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
8 - Domestic Servants in the Imperial 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
Using the rich funerary epigraphy from Rome and environs, this chapter reconstructs the organization of court domestic service, establishes a taxonomy of the various service roles attested at court, and explores the significance of the structural differentiation that can be observed among the (mostly servile) domestic servants. It then considers the impact of the emperor’s domestic servants on court politics, exploring the relationships that developed between the court and the outside world. Literary texts suggest that some domestic staff controlled access to the emperor, that others acted as brokers in distributing imperial patronage, and that a few became favourites of the emperor. The latter could rise to great heights of influence, but could also become lightning-rods of discontent with the regime. As a result, a reconfiguration of power within the court or a change of regime could see the expulsion of favourites from the inner circle – or worse.
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- The Roman Emperor and his Court c. 30 BC–c. AD 300 , pp. 168 - 203Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022