1st Edition

Imperial Inquisitions Prosecutors and Informants from Tiberius to Domitian

By Steven H. Rutledge Copyright 2001

    Delatores (political informants) and accusatores (malicious prosecutors) were a major part of life in imperial Rome. Contemporary sources depict them as cruel and heartless mercenaries, who bore the main responsibility for institutionalising and enforcing the 'tyranny' of the infamous rulers of the early empire, such as Nero, Caligula and Domitian. Stephen Rutledge's study examines the evidence to ask if this is a fair portrayal.
    Beginning with a detailed examination of the social and political status of known informants and prosecutors, he goes on to investigate their activities - as well as the rewards they could expect. The main areas covered are:
    * checking government corruption and enforcing certain classes of legislation
    * blocking opposition and resistance to the emperor in the Senate
    * acting as a partisan player in factional strife in the imperial family
    * protecting the emperor against conspiracy.
    The book includes a comprehensive guide to every known political informant under the early empire, with their name, all the relevant primary and secondary sources, and an individual biography.

    Preface and acknowledgements PART I 1 Introduction 2 Political and social advancement 3 Exercendas leges esse: delatores and law enforcement 4 Senatorial opposition and resistance I: Tiberius to Claudius 5 Senatorial opposition and resistance II: Nero to Domitian 6 The domus principis: delatores and factionalism in the imperial family 7 Conspiracy 8 Epilogue: continuity and change PART II Delatores: a prosopographical survey

    Biography

    Steven H. Rutledge

    'Overall, this book brings a unique perspective to current scholarship in this area, not in the least that it is the only extensive English-language study in this area to date. Rutledge is meticulous in his discussion of the primary source materials, the information contained within them, and his overall knowledge and perceptions regarding the bias and opinions related by both primary and secondary source authors. This books is essential to any scholar of Roman history from the first century BC to the first century AD.' - Brad Eden, University of Nevada