Travelling on a one-way basis. Examples of the mobility of senior officials to the courtyard in the fourth century of our era ; Voyager à sens unique. Exemples de la mobilité des hauts fonctionnaires vers la cour au IV siècle de notre ère

Abstract

Eminent representative of Roman senatorial aristocracy, Symmaque maintained, at the end of the 20th century of our era, a correspondence nurtured with some fatigue on official movement to the imperial court. A former servant of the State, Symmaque remains committed to his duty to the Emperor and must respond to the latter's regular summons. His example is illustrative of this link between some of the imperial senior officials from the Roman Senate aristocracy in the court. This voluntary servitude is both an honour and a burden. From these journeys to the courtyard, the correspondence of the Roman senator and, secondly, that of his friend, the aquitan rhetoric Ausone, keep track. Symmaque's letters first refer to a number of reasons for moving to the imperial court. A typology may be proposed. Therefore, and on the basis of the study of Symmaque's correspondence, this article seeks first of all to make it possible to approach the reality of the practical organisation of travel in an official context. It will then be able to break down an aspect of the history of mentalities by exploring the sense of constraint linked to this mobility and finally make the following statement: mobility is becoming a pretext for particular sociability, polarised by the presence in the courtyard of these major public servants during highlights of aulic life. ; International audience Eminent Roman representative of senatorial aristocracy, Symmachus let us more than 700 letters written at the end of the 4th century A.D. This correspondence expresses some lassitude he felt when he went officially to court. Ex-civil servant, Symmachus stayed attached to his duties toward the Emperor and had to reply to the notifications to attend imperial court. His example is illustrative of the ambivalent link between high-ranking civil servant from the senatorial aristocracy and the imperial court. This 'voluntary servitude' was lived as an honour and as a burden at the same time. Symmachus' letters as well as those of his friend Ausonius, the rhetor ...