List of governors of Roman Egypt

File:Pompey's Pillar (Archaeological site in Alexandria in 2017) , photo by Hatem Moushir 26.jpg", erected in Alexandria by the governor Aristius Optatus in the reign of Diocletian ({{Reign|284|305}})]]

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.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. 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. 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.

Prefects during the Principate

Unless otherwise noted, governors from 30 BC to AD 299 are taken from Guido Bastianini, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/20180880 "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p"], Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 17 (1975), pp. 263–321, 323–328

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| 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:Following here Magioncalda Andreina, [https://www.persee.fr/doc/ccgg_1016-9008_2012_num_23_1_1771 "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 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 QuadratusO.W. Reinmuth disagrees, dating Quadratus between 180 and 190. ([https://www.jstor.org/stable/24518448 "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)

| 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)

| 176–179Guido Bastianini ([https://www.jstor.org/stable/20171850 "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 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: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 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 [...]Added from Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p: Aggiunte e correzioni", pp. 75–89

| 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: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 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 HieroclesHowever, John R. Martindale dates his tenure to 310 ([http://www.jstor.com/stable/4435397 "Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Addenda et Corrigenda to Volume I"], Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, 23 (1974) p. 248)

| 308: Valerius Victorinus

| 308–309: Aelius Hyginus

| circa 310: Titinnius Clodianus

| 312: Aurelius Ammonius

| before 328: Aurelius Apion

| 328: Julius Julianus

}}

Later Roman Diocese (330–395)

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

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| 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 TatianusFirst governor to be styled "Augustal prefect". PLRE 1, p. 876

| 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

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First Byzantine Period (395–616)

Names and dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (2006).{{Cite book|title=African States and Rulers|last=Stewart|first=John|publisher=McFarland|year=2006|edition=Third|isbn=0-7864-2562-8|location=London|pages=84–85}}

Titles:

Prefect (395–539)
Dux (539–616)

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| 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

}}{{colend}}

Sassanian Occupation

width=90% class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="background:#cccccc"
# ! Governor ! Start ! End ! Termination
– \|Benjamin (Patriarch-Prefect) \|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

width=90% class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

style="background:#cccccc"

! Governor

! Start

! End

! Termination

–

|Benjamin
(Patriarch-Prefect)

|616

|628

|Shahrbaraz

| 618

| before 621

|Sahralanyozan

| ca. 621

| 625?

|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

Second Byzantine Period (628–642)

width=90% class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="background:#cccccc"
# ! Governor ! Start ! End ! Termination
1 \| Unknown \| 628 \| 629 \|
2 \| Cyrus \| 629 \| November 640 \| Recalled and exiled by Emperor Heraclius
3 \| Anastasius \| February 641{{Cite book \|last=Butler \|first=Alfred J. \|author-link=Alfred J. Butler\|url=https://www.copticchurch.net/pdf/intro/arab_conquest_of_egypt.pdf \|title=The Arab Conquest of Egypt and the Last Thirty Years under Roman Dominion \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|year=1903 \|isbn=1724498029}} \| 14 September 641 \| Temporary governor while Cyrus and Theodorus were in Constantinople
4 \| Cyrus \| 14 September 641 \| 21 March 642 \| Died in office
5 \| Theodorus \| 21 March 642 \| 17 September 642 \| Left Egypt with all remaining Roman troops

width=90% class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

style="background:#cccccc"

! Governor

! Start

! End

! Termination

| Unknown

| 628

| 629

| Cyrus

| 629

| November 640

| Recalled and exiled by Emperor Heraclius

| Anastasius

| February 641{{Cite book |last=Butler |first=Alfred J. |author-link=Alfred J. Butler|url=https://www.copticchurch.net/pdf/intro/arab_conquest_of_egypt.pdf |title=The Arab Conquest of Egypt and the Last Thirty Years under Roman Dominion |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1903 |isbn=1724498029}}

| 14 September 641

| Temporary governor while Cyrus and Theodorus were in Constantinople

| Cyrus

| 14 September 641

| 21 March 642

| Died in office

| Theodorus

| 21 March 642

| 17 September 642

| Left Egypt with all remaining Roman troops

{{For|subsequent Muslim governors of Egypt|List of rulers of Islamic Egypt}}

List of governors of Roman Egypt

Prefects during the Principate

Later Roman Diocese (330–395)

First Byzantine Period (395–616)

Sassanian Occupation

Second Byzantine Period (628–642)

See also

References

Further reading