Definition: Praetors were Roman judicial magistrates with imperium or legal power. Deciding matters between citizens was the job of the
urban praetor (praetor urbanus). The praetor peregrinus settled cases among foreigners. Additional praetors were added over the years to handle matters in the provinces. Praetors also had responsibility for the public games.
Running for praetor was part of the cursus honorum and was second only to the position of consul. Like the other magistracies, being a praetor made the magistrate a member of the senate. See: Regular Magistracies of the Roman Republic
Running for praetor was part of the cursus honorum and was second only to the position of consul. Like the other magistracies, being a praetor made the magistrate a member of the senate. See: Regular Magistracies of the Roman Republic
Examples:
About half of the candidates for praetor during the last generation of the Republic came from consular families, according to Erich S. Gruen, in The Last Generation of the Roman Republic.
