DaddyCatALSO t1_jbd0fr8 wrote on March 8, 2023 at 3:48 AM

Reply to comment by lawyerjsd in Egypt archaeology: Dig unearths smiling mini-sphinx which may represent Claudius by egg_static5

The governor of egypt had a unique title, not one of the other two used elsewhere in the empire

rtb001 t1_jbeo96z wrote on March 8, 2023 at 2:45 PM

I believe the governor had to be of equestrian real, because the emperor didn't want a senator to oversee Egypt and potentially build a power base there.

Supposedly senators were not even allowed to VISIT Egypt, let alone govern it, such was its importance.

B1ueEyesWh1teDragon t1_jbestvi wrote on March 8, 2023 at 3:16 PM

If I recall correctly from the History of Rome podcast, Egypt was the richest Roman province and also supplied a majority of the food to the empire as well. So it makes perfect sense to not have a third party like a senator govern it if you’re the emperor. That’s begging for rebellion.

rtb001 t1_jbf181l wrote on March 8, 2023 at 4:11 PM

It wasn't just Egypt, although Egypt was particularly key to the Emperor. Most Roman provinces were also not given to the senate to appoint a governor. Only a small subset of centrally located provinces along Italy itself and the Mediterranean were called "senatorial provinces". The key frontier provinces, where most of the troops are (Britain, Danube, Rhine, Syria etc) were imperial provinces, where the Emperor directly appointed governors, again to make sure only the people he trusts are given military commands.

Welshhoppo t1_jbesyhw wrote on March 8, 2023 at 3:17 PM

That's because the last time a senator was in Egypt. That was Mark Antony.

We think it's one of the reasons Germanicus was done in by Tiberius. Because he was a popular senator who went to Egypt without permission.

rtb001 t1_jbf3uj2 wrote on March 8, 2023 at 4:28 PM

Although if Tiberius really did assassinate Germanicus, he would have done it whether Germanicus set foot in Egypt or not. Not only was Germanicus more popular than Tiberius's own son Drusus, he also has closer bloodline to Augustus himself, being the grandson of Augustus' sister Octavia.

Welshhoppo t1_jbfata4 wrote on March 8, 2023 at 5:12 PM

Considering how little Tiberius seems to have wanted to be Emperor, I put the entire blame of his death on Piso.