Book contents
- The Roman Emperor and His Court c. 30 BC–c. AD 300
- The Roman Emperor and His Court c. 30 BC–c. AD 300
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations and Conventions
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Hellenistic Influences on Roman Court Culture
- 3 Republican Precursors
- 4 The Imperial Family
- 5 The Roman Aristocracy at Court
- 6 Administration, Finances, and the Court
- 7 Foreign Royals at the Imperial Court
- 8 Domestic Servants in the Imperial Court
- 9 The Imperial Palaces on the Palatine Hill: Architecture as a Reflection of Social Practices and Imperial Authority
- 10 Imperial Villas
- 11 Imperial Journeys
- 12 The Court and Ceremonial
- 13 Dining and Hunting as Courtly Activities in the Roman Empire
- 14 Sexuality and the Court
- 15 Violence and Security at Court
- 16 Religion and Divination at Court
- 17 Performance and Performers at Court
- 18 Literary Patronage and the Roman Imperial Court from Augustus to the Severan Dynasty
- 19 Dress, Adornment, and Self-Presentation
- 20 Epilogue: Continuity and Change at the Roman Imperial Court
- Bibliography
- Index of Personal Names
- General Index
5 - The Roman Aristocracy at Court
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 September 2022
- The Roman Emperor and His Court c. 30 BC–c. AD 300
- The Roman Emperor and His Court c. 30 BC–c. AD 300
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations and Conventions
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Hellenistic Influences on Roman Court Culture
- 3 Republican Precursors
- 4 The Imperial Family
- 5 The Roman Aristocracy at Court
- 6 Administration, Finances, and the Court
- 7 Foreign Royals at the Imperial Court
- 8 Domestic Servants in the Imperial Court
- 9 The Imperial Palaces on the Palatine Hill: Architecture as a Reflection of Social Practices and Imperial Authority
- 10 Imperial Villas
- 11 Imperial Journeys
- 12 The Court and Ceremonial
- 13 Dining and Hunting as Courtly Activities in the Roman Empire
- 14 Sexuality and the Court
- 15 Violence and Security at Court
- 16 Religion and Divination at Court
- 17 Performance and Performers at Court
- 18 Literary Patronage and the Roman Imperial Court from Augustus to the Severan Dynasty
- 19 Dress, Adornment, and Self-Presentation
- 20 Epilogue: Continuity and Change at the Roman Imperial Court
- Bibliography
- Index of Personal Names
- General Index
Summary
This chapter focuses on the interactions of the Roman aristocracy – the members of the senatorial and equestrian orders – with the court, taking as its theme the interplay between routine and disruption. The scale of these interactions fluctuated over time, as did the methods by which emperors signalled their favour for particular aristocrats, thereby creating an (unstable) hierarchy of aristocrats at court. The amici principis (‘friends of the emperor’) formed their own subgroup, with an internal hierarchy; the emperor’s relationship with them was shaped by cultural expectations about amicitia. Some aristocrats were important advisers to the emperor, so the chapter examines advisers and the role of advisory councils (consilia). The chapter reflects on whether the relationship between the emperor and aristocratic courtiers should be characterized as one of ‘domestication’, arguing for an often-volatile situation in which attempts by emperors to control aristocrats (and vice versa) were ad hoc and short-lived.
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- The Roman Emperor and his Court c. 30 BC–c. AD 300 , pp. 85 - 114Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022
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