QUAESTOR SACRI PALATII. - He was one of the great central officials of the absolute Roman Empire; his institution probably dates back to Constantine.
As regards his origin, he has been connected with the quaestor Augusti of the Principate or with the vicarius a consiliis sacris; he bears the title illustris and is the emperor’s counsellor and minister, insofar as the latter is the source of law. The Notitia Diguitatum states that the leges dictandae and the preces depend upon the q. s. p., that is, the manifestations of the imperial will, which is expressed in laws, ordinances, and replies to the petitions of private individuals.
The q. s. p. must therefore be skilled in law and endowed with literary culture, so that the documents issued by his office may also possess a stylistically worthy form. He has no chancery of his own, but draws his assistants from the magister officiorum (v.), with whom, in different periods, he alternates in first place in the order of court precedence. A laterculensis, charged with maintaining the register of imperial officials of lower rank, is subordinate to him. He is sometimes delegated jurisdiction in certain trials.