The Roman Praetorship in Greek Documents: στρατηγός, dubium utrum prætor an dux

Abstract

In this paper I will explore several Greek documents from different times of Roman history, to track and reconstruct in what political, legal, and military terms the praetorship was conceived, given that the praetor was described by the same Greek word στρατηγός meaning a general in army, an official in charge of justice, and a governor for the provinces. Among the Greeks στρατηγός had a meaning mainly but not exclusively military, while among the Romans the prætor had a clear and plural development: inside Rome he was a republican magistrate with functions of dispensation of justice and in military campaign he served as commander of armed forces with supreme powers. In this research, I draw upon not only Greek historians of Roman Times, and other literary sources as well, but also official documents, like imperial responses and inscriptions which represent direct samples about how Roman praetorship was understood in Greek eyes.