Alcune note sui notarii nella corte imperiale del IV secolo

During the first three centuries, as already shown by Teitler, a definite group of stenographers specifically assigned to the prince did not exist. This function was entrusted to several figures, firstly probably slaves and freedmen, later officials from different departments of the imperial administrative machinery. In this sense, we reconsider the value of the inscription of Auximum and the epitaph of Salona for Aurelius Valerinus. On the basis of the inscription of Salona it is assumed that the stenographers used by the emperor were drawn preferably not from the army, but from palatine offices, and in particular by that of Memoria. It is hypothesized that the body of notarii was created in the first decades of the fourth century in the context of an overall reorganization of the central administration, which saw the introduction of the Magister officiorum, the Quaestor, and the decline in importance of the officia /scrinia. It is assumed that the definition of a distinct group of notarii of the emperor also responded to the needs posed by a greater formalization of the consilium /consistorium. The rise of the notarii in the fourth century is something that first concerns individuals and only later the body as a whole (which is given a rank title only in the age of Valentinian). It is argued that decisive factors in determining the success of the notarii in the fourth century, were: (a) their autonomy from the great dignitaries of the court and (b) the choices of Constantius II.