Donativum

Donativum (plural donativa) was the name given to the gifts of money dispersed to the soldiers of the Roman legions or to the Praetorian Guard by the Roman Emperors. The English translation is donative.

For the racehorse, see Donativum (horse).
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The purpose of the donativa varied: some were expressions of gratitude for favors received, and others outright bribery for favors expected in return. Donativa were normally rendered at the beginning of each new emperor's reign. During the 2nd and 3rd centuries, this form of bribery became a crucial part of any successful ruler in Rome. Such was the case with many of the soldier-emperors from 235 to 248.

The Praetorian Guard, intimate to the emperor's person, was an even greater threat to security. The cohorts stationed in Rome were difficult to appease and quick to commit assassination. The donativum thus provided a significant way to purchase the Guards' support and loyalty.

Emperor Augustus bequeathed the Praetorian Guard a substantial sum in his will, but it was not until the reign of Tiberius that gifts of money were thought mandatory. The Praetorian Guard received such gifts for turning a blind eye when Sejanus, their prefect, fell from power. Each Praetorian Guard received 10 gold pieces for refraining from defending Sejanus.

In 41, after the assassination of Caligula, the Guard supported Claudius, and after a brief time the Senate learned that the Guard had installed him on the throne. Claudius gave them 150 gold pieces, or some 3,750 denarii, to which the senators' 100 sesterces were added annually to commemorate Claudius's accession. The inevitable result of the custom of the donativum was the Praetorians' auctioning of the Empire to Didius Julianus in 193.

Imperial Donativa to the Praetorian Guard 14–193
Imperial Donativa to the Praetorian Guard 14 - 193
YearEmperorProvocationDenarii
14AugustusLast will250
31TiberiusLoyalty in Sejanus crisis1,000
37CaligulaUpon accession500
41ClaudiusUpon accession3,750
AnnuallyClaudiusAnniversary of accession to the throne25
54NeroAccession3,750
Pay for assassinations500 or less
69GalbaPromised by Nymphidius Sabinus, but not paid7,500
69OthoPromised1,250
69VitelliusPromised1,250
69VespasianRegular donativumunknown
79TitusRegular donativumunknown
81DomitianConsidered doubling the donativum but opted for regular sumunknown
96NervaRegular donativumunknown
98TrajanRegular donativumunknown
117HadrianDouble normal sum[1]unknown
136HadrianRegular donativum upon Aelius' adoption[2]unknown[3]
138Antoninus PiusRegular donativum and upon daughter's marriageunknown
161Marcus AureliusJoint rule with Verus5,000
180CommodusRegular donativum; second promised but unpaidunknown
193PertinaxForced to pay donativum of Commodus3,000
193Didius JulianusPurchased the throne7,250
193Septimius SeverusPromised a donativum but paid less250
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See also

Notes

References
  1. SHA, Hadr. 5.7.
  2. SHA, Hadr. 23.12; 23,14; Ael. 6.3.
  3. 4,000 or 3,000 sestertii between the donativum and a congiarium, SHA, Hadr. 23.14; Ael. 6.3.
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