Extract

Domitius Ulpianus came from *Tyre where an inscription honouring him has recently been found. He followed an equestrian career in Rome, drafting rescripts (replies to petitions; see constitutions; magister libellorum) for *Septimius Severus, to judge from their style, from ce 202 to 209, and at least from 205 onwards did so as secretary for petitions (a libellis). In contrast with *Papinianus, on Severus' death at York in 211 he sided with Caracalla, who in 212 by the constitutio Antoniniana (see constitution, Antonine) extended Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire. Presumably in response to this extension, which suited his outlook, Ulpianus was galvanized into activity in the following years (213–17), systematically composing more than two hundred books (libri) in which he expounded Roman law for the benefit, among others, of the new citizenry, emphasized its rational and universal character and appealed to its basis in natural law. Probably under *Elagabalus he became praefectus annonae (responsible for the corn supply), in which capacity he is attested in March 222, early in the reign of *Severus Alexander, who in the same year made him praetorian prefect and set him over the two existing prefects.