Description
A photograph of an exerpt of the Notitia Digitatum, depicting various shield patterns of the Roman Empire.
The Notitia Dignitatumis an official register of all the offices (excluding municipal), which existed over the course of the Roman Empire. This document details the administrative organization of the eastern and western empires, usually considered up to date for the Western empire in the 420's and the Eastern empire in the 400's. The hierarchi arrangement of the Roman administrative system in the early 5th century is displayed perfectly, with division of dioceses, provinces, and rank of respective governers elaborated at in length. Public service, also known as civil service, some say, developed from the Notitia Dignitatum, along with the works of John Lydus. Many say that our government's complex administrative structure developed from this unique document of the Roman Empire; however, many appointments to the administrative institutions were made entirely by inheritance or patronage and not on merit, showing obvious parallels with the early bureaucratic structures in modern states such as the Navy in 18th century England.
Identifier
Notitia Dignitatum, Roman Empire, Civil Office, Patronage, Shields, Ancient History