Imperial Honorifics and Senatorial Status in Late Roman Legal Documents

Abstract For most senators during the late Roman period, the reality of power and authority had been replaced by its mere appearance, which was manifested most clearly in the ranks and offices they held.1 The quest for status was non-ending,2 and the best kind of status was that bestowed by the emperor. It could be granted and manifested in many ways. During the course of the fourth century, for example, imperial officeholders came to be endowed with ranks that ranged from inlustris (‘illustrious’) for officials of the highest status, such as Praetorian and Urban Prefects, Masters of Soldiers, and members of the comitatus (the imperial court); to spectabilis (‘respectable’) for such middle-ranking officials as Proconsuls, Counts, Dukes, and Vicars; to clarissimus (‘most distinguished’), the ‘entry level’ senatorial rank, for provincial governors and lesser officials of the comitatus.