304 NOTES ON LATIN INSCRIPTIONS 



In Constantine's division of the Empire, Britain became a dioecests 

 of the Prce/ectura Galliarum, and was governed by a Vicarius, under 

 whom were Prcesides of its provinces. In the time of the Notitia, 

 probably circa A.D. 400, this Vicarius, or Governor-in-Chief, had 

 under him two Consulares, vis. : of Maxima Ccesariensis, and of 

 Valentia, and three Prcesides, vis. : of Britannia Prima, Britannia 

 Secunda, and of Flavia CcBsariensis. In addition to these were a 

 Comes litoris Saxonici per Britanniam, Comes Britannice, or Britan- 

 niarum, and a Dux Britanniaruin. The Vicarius, Consulares, and 

 Prcesides, exercised civil authority ; whilst the Comes litoris Saxonici,. 

 the Comes Britanniarutn, and the Dux, had military command. 



I. — During the first Century. 



The first eleven governors of Roman Britain are mentioned in 

 order by Tacitus, in his Agricola. The following are their names 

 as there given : — 



Aulus Plautius, 



Ostorius Scapitla, 



Didius Oallus, 



Yeranius, 



Suetonius PauUnus, 



Petronius Tu,r,pilianus, 



Treiellius Maximus, 



Vettius JBolanus, 



Petilius Cerialis, 



Julius Frontinus, 



On. Julius Agricola. 



This list is satisfactory, so far as informing us of the order of suc- 

 cession ; but Tacitus, neither in his Agricola, nor elsewhere in his 

 extant works, supplies materials sufficient for defining the beginning 

 and the end of the government of each of those Legates. Let us 

 consider, then, what certain information may be collected relative to 

 these points. 



The beginning of the administration of Aulus Plautius'^ is certain, 



• Aulus Plautius Silvanus. I incline to the opinion of JEd. Mon. Hist. Brit., and others,, 

 that he is the same as the person named in the inscription found at Tivoli, and given by 

 Gruter, 453, 1., Orelli, n. 750, and Mon. Hist. Brit,, 1. Reimar, however, on Dio, Ix., 30, 

 expresses the belief that they were different. My opinion is founded on the words of 

 the inscription: LEGAT' ET" COMITI- CLAVD" CAESARIS' IN • BRITANNIA. Now, 

 although it is possible that there may have been two Plautii that were eomites of Claudius 



