Praetorian prefecture of Italy

Since most Latin terms and titles had their Greek equivalents, praetorian prefect of Italy was often titled as praetorian eparch of Italy (Greek: πραιτωριανός έπαρχος της Ιταλίας), and the praetorian prefecture itself was designated as praetorian eparchy (Greek: ἐπαρχότης τῶν πραιτωρίων).

Structure and history

The prefecture was established in the division of the Empire after the death of Constantine the Great in 337, and was made up of dioceses. Initially these were the Diocese of Africa, the Diocese of Italy, the Diocese of Pannonia, the Diocese of Dacia and the Diocese of Macedonia (the last two were until c. 327 united in the Diocese of Moesia). Eventually the Diocese of Italy was split in two, the Diocese of Suburbicarian Italy (Italia suburbicaria: "Italy under the City", also referred to as "Diocese of the City of Rome") and the Diocese of Annonarian Italy (Italia annonaria: "provisioning Italy").

In 347, the praetorian prefecture of Illyricum was established, comprising the dioceses of Pannonia, Dacia and Macedonia. Vulcacius Rufinus was the prefect, 347–352. The new prefecture was abolished in 361 by Julian and reestablished in 375 by Gratian. Its territory was contested between the two halves of the Empire, until the final partition in 395, when the Diocese of Pannonia was split off from the Illyricum and joined to the Western Empire and the prefecture of Italy as the Diocese of Illyricum.

Despite the end of the Western Empire in 476, the Germanic successor states under Odoacer and Theodoric continued to use the Roman administrative machinery, as well as being nominal subjects of the Eastern emperor at Constantinople. The Prefecture thus survived, but with reduced territorial jurisdiction, confined to regions under Odoacer's or Ostrogothic rule.

During the Gothic War (535–554), entire Italy came under the Byzantine rule, and the Praetorian prefecture of Italy continued to exist, centered in Ravenna, and divided into provinces. However, with the Lombard invasion in 568, Byzantine rule became reduced to fragmented and increasingly isolated territories. Responding to that, remaining territories were grouped into several regions, or eparchies in 580 (Aemilia, Annonaria, Calabria, Campania, Urbicaria), but already by 584 the entire administrative structure was reorganized into the Exarchate of Italy, also centered in Ravenna, and headed by an imperial exarch of Italy, who was both civilian and military governor of Byzantine Italy.

Within the newly established Italian exarchate, praetorian prefects of Italy continue however to be attested, as heads of civilian branch of administration, until well into the 7th century. One of the last attested holders occurs in 639, and a couple of seals bearing the title eparchos ("prefect" in Greek) survive from the late 7th century, although it has been suggested that they are a misprint for exarchos ("exarch").