Legal Definitions - praefectura

In ancient Roman law, praefectura refers to two distinct but related concepts:

• First, it denotes the office or position of a prefect. A prefect was a high-ranking official appointed by the Roman state, often with significant administrative, judicial, or military authority over a specific domain or region.

• Second, praefectura could refer to a town or territory that was administered by a prefect. These areas were typically under direct Roman control, often established in newly conquered lands or strategically important regions that required specialized governance.

Examples:

• Imagine a scenario where the Roman Emperor needed to secure the capital's water supply. He might appoint a skilled engineer to the praefectura of the aqueducts, entrusting them with the immense responsibility of maintaining and expanding the city's vital water infrastructure. Here, praefectura signifies the specific office and its associated duties.

• Consider a newly acquired coastal town in North Africa, strategically important for trade but not yet fully integrated into a Roman province. This town might be designated a praefectura, meaning it would be directly governed by a Roman prefect dispatched from Rome, rather than through a provincial governor or local magistrates. In this context, praefectura refers to the territory itself that is under the prefect's direct administration.

• During a period of civil unrest, a general might be granted the praefectura of the city guard, giving him supreme command over all military forces within Rome to restore order. This example highlights praefectura as the powerful office or command, emphasizing the authority vested in the prefect to manage a critical aspect of state security.