44 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



executive power. 5. With them was lodged the power to conduct negotia- 

 tions and appoint ambassadors. 6. They bestowed public honors, especially 

 that of triumphal processions. 7. They administered part of the criminal 

 jurisdiction. 8. They appointed the dictator. 9. Lastly, until the legisla- 

 tion of the Decemvirs, they dictated peace and war, and possessed a general 

 command over the army. 



As signs of his rank, a senator wore gaiter boots of black leather, to the 

 top of which was affixed a silver or ivory C (centum=100 ; the original 

 immber of the order), and a tunic, marked on the breast with a perpen- 

 dicular strip of purple. The senators had a conspicuous seat at all the 

 grand spectacles. While on a tour through the provinces, they were 

 attended by an escort of lictors, and might claim honors equal to those of 

 the resident ambassadors. {PI. 12.^ figs. 6, 7, senators clad in their Togas.) 



The term Magistratus applied both to the offices of state collectively, 

 and to the incumbents of the several offices. These were considered as 

 great dignities, and were filled by public election. 



After the expulsion of the Tarquins, the people annually chose two 

 consuls. At first they were called praetors, and during the year for which 

 they were elected, possessed regal power. While engaged in public 

 deliberations, they occupied a splendid chair of office {pi. 16, fig. 6). They 

 carried an ivory rod as a sign of authority, and wore a robe edged with 

 purple {toga prcetexta). The two consuls enjoyed the chief authority 

 alternately. The principal consul was always preceded by twelve lictors, 

 carrjing fasces laic^eati, or bundles of rods, with an axe in the centre, 

 adorned with laurel twigs {pi. 14, figs. 15, 16) ; the other was followed 

 by the lictors without fasces. 



In the time of the emperors the consuls wore an official dress {trabea), 

 but the office relinquished much of its power to that of the emperor. 

 When the patricians were obliged to admit plebeians to the consulship, 

 366 B.C., they availed themselves of the frequent absence of the consuls in 

 war to create the patrician dignity of praetor, and to confer upon that office 

 the management of the jurisdiction. 



During the reign of Servius Tullius, a law was enacted requiring a census 

 to be taken every fifth year. For this purpose the people were assembled 

 in the Campus Martins, and all were bound, on penalty of the loss of 

 freedom and property, to report their names, ages, wealth, families, and 

 social condition. In the commencement of the republic the consuls had 

 the charge of this census, but from 444 B.C., it was intrusted to two special 

 censors, who also had to watch over the public morals, could deprive a senator 

 of his seat or a knight of his dignity, and, on some occasions, curtail the 

 rights of other citizens. An appeal from their verdict lay to their succes- 

 sors, and even to the people. The censors exercised supervision over 

 the public buildings, and farmed out the public revenues. Tlie censoria. 

 dignity vested finally in the person of the emperor. 



When great danger threatened the commonwealth, the Romans appointed 

 a Dictator. The senate was judge of the exigency which demanded the 

 creation of this office. The power of the dictator was very extensive. 

 216 



