- Donativum
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Military of ancient Rome (portal)
753 BC – AD 476Structural history Roman army (unit types and ranks, legions, auxiliaries, generals) Roman navy (fleets, admirals) Campaign history Lists of wars and battles Decorations and punishments Technological history Military engineering (castra, siege engines, arches, roads) Political history Strategy and tactics Infantry tactics Frontiers and fortifications (limes, Hadrian's Wall) Donativum (plural donativa) was the name given to the gifts of money dispersed to the soldiers of the Roman legions or to the Praetorian Guard by the Roman Emperors.
The purpose of the donativa varied: some were expressions of gratitude for favors received, and others out right bribery for favors expected in return. Donativa were normally rendered at the beginning of each new emperor's reign. During the 2nd and 3rd centuries, this form of bribery became a crucial part of any successful ruler in Rome. Such was the case with many of the soldier-emperors from 235 to 248. The Praetorian Guard, intimate to the emperor's person, was an even greater threat to security. The cohorts stationed in Rome were difficult to appease and quick to commit assassination. The donativum thus provided a terrific way to purchase the Guards' support and loyalty.
Emperor Augustus bequeathed the Praetorian Guard a substantial sum in his will, but it was not until Tiberius' reign that gifts of money were thought mandatory. The Praetorian Guard received such gifts for turning a blind eye when Sejanus, their prefect, fell from power. Each Praetorian Guard received 10 gold pieces for refraining from defending Sejanus's. In 41, after the assassination of Caligula, the Guard supported Claudius, and after a brief time the Senate learned that the Guard had installed him on the throne. Claudius gave them 150 gold pieces, or some 3,750 denarii, to which the senators' 100 sesterces were added annually to commemorate Claudius's accession. The inevitable result of the custom of the donativum was the Praetorians' auctioning of the Empire to Didius Julianus in 193.
Imperial Donativa to the Praetorian Guard 14 - 193 Year Emperor Provocation Denarii 14 Augustus Last will 250 31 Tiberius Loyalty in Sejanus crisis 1,000 37 Caligula Upon accession 500 41 Claudius Upon accession 3,750 Annually Claudius Anniversary of accession to the throne 25 54 Nero Accession 3,750 Pay for assassinations 500 or less 69 Galba Promised by Nymphidius Sabinus, but not paid 7,500 69 Otho Promised 1,250 69 Vitellius Promised 1,250 69 Vespasian Regular donativum unknown 79 Titus Regular donativum unknown 81 Domitian Considered doubling the donativum but opted for regular sum unknown 96 Nerva Regular donativum unknown 98 Trajan Regular donativum unknown 117 Hadrian Double normal sum unknown 138 Antoninus Pius Regular donativum and upon daughter's marriage unknown 161 Marcus Aurelius Joint rule vith Verus 5,000 180 Commodus Regular donativum; second promised but unpaid unknown 193 Pertinax Forced to pay donativum of Commodus 3,000 193 Didius Julianus Purchased the throne 7,250 193 Septimius Severus Promised a donativum but paid less 250 See also
Categories:- Economy of ancient Rome
- Roman Empire
- Roman military payments
- Praetorian Guard
- Economic history of Italy
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