Rome, the Greek World, and the East, Vol. 2 - Government, Society, and Culture in the Roman Empire

170 The Imperial Government

masterofthecavalry),whovainlyadvisedawaitingGratianandhisforces.^48
Thespecificaccountsofstrategicortacticaldebateswithintheimperialen-
touragearethusbothratherdeficientinindicationsofthecompositionof
the entourage (Ammianus notes a few paragraphs later that the praetorian
prefectandtheconsistoriani[membersoftheconsistorium,whichreplacedthe
earlierconsilium] were at Hadrianople)^49 and not very clear as to who was
actuallyconsulted. A much clearer impression of the militarycharacterof
theentourageinthefourthcenturyisgivenbyAmmianus’accountsofthose
moments,in363and364,whenthedeathofanemperorleftitwiththetaskof
selectinghissuccessorandproclaiminghimfirsttothearmyonthespotand
thentotheEmpire.^50 Heretoo,asintheeventsleadingtoHadrianople,when
Gratian’s only means of attempting to intervene was a letter carried from
Sirmium by thecomes domesticorum(commanderof the household troops),
Richomer,^51 weseethefundamentallimitationsplacedbytime,space,and
delaysofcommunicationonthewaysinwhichtheEmpirecouldfunction
asasystem.

CommunicationandResponsibility

Itisthusclearenough,firstly,thatimmediatetactical,strategic,anddiplo-
maticdecisionsbytheemperorcouldonlybetakenonthespotwherever
heandhisentouragewere;and,secondly,that,whateveradvicehereceived,
thesedecisionsweretakenbytheemperorinperson.Thatstillleavesopen
the question of responsibility and decision making in relation to military
ordiplomaticoperationsconductedintheabsenceoftheemperor.Toillus-
tratethenatureoftheproblemwemaytaketwowell-knowninstancesfrom
the first century.The first is the record of his governorship of Moesia in
about60–67fromtheinscriptionofTiberiusPlautiusSilvanusAelianuson
hisfamilytombatTibur,listingthefollowingactivities:^52

1. Morethan100,000‘‘Transdanubians’’broughtacrosswiththeirwives
   andchildrenandchiefsorkings(andsettled)‘‘sothattheypaidtribute.’’


2. ASarmatianthreatrepressed,thoughpartofhisarmyhadbeen
   withdrawnforoperationsinArmenia.
   48. Ammianus31,12,5–7.ForSebastianus’rank,PLREI,Sebassianus2.
   49. 31,12,10.
   50. 25,5(Jovian),see8,8–11(communicationstotheWest);26,1–2(Valentinian).
   51. 31,12,4.
   52.ILS986.