2] [2]
Following here Magioncalda Andreina, "La carriera di l. Iulius Ursus e le alte prefetture equestri nel I sec. D.C.", Cahiers du Centre Gustave Glotz, 23 (2012), pp. 118f

[3] [3]
O.W. Reinmuth disagrees, dating Quadratus between 180 and 190. ("A Working List of the Prefects of Egypt, 30 B.C. to 299 A.D.", in Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists, 4 (1967), p. 104)

[4] [4]
Guido Bastianini ("Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 38 (1980), p. 83) found a document from his term dated to 179

[5] [5]
Bastianini ("Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", p. 86) found a document from his term dated to 214

[6] [6]
Added from Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", pp. 75–89

[7] [7]
Guido Bastianini ("Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", p. 86) found a document from his term dated to 291

[8] [8]
However, John R. Martindale dates his tenure to 310 ("Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Addenda et Corrigenda to Volume I", Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, 23 (1974) p. 248)

[9] [9]
First governor to be styled "Augustal prefect". PLRE 1, p. 876

[Stewart845-10] [10]
Stewart, John (2006). African States and Rulers (Third ed.). London: McFarland. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.

[Butler-11] [11]
Butler, Alfred J. (1903). The Arab Conquest of Egypt and the Last Thirty Years under Roman Dominion (PDF). Oxford University Press. ISBN 1724498029.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

List of governors of Roman Egypt

Wikiwand in your browser!

List of governors of Roman Egypt

Wikiwand in your browser!

Prefects during the Principate

Later Roman Diocese (330–395)

First Byzantine Period (395–616)

Sassanian Occupation

Second Byzantine Period (628–642)

References

Further reading