“Gli occhi e le orecchie dell’imperatore”: i comites di Marco Aurelio e Lucio Vero e la formazione di un “entourage” militare*

The Author takes into consideration the imperial comites epigraphically attested, and who participated in the military campaigns of L. Verus, L. Verus and M. Aurelius, M. Aurelius alone, and M. Aurelius with Commodus (161-180), comparing their careers. These comites Augusti were selected from among the senators deemed most suitable for fulfilling this highly significant role. The key requirements seem to have been a close connection to the imperial household, but also military abilities, since they had to fight alongside the emperor. Some of them had already fought along the Roman frontiers and belonged to that small circle of viri militares.