The Archiphylax was an

official An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority, (either their own or that of their ...

of the Lycian League who was charged with collecting the taxes that the

Lycia Lycia (Lycian language, Lycian: 𐊗𐊕𐊐𐊎𐊆𐊖 ''Trm̃mis''; el, Λυκία, ; tr, Likya) was a state or nationality that flourished in Anatolia from 15–14th centuries BC (as Lukka) to 546 BC. It bordered the Mediterranean ...

ns were required to pay to

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. The Lycian League guaranteed Rome that their taxes would be paid in full and on time and so the Archiphylax was entrusted with this responsibility. He may choose to pay out of his own pocket as an advance and collect the taxes from the individual cities as a reimbursement. If a city did not pay him the full amount owed it resulted in a financial loss to the Archiphylax which made the job a large financial burden. He was expected to collect the taxes peacefully. The post of Archiphylax was often held by young men from aristocratic families and was often considered the first step in a political career. There are some recorded cases of a father holding this position on behalf of his young son. the Archiphylax was also charged with maintaining “Peace and order” which suggests that his office saw him as the head of a

police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...

force as well as being given certain tasks by the governor. He may also have a subordinate federal official known as a Hypophylax who assisted him in his role as keeper of the peace.

References

{{Reflist History of the Roman Empire Lycians