__NOTOC__The ''vigintisexviri'' ( ''vigintisexvir''; ) were a college (
''collegium'') of minor magistrates (''magistratus minores'') in the
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...
. The college consisted of six boards:
* the ''
decemviri stlitibus judicandis The ''decemviri stlitibus judicandis'' was a civil court of ancient origin, traditionally attributed to Servius Tullius, which originally dealt with cases concerning whether an individual was free.
History
Originally these decemvirs were a jury of ...
'' – 10 magistrates who judged lawsuits, including those dealing with whether a man was free or a slave;
* the ''
tresviri capitales'', also known as ''nocturni'' – three magistrates who had a police function in Rome, in charge of prisons and the execution of criminals;
* the ''
tresviri monetales'' or ''tresviri aere argento auro flando feriundo'' – three magistrates who were in charge of striking and casting bronze, silver and gold (
minting coins);
* the ''
quattuorviri viis in urbe purgandis'' – four magistrates overseeing road maintenance within the city of Rome;
* the ''duoviri viis extra urbem purgandis'' – two magistrates overseeing road maintenance near Rome; and
* the four ''praefecti Capuam Cumas'' – praefecti sent to
Capua
Capua ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Caserta, in the region of Campania, southern Italy, situated north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain.
History
Ancient era
The name of Capua comes from the Etrus ...
and
Cumae
Cumae ( grc, Κύμη, (Kumē) or or ; it, Cuma) was the first ancient Greek colony on the mainland of Italy, founded by settlers from Euboea in the 8th century BC and soon becoming one of the strongest colonies. It later became a rich Ro ...
in Campania to administer justice there.
Being a member of the ''vigintisexviri'' was a prerequisite to the
quaestorship after the
reforms of Sulla. The label used for these magistrates may only have been introduced after Sullan times, but the first of the constituent boards may date back to the third century BC.
The ''duoviri viis extra urbem purgandis'' and the four ''praefecti Capuam Cumas'' were abolished by
Augustus
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...
, reducing the ''vigintisexviri'' to the ''vigintiviri''. In AD 13, the senate restricted eligibility, ordaining that only equites should be eligible to the college of the then-''vigintiviri''. The remaining boards were not abolished entirely until at least the third century.
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{{Ancient Rome topics
Roman Republic
Ancient Roman titles
Cursus honorum