Prefetti e vicari nell’epigrafia della diocesi d’Africa (300-439 ca.), .), in P. Porena, O. Huck (études réunies par), La préfecture du prétoire tardo-antique et ses titulaires (IVe-VIe siècle), Bari 2023, pp. 245-270

The epigraphy of the provinces of Roman Africa provides a not insignificant contribution to the knowledge of some problems concerning the administration of this diocese in the fourth and early fifth centuries. I was able to collect 27 or 28 inscriptions which refer to the activity of praetorian prefects and vicarii (Africae) from these provinces, dating between 303 to 439 at the latest. Among these, only three or four are attributable to praetorian prefects; that is to say a tiny percentage of the over one hundred inscriptions relating to these officials dating back to the same period from all over the empire. The other 22 or 23 inscriptions, concerning or mentioning the vicars of Africa, on the contrary constitute a very significant share of the total epigraphy of the vicars for the same period (just under a third, approximately). In this paper I will propose some corrections of the tetxts – mostly on details - and some new interpretations. Finally, this dossier will be poured into the discussion on some more or less important issues relating to the administration of late ancient Africa: the relationship between the vicarius and the proconsul, the location of the vicar's seat, the title of the vicar, the problem of different concilia of Africa, the figure of Antonius Dracontius, the control of the vicarius over provincial and municipal finances.