Prefect: Roman official, appointed by a magistrate or the emperor. Replica of a dedication by Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 CE. He is best known today for being the official who presided over the trial of Jesus and ordered his crucifixion. Pilate's importance in modern Christianity is underscore…
What is another name for a Roman prefect?
See Article History. Alternative Titles: praefecti, praefectus. Prefect, Latin Praefectus, plural Praefecti, in ancient Rome, any of various high officials or magistrates having different functions. In the early republic, a prefect of the city (praefectus urbi) was appointed by the consuls to act in the consuls’ absence from Rome.
What does a prefect do in ancient Rome?
Written By: Prefect, Latin Praefectus, plural Praefecti, in ancient Rome, any of various high officials or magistrates having different functions. In the early republic, a prefect of the city (praefectus urbi) was appointed by the consuls to act in the consuls’ absence from Rome.
What is a prefect?
A prefect was a type of military or civil official in Ancient Rome. Prefects ranged from low to very high-ranking military of civil officials of the Roman Empire.
What does Præfectus mean in English?
Especially in Medieval Latin, præfectus was used to refer to various officers—administrative, military, judicial, etc.—usually alongside a more precise term in the vernacular (such as Burggraf, which literally means Count of the Castle in the German language).
What is a prefect in the Roman army?
The praefectus castrorum ("camp prefect") was, in the Roman army of the early Empire, the third most senior officer of the Roman legion after the legate (legatus) and the senior military tribune (tribunus laticlavius), both of whom were from the senatorial class.
What is the highest position in Roman?
consulsThe highest positions in the government were held by two consuls, or leaders, who ruled the Roman Republic. A senate composed of patricians elected these consuls. At this time, lower-class citizens, or plebeians, had virtually no say in the government.
What were the ranks in the Roman army?
The enlisted ranks in the Roman Army would be the equivalent of today's Privates, Privates First Class, Specialists, and Corporals. The lowest rank was the Tiro (plur. =Tirones). The Tiro was the new recruit, and would spend six months in training to become an official soldier of Rome.
What does the title prefect mean?
Prefect (from the Latin praefectus, substantive adjectival form of praeficere: "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area.
What is smaller than a legion?
After the reforms of Gaius Marius, the organisation of the legions became standardised as follows: Contubernium – The smallest organized unit of soldiers in the Roman Army.
What rank is a centurion?
The centurion was the commander of a centuria, which was the smallest unit of a Roman legion. A legion was nominally composed of 6,000 soldiers, and each legion was divided up into 10 cohorts, with each cohort containing 6 centuria.
What rank is Praetor?
Praetor (/ˈpriːtər/ PREE-tər, Classical Latin: [ˈprae̯tɔr]), also pretor, was the title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to a man acting in one of two official capacities: (i) the commander of an army, and (ii) as an elected magistratus (magistrate), assigned to discharge various duties.
Who were the most elite Roman soldiers?
The legionaries were the elite (very best) soldiers. A legionary had to be over 17 years old and a Roman citizen....Every new recruit had to be fighting fit - anyone who was weak or too short was rejected.Legionaries signed up for at least 25 years' service. ... An auxiliary was a soldier who was not a Roman citizen.More items...
How big was the average Roman soldier?
Imperial regulations, though not entirely unambiguous, suggest that the minimum height for new recruits was five Roman feet, seven inches (165 cm., 5'5") ... for the army as a whole a reasonable estimate of a soldier's average height is around 170 cm (5'7").
What are the duties of a prefect?
Prefects should act as the role model for all the students in the School. Prefects must adhere to School Rules and Regulations at all times. The main duty of prefects is to maintain an atmosphere of friendly cooperation, peace, discipline and unity in the School. Prefects should serve as counselors to junior students.
Who were the prefects?
A prefect at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a student who had been given extra authority and responsibilities by the Head of House and Headmaster. One male and one female student were chosen from each house in their fifth year to act as prefects.
What are the types of prefects?
Prefects are elected through a free and fair process, from across the school and they comprise:Head and Deputy head prefects.Head and Deputy head girl.Academic prefects.Protocol prefects.Disciplinary prefect.House prefects.Mess prefects.Chapel prefects.More items...
What was the purpose of the prefect in the early Roman Republic?
The purpose of a prefect in the early Roman Republic is explained in the Encyclopedia Britannica : “In the early republic, a prefect of the city (praefectus urbi) was appointed by the consuls to act in the consuls’ absence from Rome. The position lost much of its importance temporarily after the mid-4th century bc, ...
What is the Latin word for the prefect?
In addition, there were several other military and civil prefects, including the Praefectus vigilum in charge of the city's police-like vigiles, and Praefectus classis, in charge of the fleet. The Latin form of the word prefect is praefectus .
What is a prefect?
A prefect was a type of military or civil official in Ancient Rome. Prefects ranged from low to very high-ranking military of civil officials of the Roman Empire. Since the days of the Roman Empire, the word prefect has spread to generally refer to a leader of an administrative area. In Ancient Rome, the prefect was appointed and had no imperium, ...
What is a prefecture in Rome?
