Volusianus (L. Petronius Taurus Volusianus) - Significance of His Consular Appointment

Significance of His Consular Appointment

Bray conjectures that, despite being raised to the consulate, Volusianus nevertheless, continued to serve as Praetorian Praefect until his appointment as Praefectus Urbis in 267 - see below. This is possible: the office of consul was by this time largely ceremonial - though hugely prestigious (especially when held together with a reigning emperor as in Volusianus's case) and was still a pre-requisite of important provincial governorships - but the work-load would not have precluded him from holding other offices. In addition, although it was traditionally the case that men of senatorial rank could not be appointed to the Praetorian Prefecture, this rule had been abandoned or, at least, relaxed during the reign of Severus Alexander and in the next fifty or so years until the reforms of Diocletian gave the office definite senatorial status a number of prefects are recorded with the senatorial honorific Vir Clarissimus - i.e. 'Renowned Lord'. There therefore seems to have been no procedural obstacle to Volusianus's continuing to serve as prefect after he was ennobled.