Provenance and location

Ancient city: Ancyra
Modern city: Ankara (Turkey)
Province: Galatia
Diocese: Pontica
Regional prefecture: Oriens
Provenance: Byzantine fortification wall of Ankara, Bastion B
Current location: Byzantine fortification wall of Ankara, Bastion B
Ancient location: public space

Type and material of the support and text layout

Text category

Honorary inscription for the emperor Julian

Latin text

Critical edition

Edition based on GLIA 02, 332.

4: viis

Translations

English

“To the master of the entire world Julian Augustus, who travelled from the Britannic Ocean to the Tigris in one summer, opening roads through barbarian peoples, massacring those who resisted, Saturninius Secundus, praetorian prefect of clarissimus rank, devoted to his divine spirit and majesty.”

French

“Au seigneur du monde entier Julien Auguste, qui a voyagé de l’Océan britannique au Tigre en un seul été, ouvrant des routes au milieu de peuples barbares, faisant des massacres de ceux qui résistaient, Saturninius Secundus, clarissime préfet du prétoire, dévoué à sa divinité et à sa majesté.”

Italian

“Al signore del mondo intero Giuliano Augusto, che ha viaggiato dall’Oceano Britannico fino al Tigri in una sola estate, aprendo strade in mezzo a genti barbare, facendo strage di coloro che resistevano, Saturninius Secundus, chiarissimo prefetto del pretorio, devoto al nume e alla maestà sue.”

The inscription and its prefects: critical commentary, updating, overviews

The inscription was chiselled on a base for a statue of emperor Julian in Ancyra, and was dedicated by Saturninius Secundus (Salutius), praef(ectus) praet(orio) (PLRE I, Secundus 3, pp. 814-817; De Bonfils 1981, pp. 164-190; Castello 2012, pp. 122-129; Olszaniec 2013, pp. 356-372; see PPRET 51 for a detailed discussion of the career of this official). The prefect celebrates the adventus of Julian in the East, focusing on the extraordinary speed of his movements: in just one summer he travelled from one border of the empire to another, i.e. from the shore of Britannia to the Tigris, creating new roads among the barbarian peoples along the way (on this topic, see Tantillo 2012, pp. 343-348; GLIA 02, 332; cf. Wirbelauer-Fleer 1995; Dietz 2000, pp. 821-822; Conti 2006-2007; Salway 2012). The reaching of the Tigris (which would appear to be a precursor to the future Persian expedition) is celebrated before it was even achieved because the inscription was probably dedicated in May-June 362 AD, when the imperial comitatus stayed in Ancyra during its transfer from Constantinople to Antioch (Amm. 22, 09, 08; for the chronology of this stay see den Boeft et alii 1995, pp. 154-155, 165-166, 177-180). Ancyra was already a seat of a praetorian prefect in 325/327 AD (see PPRET 12 and 13).

The passage of Julian in the city features in the martyrdom of the priest Basil of Ancyra. According to an undated and anonymous Passion (BHG³ 242), Basil was interrogated and condemned to death for his strong opposition to idolatry by the emperor Julian himself in the metropolis of Galatia. In this source, Basil’s trial is led by a certain Σατορνῖνος whom D. Woods (1992) proposes to identify as our praetorian prefect, although the character is qualified with the title of governor (ἡγεμών) instead of prefect (ἔπαρχος). However, a recent study has refuted the historical reliability of this text and showed how the Passion was concocted by mixing the history of ecclesiastical historians with local traditions and documents (Busine 2019; cf. Teitler 1996). In the city of Ancyra another inscription is preserved (GLIA 01, 036) dedicated to a Ἰούλιος Σατορνεῖνος, styled ἡγεμών, who was the governor of the province in the 2nd Century AD and who probably gave to the anonymous hagiographer the name of the character for his Passion (cf. Rémy 1989, pp. 150-151, nr. 112, Iulius Saturninus).

Salutius was one of Julian Augustus’ most trusted officials. Their close relationship had started some years before when Salutius was sent by Constantius II to attend the young Caesar in Gaul (Zos. 03, 02, 02; perhaps he was the quaestor of Julian, see PPRET 51). After the death of Constantius (November 3^rd 361 AD), Julian immediately appointed Salutius praetorian prefect and entrusted him with the direction of the Commission of Chalcedon (Amm. 22, 03, 01; cf. García Ruiz 2007). We find Salutius at the Emperor’s side on the Persian expedition and, after the death of Julian, he was offered the imperial purple. But because of his advanced age, the prefect refused (Amm. 25, 05, 03; following the account of Zos. 03, 36, 01, Salutius' refusal of the imperial power is dated after the death of Jovian by von Haeling 1977, pp. 347-358; Barnes 1998, pp. 138-142; but maybe Salutius was offered the throne twice, after the death of Julian and then again after the death of Jovian: so, among others, Paschoud 1979, pp. 238-239; Neri 1985, pp. 157-158, nt. 19; Lenski 2000, pp. 493-502; Raimondi 2001, pp. 71-79; den Boeft et alii 2005, pp. 173-176; Olszaniec 2013, pp. 367-369; for the career of Salutius under Valens see PPRET 51).

According to T.D. Barnes, Salutius was an “old-style praetorian prefect”. In the years 361-363 AD, the latter acted as a deputy to the emperor and supported him in civil and military affairs (Barnes 1987, p. 15; 1992, p. 249; cf. Coşkun 2004, p. 322; Olszaniec 2013, pp. 365-366). This interpretation would be supported by the testimony of Ammianus who, while describing the beginning of the Persian expedition, styled Salutius, now on the campaign, praefectus praesens (Amm. 23, 05, 04). Only later, during the reign of Valentinian and Valens, Salutius would become a “regional prefect” (Amm. 26, 05, 05: et Orientem quidem regebat potestate praefecti Salutius). Julian and Salutius were close friends and the importance of Salutius’ advice in the ruling of the empire is documented not only by plenty of ancient sources, but by the emperor himself (cf. Penella 2006; Caltabiano 2009, p. 143; Marcone 2019, pp. 118-123). Salutius also took part in the war against Sapor and fought on the field. But perhaps to consider Salutius an old-style prefect is going a bit too far. The evidence of CTh 11, 39, 05 shows that Salutius was not part of the Imperial Consistory, at least not in March 362 AD. The law preserves part of the proceedings that were held before Julian «at which were standing the Most Noble Jovius, Quaestor, Anatolius, Master of Offices, and Felix, Count of the Sacred Imperial Largesses. Etc.» (transl. Pharr): Salutius was not there. Given his rank, he ought to have been listed first. Ammianus’ evidence may also depend on context. The historian is writing about the beginning of the campaign against the Persians: a few lines before the words Salutius praefectus praesens (Amm. 23, 05, 06) Ammianus describes the letter that Sallustius, Galliarum praefectus, had sent to Julian trying to dissuade him from invading Persia (Amm. 23, 05, 04). We know that the similarities in the names of the two officials, who also held the same office of praetorian prefect at the same time, caused confusion in the ancient sources (and in modern studies too, see PPRET 52; PPRET 54 for Flavius Sallustius). But not in Ammianus. Probably with the words praefectus praesens, he simply wanted to distinguish Salutius, who joined the expedition, from Sallustius, who tried to stop it. Regional praetorian prefectures had existed since the time of Constantine (so Porena 2003). Salutius is the eastern praetorian prefect who, as always in these circumstances, accompanied Augustus in the military campaign when it took place in the area that was administered by the prefect.

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Praetorian prefects and epigraphic habit