Vir illustris

Vir illustris ( " brilliant man ", also illustrissimus, plural viri illustres ) was the highest senatorial rank titles in the late ancient Roman Empire.

Although the title already appears in the Principate isolated on, its final expression but only in late antiquity. In the reign of Valentinian I. Members of the Senate with this title were outranked highlighted. At the beginning of the 5th century also contributed to senior officials of this rank, such as the praetorian prefect, prefect, Heermeister and various comites at court and consuls, who were particularly considered. Latest Theodosius I granted the rank also to bishops. The title was not hereditary, and now called the highest ranked class at court. It was followed by the viri spectabiles, then the simple senators ( the viri clarissimi ). Only the rank of clarissimus was hereditary.

The growth of the persons had the consequence that finally in the 5th and 6th centuries, only viri illustrious were allowed to sit in the Senate, who enjoyed numerous privileges. These regulations were tightened by Justinian I. again, who is also the patricians awarded the title, as a rule, however, were in any case already illustrious. Justinian tried, within this group, two other ranks, the gloriosi and magnifici to establish, but did not sit through this innovation, and the illustrious remained until the end of antiquity, the highest status group within the late Roman aristocracy.

The title was still in the early Middle Ages use, now admittedly in a different context: Thus was the Merovingian domesticus (who was entrusted with the administration of royal courts ) of this rank predicate, as is designated as the West Frankish king Charles III. in certificates themselves as vir illustris.