Definition
The Evocati Augusti (Latin: “Augustan evocatī”) were a special corps of former soldiers in the Roman Imperial army who, after receiving an honorable discharge (honesta missio), voluntarily re‑enlisted at the invitation of the emperor or a senior commander. The title was applied to a select body of veteran men, originally drawn from the Praetorian Guard and later from the urban cohorts, who served in privileged roles within the imperial household and administration.
Historical Development
- Origins under Augustus – Emperor Augustus created the evocati Augusti as a distinct unit composed chiefly of veterans from the urban cohorts (cohortes urbane). According to the Enciclopedia Italiana (Treccani), these men were granted a salarium (regular salary) rather than a stipendium (campaign pay), bore the vine staff of centurions, and wore civilian footwear (calceus civilis) instead of the military sandal (caliga). Their duties appear to have been largely administrative rather than combat‑related, and the corps persisted throughout the Imperial period.
- Later Imperial Usage – By the reign of Domitian (81–96 CE), the designation evocati was also applied to a select group of young men of the equestrian order appointed to guard the emperor’s bedchamber. Some scholars propose that this body continued under subsequent emperors and was essentially the same as the earlier evocati Augusti (Wikipedia, “Evocatus” entry).
Organization and Status
- Rank and Privileges – Members of the evocati Augusti held a rank above ordinary legionary soldiers and were often regarded as comparable to centurions. Their elevated status is reflected in the entitlement to the vine staff and the wearing of civilian shoes, symbols traditionally associated with higher‑ranking officers.
- Recruitment – Participation was voluntary; veterans who had completed their term of service could be “called back” (evocati) by the emperor or a commanding officer, receiving favorable terms of service, including higher pay and exemption from routine camp duties such as fortification work or road building.
Functions
- Administrative Roles – Inscriptions indicate that the evocati Augusti performed primarily administrative functions within the imperial establishment, rather than front‑line combat duties.
- Imperial Guard Duties – Under Domitian, the evocati (including the evocati Augusti) served as personal guards for the emperor, illustrating a shift toward protective and ceremonial responsibilities.
Later Reception
The evocati Augusti are mentioned by several ancient sources, including Cassius Dio, Suetonius, and Tacitus, and have been discussed in modern scholarship on Roman military organization (e.g., Domaszewski, Die Rangordnung im röm. Heer; Pauly–Wissowa, Real-Encyclopädie). Their exact composition and the continuity of the corps across different reigns remain subjects of scholarly debate, with some authorities emphasizing their veteran status and others focusing on their role as elite imperial attendants.
References
- “Evocatus.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evocatus. (Accessed 2026)
- “Evocati.” Enciclopedia Italiana (Treccani), https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/evocati_(Enciclopedia-Italiana)/. (Accessed 2026)
- Domaszewski, J. Die Rangordnung im römischen Heer, Bonn, 1908.
- Pauly–Wissowa, Real-Encyclopädie, Vol. VI, §§ 1145‑1152.