Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Praefecti

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

PRAEFEC'TI. Twelve officers in a Roman corps d'armée appointed by the consuls to take the command of the contingent of troops furnished by the allies, in which they enjoyed the same rank and authority as the tribuni in the Roman legions. Caes. B. G. iii. 7. Ib. 39. Sall. Jug. 50.

2. When used with reference to the armies of foreign nations the Latin writers apply the term in a sense which we might translate, "generals of division," who acted under the commander-in-chief. Nepos, Alc. Id. Ages. 2.

3. Praefectus equitum. The general who commanded the cavalry of a corps d'armée. Hirt. B. G. viii. 12.

4. Praefectus legionis. A title adopted under the empire, to designate, as is supposed, the officer previously styled legatus legionis, or legionis praepositus; that is, who had the chief command over one legion, including both the cavalry and infantry composing it. Tac. Hist. i. 82. Compare Veg. Mil. 9.

5. Praefectus castrorum. An officer appointed to every Roman legion, whose duty it was to select the site for a camp, procure the necessary materials for forming it, superintend the construction of its defences, and take charge of the baggage belonging to his legion, the sick and wounded, the commissariat stores and military engines. Veg. Mil. ii. 10. Tac. Ann. xiv. 37 Vell. ii. 119. 4.

6. Praefectus classis. During the republic, an officer who commanded a fleet in active service, under the auspices of the consuls, by whom he was appointed (Liv. xxvi. 48. Flor. iii. 7.). But during the empire the same title was given to two admirals in permanent employ, and appointed by the emperor, one of whom commanded the fleet stationed at Ravenna to guard the Adriatic coast; the other at Misenum for the Mediterranean side. Suet. Aug. 49. Tac. Hist. iii. 12. Veg. Mil. iv. 32.

7. Praefectus navis. The captain of a ship of war. Liv. xxxvi. 44. Flor. ii. 5.

8. Praefectus fabrum. In the army an officer who directed and commanded the armourers, carpenters, and engineers who constructed the military machines employed in warfare (Nep. Att. 12. Caes. B. C. i. 24. Veg. Mil. ii. 11.). In civil life, the same title was given to the master of a company of smiths, carpenters, and similar trades (fabri). Inscript. ap. Orelli. 3428.

9. Praefectus praetorio. The commander of the Praetorian guards; an officer first appointed by Augustus, and only employed in a military capacity; but subsequently invested both with civil and military authority to a very great extent, so that he became the second person in the realm, and possessed power almost as extensive as the Emperor himself. Tac. Ann. i. 24.

10. Praefectus vigilum. The commander of the watchmen or urban guard, whose duty it was to protect the citizens from robbery, house-breaking, fire, &c. Suet. Aug. 30. Paul. Dig. i. 15. 3.

11. Praefectus urbis. The praefect or governor of the city; a magistrate originally appointed, when occasion required, to take charge of the city in the absence of the kings or consuls; but he became a permanent officer with a certain jurisdiction under the empire. Suet. Aug. 33. 37. Tac. Ann. vi. 10. 11.

12. Praefectus aerarii. An officer first created under the empire as the guardian of the public treasury, who performed the duties previously entrusted to the quaestors, or to the tribuni aerarii. Tac. Ann. xiii. 28. and 29. Plin. Ep. v. 15. 5.

13. Praefectus annonae. An officer appointed, during the republican period only upon extraordinary emergencies of scarcity, to regulate the corn market, procure supplies, and fix the price at which it should be sold; but under the emperors he became a permanent officer, elected for similar purposes, and ranked as one of the ordinary magistrates. Liv. iv. 12. Tac. Ann. i. 7. Ib. xi. 31.