Centŏres, a people of Scythia. Flaccus.
Centoripa, or Centuripa. See: [Centuripa].
Centrites, a river between Armenia and Media.
Centrones, a people of Gaul, severely beaten by Julius Cæsar when they attempted to obstruct his passage. They inhabited the modern country of Tarantaise in Savoy. There was a horde of Gauls of the same name subject to the Nervii, now supposed to be near Courtray in Flanders. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 1, ch. 10; bk. 5, ch. 38.—Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 20.
Centronius, a man who squandered his immense riches on useless and whimsical buildings. Juvenal, satire 14, li. 86.
[♦]Centum cellum, a seaport town of Etruria built by Trajan, who had there a villa. It is now Civita Vecchia, and belongs to the pope. Pliny the Younger, bk. 6, ltr. 51.
[♦] Placed in correct alphabetical order.
Centumvĭri, the members of a court of justice at Rome. They were originally chosen, three from the 35 tribes of the people, and though 105, they were always called Centumvirs. They were afterwards increased to the number of 180, and still kept their original name. The pretor sent to their tribunal causes of the greatest importance, as their knowledge of the law was extensive. They were generally summoned by the Decemviri, who seemed to be the chiefest among them; and they assembled in the Basilica, or public court, and had their tribunal distinguished by a spear with an iron head, whence a decree of their court was called Hastæ judicium: their sentences were very impartial, and without appeal. Cicero, On Oratory, bk. 1, ch. 38.—Quintilian, bks. 4, 5, & 11.—Pliny the Younger, bk. 6, ltr. 33.
Centŭria, a division of the people among the Romans, consisting of 100. The Roman people were originally divided into three tribes, and each tribe into 10 curiæ. Servius Tullius made a census; and when he had enrolled the place of habitation, name, and profession of every citizen, which amounted to 80,000 men, all able to bear arms, he divided them into six classes, and each class into several centuries, or companies of 100 men. The first class consisted of 80 centuries, 40 of which were composed of men from the age of 45 and upwards, appointed to guard the city. The 40 others were young men, from 17 to 45 years of age, appointed to go to war, and fight the enemies of Rome. Their arms were all the same; that is, a buckler, a cuirass, a helmet, cuishes of brass, with a sword, a lance, and a javelin; and as they were of the most illustrious citizens, they were called, by way of eminence, Classici, and their inferiors infra classem. They were to be worth 1,100,000 asses, a sum equivalent to 1800l. English money. The second, third, and fourth classes, consisted each of 20 centuries, 10 of which were composed of the more aged, and the others of the younger sort of people. Their arms were a large shield, a spear, and a javelin; they were to be worth in the second class, 75,000 asses, or about 121l. In the third, 50,000, or about 80l.; and in the fourth, 25,000, or about 40l. The fifth class consisted of 30 centuries, three of which were carpenters by trade, and the others of different professions, such as were necessary in the camp. They were all armed with slings and stones. They were to be worth 11,000 asses, or about 18l. The sixth class contained only one centuria, comprising the whole body of the poorest citizens, who were called Proletarii, as their only service to the state was procreating children. They were also called capite censi, as the censor took notice of their person, not of their estate. In the public assemblies in the Campus Martius, at the election of public magistrates, or at the trial of capital crimes, the people gave their vote by centuries, whence the assembly was called comitia centuriata. In these public assemblies, which were never convened but only by the consuls at the permission of the senate, or by the dictator in the absence of the consuls, some of the people appeared under arms, for fear of an attack from some foreign enemy. When a law was proposed in the public assemblies, its necessity was explained, and the advantages it would produce to the state were enlarged upon in a harangue; after which it was exposed in the most conspicuous parts of the city three market-days, that the people might see and consider. Exposing it to public view, was called proponere legem, and explaining it, promulgare legem. He who merely proposed it, was called lator legis; and he who dwelt upon its importance and utility, and wished it to be enforced, was called auctor legis. When the assembly was to be held, the auguries were consulted by the consul, who, after haranguing the people, and reminding them to have in view the good of the republic, dismissed them to their respective centuries, that their votes might be gathered. They gave their votes vivâ voce, till the year of Rome A.U.C. 615, when they changed the custom, and gave their approbation or disapprobation by ballots thrown into an urn. If the first class was unanimous, the others were not consulted, as the first was superior to all the others in number; but if they were not unanimous, they proceeded to consult the rest, and the majority decided the question. This advantage of the first class gave offence to the rest; and it was afterwards settled, that one class of the six should be drawn by lot, to give its votes first, without regard to rank or priority. After all the votes had been gathered, the consul declared aloud, that the law which had been proposed was duly and constitutionally approved. The same ceremonies were observed in the election of consuls, pretors, &c. The word Centuria is also applied to a subdivision of one of the Roman legions which consisted of 100 men, and was the half of a manipulus, the sixth part of a cohort, and the sixtieth part of a legion. The commander of a centuria was called centurion, and he was distinguished from the rest by a branch of a vine which he carried in his hand.
Centŭrĭpa (es, or æ, arum), now Centorlu, a town of Sicily at the foot of mount Ætna. Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 4, ch. 23.—Silius Italicus, bk. 14, li. 205.—Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 8.