In ancient Rome, a prefecture referred to a district governed by an appointed prefect. At the end of the Fourth Century, the Roman Empire was divided into 4 units (Prefectures) for the purposes of the civil government.
Who was responsible for maintaining law and order in Rome?
The prefect of the city was responsible for maintaining law and order within Rome and acquired full criminal jurisdiction in the region within 100 miles (160 km) of the city. Under the later empire he was in charge of Rome’s entire city government. Two praetorian prefects were appointed by Augustus in 2 bc to command the praetorian guard;
Who was the Emperor of Rome's prefect?
The office of prefect was given new life by the emperor Augustus and continued in existence until late in the empire. Augustus appointed a prefect of the city, two praetorian prefects (praefectus praetorio), a prefect of the fire brigade, and a prefect of the grain supply. The prefect of the city was responsible for maintaining law ...
Did the prefects have authority?
Instead, they were advised by the delegation of higher authorities, which is where the power truly sat. However, prefects did have some authority and could be in charge of a prefecture. This included controlling prisons and other civil administrations.
What is a French prefect?
Prefect (from the Latin praefectus, substantive adjectival form of praeficere: "put in front", i.e., in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area. A prefect's office, department, or area of control is called a prefecture, ...
What is a prefect in school?
In the context of schools, a prefect is a pupil who has been given certain responsibilities in the school, similar to the responsibilities given to a hall monitor or safety patrol members.
What is the meaning of the word "praefectus aerarii"?
Praefectus aerarii: nobles appointed guardians of the state treasury. Praefectus aerarii militaris: prefect of the military treasury. Praefectus annonae: official charged with the supervision of the grain supply to the city of Rome.
What is a prefect in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, Prefects are the leaders in Army based educational institutions namely Cadet Colleges. In Mexico, Prefects (in Spanish, prefecta/prefecto) is an adult head of a grade of a school, a US equivalent would be a dean. In Sweden, a prefect ( prefekt) is the head of a university department.
How many prefects are there in Albania?
In Albania a prefect (Prefekti) is the State's representative in a region (qark). His agency is called the Prefektura. Albania has 12 prefects in 12 prefectures, appointed by the Prime Minister of Albania and the Government.
What is the role of a prefect in Georgia?
In Georgia, the nation in the Caucasus region, a prefect (პრეფექტი) was the head of the executive branch in a municipality, appointed by the President of Georgia from 1990 to 1992. In Iran, a prefect ( بخشدار) is responsible for the administration of a sector in Iran's political and administrative system.
What is a prefect's office called?
A prefect's office, department, or area of control is called a prefecture , but in various post- Roman empire cases there is a prefect without a prefecture or vice versa. The words "prefect" and "prefecture" are also used, more or less conventionally, to render analogous words in other languages, especially Romance languages .
What was the Roman Empire's first professional army?
The Roman Empire saw one of the first truly professional armies in history, and became the inspiration for European armies that followed it. Though its officers didn’t have the same titles as their modern counterparts, many of the same duties still needed to be fulfilled. There were distinct levels, including equivalents of modern NCOs.
What was the second principal?
The second of the principales was the signifer – the standard bearer. He carried the century’s eagle standard, creating a clear point for men to form up around and follow into battle. This was a prestigious post.
Who were the senior officers in Rome?
Tribunus laticlavius. The senior officers were drawn from Rome’s senatorial class. Though the senate lost most of its political power under the empire, families of senatorial rank were still the elite. Like the nineteenth century aristocracy, they expected senior military positions to go to them.
Why did some men start their careers as centurions?
Some men started their careers as centurions, either because they were wealthy or because they were equestrians who could not find a praefecti role.
Examples of prefect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web The letter was signed by the Vatican prefect and the secretary before the pope approved the text on Thursday and released the note Monday. — Cassidy Morrison, Washington Examiner, 21 Dec. 2020 The prefect of Guadeloupe said 11 people were arrested by police overnight Sunday into Monday. — Elodie Soupama, ajc, 22 Nov. 2021
History and Etymology for prefect
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praefectus, from past participle of praeficere to place at the head of, from prae- + facere to make — more at do
What did the Praetorian prefect do?
The praetorians thus came to destabilize the Roman state, contrary to their purpose. The praetorian prefect became a major administrative figure in the later empire, when the post combined in one individual the duties of an imperial chief of staff with direct command over the guard also.
What is the insignia of the Prefect of Illyricum?
The insignia of the praetorian prefect of Illyricum, as depicted in the Notitia Dignitatum: the ivory inkwell and pen case ( theca ), the codicil of appointment to the office on a blue cloth-covered table, and the state carriage.
What reform did Diocletian do?
The tetrarchy reform of Diocletian (c. 296) multiplied the office: there was a praetorian prefect as chief of staff (military and administrative)—rather than commander of the guard—for each of the two Augusti, but not for the two Caesars.
When did the Prefecture of Praetorio disappear?
The last traces of the prefecture disappeared in the Byzantine Empire by the 840s. The term praefectus praetorio was often abbreviated in inscriptions as "PR PR" or "PPO".
