Notitia Dignitatum

Title

Notitia Dignitatum

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.

Creator

Unknown

Date

5th Century AD

Source

http://lukeuedasarson.com/BMPed-4.jpg

Publisher

Unknown

Contributor

Unknown

Format

Medium: Photograph.

Language

English

Type

Artwork

Identifier

Notitia Dignitatum, Roman Empire, Civil Office, Patronage, Shields, Ancient History

Coverage

Roman Empire

Files

http://lukeuedasarson.com/BMPed-4.jpg

Reference

Unknown, Notitia Dignitatum, Unknown, 5th Century AD

Cite As

Unknown, “Notitia Dignitatum,” Virtual Museum of Public Service, accessed March 19, 2024, https://vmps.omeka.net/items/show/427.