Marcus Petronius Honoratus was a Roman eques (equestrian) who held a number of military and civilian positions during the reigns of the Emperors Hadrian and Antoninus Pius, including praefectus annonae (overseer of the grain supply for Rome) and praefectus (governor) of Roman Egypt.
Life
His career is documented in an inscription found at Rome (CIL VI, 1625b = ILS 1340), erected by negotiatores oleari ex Baetica (oil merchants from Baetica), who had chosen him as their patron. Another inscription was found at Ostia Antica (CIL XIV, 184).
His career began with the tres militiae (the three standard military posts for an equestrian): first as prefect (commander) of Cohors I Raetorum, stationed in Germania Inferior; then as military tribune with Legio I Minervia, also in Germania Inferior; and finally as prefect of ala II Thracum Augusta pia fidelis, stationed in Mauretania Caesariensis.
After completing his military service, Honoratus began his civilian career, likely after the accession of Antoninus Pius. He served as procurator monetae (head of the imperial mint), with an annual salary of 100,000 sesterces. He then advanced to procurator of the vicesima hereditatium (overseer of the 5% inheritance tax), with an annual salary of 200,000 sesterces. This was followed by an appointment as procurator of imperial properties in Gallia Belgica and the two German provinces.
Honoratus then received a series of senior equestrian appointments. He returned to Rome to serve as procurator a rationibus (head of the accounting section) and remained in Rome as praefectus annonae (overseer of the grain supply). He was then appointed praefectus (governor) of Egypt from 147 to 148 AD. Primary sources attest to his presence there from August 29, 147 to November 11, 148 AD; his successor is not attested before 150, so he may have remained in office through 149 AD.
The scholar Henriette Pavis d'Escurac notes that Honoratus advanced to his procuratorial postings without holding any governmental procuratorships, which is unusual. Hans-Georg Pflaum suggested that the rapidity of his career may be partly explained by his kinship with Marcus Petronius Mamertinus, who was suffect consul in 150 AD and governor of Egypt several years before Honoratus.
An edict issued by Honoratus as prefect of Egypt, concerning a contest in honor of Livia (dated 147–148 AD), is preserved in papyrus (P. Oxy. XVII, 2105). Several papyrological documents also attest to his judicial and administrative activities in Egypt.