Overview
Prefect (from the Latin praefectus, substantive adjectival form of praeficere: "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area.
A prefect's office, department, or area of control is called a prefecture, but in various post-Roman empire cases there is a prefect without a prefecture or vic…
Ancient Rome
Praefectus, often with a further qualification, was the formal title of many, fairly low to high-ranking, military or civil officials in the Roman Empire, whose authority was not embodied in their person (as it was with elected Magistrates) but conferred by delegation from a higher authority. They did have some authority in their prefecture such as controlling prisons and in civil administration.
Feudal times
Especially in Medieval Latin, præfectus was used to refer to various officers—administrative, military, judicial, etc.—usually alongside a more precise term in the vernacular (such as Burggraf, which literally means Count of the Castle in the German language).
Ecclesiastical
The term is used by the Roman Catholic Church, which based much of its canon law terminology on Roman law, in several different ways.
• The Roman Curia has the nine Prefects for the Congregations as well as the two of the Papal Household and of the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.
• The title also attaches to the heads of some Pontifical Council (central departments of t…
Academic
• In the context of schools, a prefect is a pupil who has been given certain responsibilities in the school, similar to the responsibilities given to a hall monitor or safety patrol members.
• In some British, Irish and Commonwealth schools (especially but not exclusively independent schools), prefects, usually students in fifth to seventh years (depending on how many years the school in question has), have considerable power. They were once allowed to administer school corporal …
Modern sub-national administration
• In Albania a prefect (Prefekti) is the State's representative in a region (qark). His agency is called the Prefektura. Albania has 12 prefects in 12 prefectures, appointed by the Prime Minister of Albania and the Government.
• In France the préfet (prefect) is a top ranking public servant who belongs to the so-called Corps préfectoral. The function was created on 17 February 1800 by Napoléon Bonaparte after his successful coup d'état of 9 November 1799 which made him Hea…
Police
The Prefect of Police (Préfet de police) is the officer in charge of co-ordinating police forces in Paris (see above under "France"). The local police in Japan are divided among prefectures too. Also, in several countries of Latin America, the rank of prefect is still in use. In the Investigations Police of Chile (Policia de Investigaciones de Chile) the rank of prefect is reserved for the highest-ranking officers. On the other hand, in Argentina the Argentine Federal Penitentiary Service (Servicio Penit…
Coast Guard
Several countries of Latin America use the term "prefecture" (prefectura) to denominate a Coast Guard service, whether these are independent organizations or as a part of a Navy. The Argentine Naval Prefecture it is a federal Coast Guard service of Argentina independent from the Argentine Navy. On the other hand, the National Naval Prefecture of Uruguay has similar duties to the ones of a regular Coast Guard but it is subordinated to the National Navy of Uruguay.
Tribunus Laticlavius
Legatus Legionis
- The legatus legionis commanded a legion, a force of just under 5000 men divided into ten cohorts. He was a senator, usually in his early 30s – a man who had chosen a military career.
Legatus Augusti Proparetore
- The highest rank an officer could reach was the legatus Augusti proparetore, the military governor of a province of the empire. The careers of most senators combined military and political duties, so they were prepared for such a role, but with so few posts only a minority reached such heights. The legatus commanded an entire province such as Syria or Britain, and led the army occupying …
Praefecti
- The next social class down from the senators were the equestrians, roughly equivalent to medieval knights, and they had their own ranks in the military. The usual career path followed three steps – praefecti of an auxiliary infantry cohort, tribunus anticlavius, and then praefecti of a cavalry unit. Commanding an auxiliary unit did not have the sam...
Tribunus Angusticlavii
- In between their two praefecti positions, equestrian officers served in the legions as tribune angusticlavii. These were staff officers, and there were five of them in each legion. Though much of their work involved carrying out the orders of senatorial officers, there were also opportunities for independent command. Detachments of soldiers were often separated off from a legion into …
Praefectus Castrorum
- The third in command of a legion was the praefectus castrorum, the camp prefect. Unusually for such a senior position, this was usually an experienced soldier who had been in the army for most of his adult life. A former chief centurion, he dealt with much of the administration and with command tasks that required technical knowledge of how the legion worked. As a result, the leg…
Centurion
- The lowest position an equestrian might hold was also the highest an ordinary soldier could expect to achieve – centurion. These men commanded centuries in the legions or the auxiliary – in the legions, these usually consisted of 80 men. These were the officers who commanded men on a day to day basis, both in war and in camp. Some men started their careers as centurions, ei…
Primi Ordines
- The most senior centurions were the primi ordines, centurions in the first cohort of a legion. Centurions might work their way up to this prestigious role through posts in other centuries.
Pilus Prior
- The century was the unit men most identified themselves with, but the cohort of six centuries was the basic battlefield unit of a legion. Someone must have commanded the cohort in battle, and though we don’t know for certain, it is likely that this task fell to the pilus prior, the commander of the senior century in the legion. As these different roles show, the term centurion covered a rang…
Optio
- The optio was a centurion’s second in command, supporting him in organising and commanding 80 men. This was one of three posts collectively known as the principales.