Praefectus vigilum

[3] It was in this building that the praefectus vigilum had his offices and his courtroom and it was from there that he left every night to carry out the statutory rounds.

[3] Without the participation of the Senate or the Roman people, the praefectus vigilum was appointed by the Emperor for an indefinite period and just as arbitrarily removed again.

The Prefect was vested with both military (he was the head of the corps)[4] and civil (judicial)[3] powers, the latter giving him jurisdiction over arsonists, burglars, thieves, robbers and fences.

[5] He could impose light sentences (lashes or sticks) but important cases were transferred to the responsibility of the prefect of the city (praefectus urbi).

[14] Their number, less than 600 "firemen", remained very insufficient in the face of the risk of fire which increased with the accelerated urbanisation of the city from the end of the Republic.

[22] The vigiles were distributed throughout all quarters of the city, kept watch at night and ensured that fires were quickly detected and extinguished.

[25] It is noteworthy that no ancient author mentions the praefectus vigilum who was in office during the great Neronian fire of 64.

[14] Until two years earlier, the office had been held by Ofonius Tigellinus, who had been appointed praefectus praetorio.

[14] Moreover, Tigellinus would certainly have brought with him the best of his collaborators among the fire brigade after his promotion, depriving the new praefectus of valuable assistants.

[14] This could explain why Tigellinus took command of the operations against the fire, using also the Praetorian Guards, and managed to bring it under control after six days.

[12] This has been recorded for the first time in 241–242 and is known from a letter written in 248–249 by Philip the Arab and his homonymous son and co-ruler, dispatched to the Praefectus Vigilum.