Sulle fonti relative alle dispute confinarie nelle province romane
Résumé
This paper gives a closer look to the different sources that inform us on the practical procedures followed by Roman authorities to solve boundary disputes between communities. An analysis of the epigraphic formulas attested by the boundary stones shows that imperial intervention in this field is consistently rendered in different ways according to the status of the authority handling the case. If this was a legatus Augusti pro praetore or a procurator, we often find the formula “imperator per legatum/procuratorem restituit” (or a greek equivalent). This expression clearly implies a direct order from the ruler to one of his subordinates. On the contrary, in proconsular provinces we only find disputes set by the governor (normally in the nominative case) “ex auctoritate imperatoris”. The avoidance of the “per” + accusative form shows that the emperors continued to respect the independence of the imperium of the proconsuls, even in the 3rd century.