In the first place, then, we come to what is rather a family than a class, the persons bearing the title _Nobilissimus_[110]. These were the nearest relatives of the reigning Emperor; his brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. The title therefore is not unlike that of Royal or Imperial Highness in modern monarchies. I am not sure whether any trace can be found of the survival of this title in the Ostrogothic Court. Theodahad, nephew of Theodoric, is addressed simply as 'Vir Senator[111],' and he is spoken of as 'praecelsus et amplissimus vir[112].' It is not so, however, in respect of the three great official classes which follow--the Illustres, Spectabiles, and Clarissimi--whose titles were rendered as punctiliously in the Italy of Theodoric as ever they were in the Italy of Diocletian and Constantine. [Footnote 110: The existence of this title is proved not only by the language of Arcadius in the Theodosian Code x. 25. 1, concerning 'Nobilissimae puellae, filiae meae,' but also by Zosimus (ii. 39), who says that Constantine bestowed the dignity of Nobilissimus on his brother Constantius and his nephew Hannibalianus ([Greek: tes tou legomenou nobelissimou par' autou Konstantinou tuchontes axias aidoi tes syngeneias]); and by Marcellinus Comes, s. a. 527, who says: 'Justinus Imperator Justinianum ex sorore sua nepotem, jamdudum a se Nobilissimum designatum, participem quoque regni ani, successoremque creavit.' It is evident that the title did not come by right of birth, but that some sort of declaration of it was necessary.] [Footnote 111: Var. iii. 15.] [Footnote 112: Var. viii. 23.] [Sidenote: Illustres.] I. The _Illustres_ were a small and select circle of men, the chief depositaries of power after the Sovereign, and they may with some truth be compared to the Cabinet Ministers of our own political system. The 'Notitia' mentions thirteen of them as bearing rule in the Western Empire. They are: 1. The Praetorian Praefect of Italy. 2. The Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls. 3. The Praefect of the City of Rome. 4. The Master of the Foot Guards (Magister Peditum in Praesenti). 5. The Master of the Horse Guards (Magister Equitum in Praesenti). 6. The Master of the Horse for the Gauls (per Gallias). 7. The Grand Chamberlain (Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi). 8. The Master of the Offices. 9. The Quaestor. 10. The Count of Sacred Largesses. 11. The Count of the Private Domains (Comes Rerum Privatarum). 12. The Count of the Household Cavalry (Comes Domesticorum Equitum). 13. The Count of the Household Infantry (Comes Domesticorum Peditum).