Eutolmius Tatianus
Encyclopedia
Flavius Eutolmius Tatianus was a politician of the Late
Roman Empire
.
; Tatian was born in Sidyma, son of Antonius Tatianus, praeses (governor) of Caria
from 360 to 364 circa. He had a son, Proculus, who followed his footsteps choosing a political career.
Tatianus began his career during the governorship of his father. Around 357 he was a lawyer, then he was assessor (legal counsel) of a governor, a vicarius, a proconsul and two prefects. In the 360s he was praeses Thebaidos (governor of the Thebaid
); between 367 and 370 he was praefectus augustalis in Egypt; from 370 to 374 he administered of Diocese of the East as comes Orientis and from 374-380 he held the office of comes sacrarum largitionum
in the imperial financial administration. After working for a year under Theodosius I
, Tatianus left his place to retire for the next eight years in Lycia
; it is not clear whether it was due to the pressure of imperial favourites, brought by the new Emperor from the West.
, Theodosius I
appointed Tatianus Praetorian prefect of the East, making him succeed Maternus Cynegius
, a Spaniard as Theodosius was, who had died recently; after having sent the insignia of power to Tatianus in Lycia
, the Emperor appointed Proculus praefectus urbi
of Constantinople
.
Some laws of this period have been preserved, which Tatianus would abide in the absence of Theodosius (the Emperor returned to the East only in the autumn of 391) to pursue his own policy, somewhat anti-clerical; nonetheless, it is not possible to speak of a change of policy in favour of the Pagans. It should however be considered that in 391 Tatianus was consul together with Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
, another member of the Pagan aristocracy.
; the fall of Tatian also involved his son Proculus, who was sent to death.
The last years of the reign of Theodosius were characterized by a growing intolerance against Paganism; perhaps the fall of Tatian is to be interpreted in this context.
Late Antiquity
Late Antiquity is a periodization used by historians to describe the time of transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages, in both mainland Europe and the Mediterranean world. Precise boundaries for the period are a matter of debate, but noted historian of the period Peter Brown proposed...
Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
Initial career
The family of Eutolmii originated in SyriaSyria (Roman province)
Syria was a Roman province, annexed in 64 BC by Pompey, as a consequence of his military presence after pursuing victory in the Third Mithridatic War. It remained under Roman, and subsequently Byzantine, rule for seven centuries, until 637 when it fell to the Islamic conquests.- Principate :The...
; Tatian was born in Sidyma, son of Antonius Tatianus, praeses (governor) of Caria
Caria
Caria was a region of western Anatolia extending along the coast from mid-Ionia south to Lycia and east to Phrygia. The Ionian and Dorian Greeks colonized the west of it and joined the Carian population in forming Greek-dominated states there...
from 360 to 364 circa. He had a son, Proculus, who followed his footsteps choosing a political career.
Tatianus began his career during the governorship of his father. Around 357 he was a lawyer, then he was assessor (legal counsel) of a governor, a vicarius, a proconsul and two prefects. In the 360s he was praeses Thebaidos (governor of the Thebaid
Thebaid
The Thebaid or Thebais is the region of ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes of Upper Egypt, from Abydos to Aswan. It acquired its name from its proximity to the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes....
); between 367 and 370 he was praefectus augustalis in Egypt; from 370 to 374 he administered of Diocese of the East as comes Orientis and from 374-380 he held the office of comes sacrarum largitionum
Comes sacrarum largitionum
The comes sacrarum largitionum was one of the senior fiscal officials of the late Roman Empire and the early Byzantine Empire....
in the imperial financial administration. After working for a year under Theodosius I
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
, Tatianus left his place to retire for the next eight years in Lycia
Lycia
Lycia Lycian: Trm̃mis; ) was a region in Anatolia in what are now the provinces of Antalya and Muğla on the southern coast of Turkey. It was a federation of ancient cities in the region and later a province of the Roman Empire...
; it is not clear whether it was due to the pressure of imperial favourites, brought by the new Emperor from the West.
Praetorian prefect of the East
On 16 June 388, shortly before his departure for the campaign against the usurper Magnus MaximusMagnus Maximus
Magnus Maximus , also known as Maximianus and Macsen Wledig in Welsh, was Western Roman Emperor from 383 to 388. As commander of Britain, he usurped the throne against Emperor Gratian in 383...
, Theodosius I
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
appointed Tatianus Praetorian prefect of the East, making him succeed Maternus Cynegius
Maternus Cynegius
Maternus Cynegius was a praetorian prefect of the East and consul at the end of the 4th century, best known for destroying some of the most sacred sites of Hellenic religion.- Life :...
, a Spaniard as Theodosius was, who had died recently; after having sent the insignia of power to Tatianus in Lycia
Lycia
Lycia Lycian: Trm̃mis; ) was a region in Anatolia in what are now the provinces of Antalya and Muğla on the southern coast of Turkey. It was a federation of ancient cities in the region and later a province of the Roman Empire...
, the Emperor appointed Proculus praefectus urbi
Praefectus urbi
The praefectus urbanus or praefectus urbi, in English the urban prefect, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, and held high importance in late Antiquity...
of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
Some laws of this period have been preserved, which Tatianus would abide in the absence of Theodosius (the Emperor returned to the East only in the autumn of 391) to pursue his own policy, somewhat anti-clerical; nonetheless, it is not possible to speak of a change of policy in favour of the Pagans. It should however be considered that in 391 Tatianus was consul together with Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus was a Roman statesman, orator, and man of letters. He held the offices of governor of Africa in 373, urban prefect of Rome in 384 and 385, and consul in 391...
, another member of the Pagan aristocracy.
Fall
Tatian's fall was caused by his conflict with the powerful general and politician Rufinus. Rufinus, consul in 352, feared the power of Tatianus and his son Proculus, as the two of them held both the Praetorian prefecture of the East and the urban prefecture: such concentration of power in the hands of father and son caused the envy of powerful men. Rufinus took advantage of some mistakes of Tatianus in the administration of finances, to do depose and arrest him, and succeed him as prefect (September 392). Tatianus was later sent into exile, probably in Lycia, and he was hit by damnatio memoriaeDamnatio memoriae
Damnatio memoriae is the Latin phrase literally meaning "condemnation of memory" in the sense of a judgment that a person must not be remembered. It was a form of dishonor that could be passed by the Roman Senate upon traitors or others who brought discredit to the Roman State...
; the fall of Tatian also involved his son Proculus, who was sent to death.
The last years of the reign of Theodosius were characterized by a growing intolerance against Paganism; perhaps the fall of Tatian is to be interpreted in this context.