legatus Augusti pro praetore

Roman official

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The legatus Augusti pro praetore was a high-ranking Roman official, specifically a military commander who governed a province containing one or more legions under the early empire. This title, meaning "propraetorian legate of the emperor," was established by Emperor Augustus.1

Legates acted as deputies to governors, and this practice of appointing legates to command legions became customary under Augustus. In provinces with legions, the legate held significant authority, functioning as the emperor's representative. This role evolved from earlier practices during the republic where legati (lieutenants) assisted provincial governors. Governors themselves could be consuls or praetors, whose terms were extended, making them proconsuls or propraetors.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

North Africa
Administration and defense
…entrusted the army to a legatus Augusti of praetorian rank. Although the province was not formally divided until 196, the army commander was de facto in charge of the area later known as the province of Numidia and also of the military area in southern Tunisia and along the Libyan…
Read More
…entrusted the army to a legatus Augusti of praetorian rank. Although the province was not formally divided until 196, the army commander was de facto in charge of the area later known as the province of Numidia and also of the military area in southern Tunisia and along the Libyan…
Read More

ancient Rome
Administration of the provinces
…cases their governors were called legati Augusti pro praetore (“legates of Augustus with authority of a praetor”). There were also some imperial provinces governed not by senators but by equites (usually styled procurators but sometimes prefects); Judaea at the time of Christ’s crucifixion was such an equestrian province, Pontius Pilate…
Read More
…cases their governors were called legati Augusti pro praetore (“legates of Augustus with authority of a praetor”). There were also some imperial provinces governed not by senators but by equites (usually styled procurators but sometimes prefects); Judaea at the time of Christ’s crucifixion was such an equestrian province, Pontius Pilate…
Read More