The ''tresviri capitales'' or ''tresviri nocturni'' were one of the

Vigintisexviri __NOTOC__The ''vigintisexviri'' ( ''vigintisexvir''; ) were a college ( ''collegium'') of minor magistrates (''magistratus minores'') in the Roman Republic. The college consisted of six boards: * the ''decemviri stlitibus judicandis'' – ...

colleges in Ancient Rome. They were a group of three men that managed

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 ...

and firefightering. Despite this they were feared by the

Roman people grc, Ῥωμαῖοι, , native_name_lang = , image = Pompeii family feast painting Naples.jpg , image_caption = 1st century AD wall painting from Pompeii depicting a multigenerational banquet , languages = , religi ...

due to their police roles, and they were condemned due to their neglect of firefighting during one moment, probably the Great Fire of Rome. The Roman people gave the ''Tresviri Capitales'' the nickname ''nocturni'' due to the night patrols they managed. The ''tresviri capitales'' were elected by the Urban Praetors and later Tribal Assembly. They acted under the mandate of the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the ...

Role

The ''Tresviri Capitales'' managed the police in Ancient Rome. They were somewhat feared by the

citizens Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection". Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...

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

. Although the ''Tresviri Capitales'' had total

criminal jurisdiction Criminal jurisdiction is a term used in constitutional law and public law to describe the power of courts to hear a case brought by a state accusing a defendant of the commission of a crime. It is relevant in three distinct situations: #to regulat ...

over the people of Rome, they did not have judicial jurisdiction. They dispensed justice in the

forum Forum or The Forum (plural forums or fora) may refer to: Common uses *Forum (legal), designated space for public expression in the United States *Forum (Roman), open public space within a Roman city **Roman Forum, most famous example *Internet ...

, supervised executions, and castigated thieves and slaves. Also, they, along with the

aediles ''Aedile'' ( ; la, aedīlis , from , "temple edifice") was an elected office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings () and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enf ...

, organized special guard troops dedicated to arresting criminals. Although they could only do this with a mandate from the Senate and other higher magistrates.According to W. Kunkel the ''Tresviri Capitales'' most likely handled ordinary crimes that would not be handled by the Popular Assembly or Courts. Another explanation is that thieves caught while stealing would be brought to the ''Tresviri Capitalres''. Where the criminal would then confess or deny his crime. Another legal duty of the ''Tresviri Capitales'' was managing Roman prisons. Aside from policing Rome, they also arrested and punished runaway slaves. However, this does not necessarily mean the ''Tresviri Capitales'' searched for the slaves. Fines and fees for starting lawsuits would be collected by the ''Tresviri Capitales.'' The ''Tresviri Capitales'' were one group responsible for firefighting in Rome. They organized nightly patrols. The people of Rome condemned the ''Tresviri Capitales'' for neglecting their responsibility of firefighting on one occasion. This occasion was probably the Great Fire of Rome. One minor role of the ''Tresviri Capitales'' was managing the

roads A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation. There are many types of ...

of Rome.

History and Organization

The ''Tresviri Capitales'' were formed around 290 or 287. Their name was derived from their groups supervision of the prison and executions that took place there. According to

Plautus Titus Maccius Plautus (; c. 254 – 184 BC), commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest Latin literary works to have survived in their entirety. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the ge ...

when they were founded they were a group of three men that would be elected by the Urban Praetors.The ''Tresviri Capitales'' changed the way Roman society utilized the death penalty. The death penalty was a state tool instead of a private matter carried out due to vengeance. Sometime between 242 and 122 BCE a ''Lex Papiria'' ordered that the ''Tresviri Capitales'' would be elected by the ''Comitia Tributa'' also known as Tribal Assembly. During the year 213, after complaining from

Roman citizens Citizenship in ancient Rome (Latin: ''civitas'') was a privileged political and legal status afforded to free individuals with respect to laws, property, and governance. Citizenship in Ancient Rome was complex and based upon many different laws, t ...

, the ''Tresviri Capitales'' would take action against the practice of foreign cults in public spaces. They destroyed the places of worship for these cults. Later the Senate put an Urban Praetor in charge of taking action against the practice of foreign cults in public places.

References

{{reflist History of the Roman Republic