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'Praeses' (plural 'Praesides'), a Latin word meaning "Seated in front, i.e. at the head (of a meeting or company)," has both ancient and modern uses.

Contents

Roman imperial use

Modern use

References

Roman imperial use

Praeses, a common Latin word, meaning chief or patron,^[1] was increasingly used for Roman governors during the 2nd century AD, largely replacing procurator.^[2] When Diocletian remodeled the system at the end of the 3rd century, he reduced the sizes of the provinces and called all provincial governors praesides. He also made it impossible for Roman Senators to be governors, restricting the office entirely to the eques (knights).
According to the Notitia dignitatum (circa 400 AD), the following provinces were administered by a Praeses (grouped by administrative units, the Roman dioceses):
There were thirty one praesides for provinces in the Western Roman Empire:

★ four in Illyricum: Dalmaticae, Pannonia prima, Noricum mediterraneum, Noricum ripensis

★ seven in Italia: Alpes Cottiae, Raetia prima and secunda, Samnium, Valeria, Saradinia, Corsica.

★ two in Africa: Mauretania Sitifensis, Tripolitana

★ four in Hispania: Tarraconensis, Carthagiensis, Mauretania Tingitana, Insulae Baleari

★ eleven in Gallia: Alpes maritimae, Alpes Poeninae et Graiae, Maxima Sequani, Aquitanica prima and secunda, Novempopulana, Narbonensis prima and secunda, Lugdunensis secunda, tertia and senonica

★ three in Britannia: Britannia prima and secunda, Flavia Caesariensis.
There were forty praesides for provinces in the Byzantine Empire:

★ five in Ægyptus: Libya superior and inferior, Thebais, Aegyptus, Arcadiae.

★ eight in Oriens diocesis: Palaestinae salutaris and secunda, Foenicis Libani, Eufratensis, Syriae salutaris, Osroehena, Mesopotamia, Cilicia secunda

★ seven in Asiana: Pisidia, Lycaonia, Phrygia Pacatiana, Phrygia salutaris, Lycia, Caria, Insularum.

★ eight in Pontica: Honoriad, Cappadocia prima and secunda, Helenoponti (Hellespont), Pontus Polemoniacus, Armenia prima, Armenia secunda, Galatia salutaris.

★ four in Thrace: Haemimontus, Rhodopa, Moesiae secunda, Scythia

★ eight in Illyricum: Thessalia, Epirus vetus and nova, Dacia ripensis, Moesiae prima, Praevalitana, Dardania, Macedonia salutaris.

Modern use

The chair of a student society in the Netherlands or Belgium may be called a praeses; in Dutch there is also a purist spelling, "preses." Various minor offices may be designated be a compound title, e.g. "dooppraeses" in charge of initiation and associated hazing.

References

1. ''Cassell's Latin Dictionary.
2. ''Oxford Classical Dictionary'' ''s.'' "procurator">


★ Pauly-Wissowa