Triumphal Procession. (Zoega, Bassi-rilievi, tav. 9, 76.)
TRĬUMVĬRI, or TRESVĬRI, were either ordinary magistrates or officers, or else extraordinary commissioners, who were frequently appointed at Rome to execute any public office. The following is a list of the most important of both classes.
1. Triumviri Agro Dividundo. [Triumviri Coloniae Deducendae.]
2. Triumviri Capitales were regular magistrates, first appointed about B.C. 292. They were elected by the people, the comitia being held by the praetor. They succeeded to many of the functions of the Quaestores Parricidii. [[Quaestor].] It was their duty to inquire into all capital crimes, and to receive informations respecting such, and consequently they apprehended and committed to prison all criminals whom they detected. In conjunction with the aediles, they had to preserve the public peace, to prevent all unlawful assemblies, &c. They enforced the payment of fines due to the state. They had the care of public prisons, and carried into effect the sentence of the law upon criminals. In these points they resembled the magistracy of the Eleven at Athens.
4. Triumviri Coloniae Deducendae were persons appointed to superintend the formation of a colony. They are spoken of under [Colonia], [p. 99], b. Since they had besides to superintend the distribution of the land to the colonists, we find them also called Triumviri Coloniae Deducendae Agroque Dividundo, and sometimes simply Triumviri Agro Dando.
5. Triumviri Epulones. [[Epulones].]
6. Triumviri Equitum Turmas Recognoscendi, or Legendis Equitum Decuriis, were magistrates first appointed by Augustus to revise the lists of the equites, and to admit persons into the order. This was formerly part of the duties of the censors.
7. Triumviri Mensarii. [[Mensarii].]
8. Triumviri Monetales. [[Moneta].]
9. Triumviri Nocturni were magistrates elected annually, whose chief duty it was to prevent fires by night, and for this purpose they had to go round the city during the night (vigilias circumire). If they neglected their duty they appear to have been accused before the people by the tribunes of the plebs. The time at which this office was instituted is unknown, but it must have been previously to the year B.C. 304. Augustus transferred their duties to the Praefectus Vigilum. [[Praefectus Vigilum].]