Proconsul

Proconsul

Fragment of a fasti triumphalis listing generals who were given a triumph between 126 BCE and 111 BCE. Several of the recipients have proconsulships (inscribed as PRO COS) attributed to them. Musei Capitolini.
Fragment of a fasti triumphalis listing generals who were given a triumph between 126 BCE and 111 BCE. Several of the recipients have proconsulships (inscribed as PRO COS) attributed to them. Musei Capitolini.

A proconsul (plural: proconsuls) was an office in the Roman system of administration. The name comes from the Latin pro consule, acting on behalf of a consul. The office was seemingly created in 327 BCE, when the consulship of Quintus Publius Philo was set to end in the midst of the siege of Neapolis (modern Naples). In the Roman system at that time, only the consul or praetor had the imperium to command of army and the consul could not be elected to two consecutive years of consulship. Instead of relieving of him consular duties, it was voted that he would remain in command pro consule in order to maintain continuity of command, rather than turning the army over to a newly elected consul. The proconsul position was intended to be a delegation of consular authority that was subordinate to the elected consuls. It effectively became an extension of the military generalship aspect of the consular powers, though, but did not include any of the administrative, judicial, or executive powers granted to consuls. Initially a voted office, it would later be given by senatorial decree.

Statue base dedicated to Quintus Aurelius Symmachus by his father Quintus Fabius Memmius Symmachus. Among the many offices listed, is proconsul of Africa on the 6th line of the inscription. Found on the Caelian Hill in Rome. Dated to 402 CE. Musei Capitolini.
Statue base dedicated to Quintus Aurelius Symmachus by his father Quintus Fabius Memmius Symmachus. Among the many offices listed, is proconsul of Africa on the 6th line of the inscription. Found on the Caelian Hill in Rome. Dated to 402 CE. Musei Capitolini.

As Roman military operations expanded and increased through the 3rd century BCE, the number of armies subsequently increased and the need for generals beyond the two elected consuls became more frequent. The office of proconsul was one adjustment that was made in order to provide more potential generals with legal authority to lead an army.  Nearly all proconsuls in the Republic were consuls who had their consular powers extended with prorogation. Starting in the 2nd century BCE, proconsuls were one of the offices appointed to govern provinces. Under Augustus, it was established that regardless of the holder’s previous office (even if they were previously a praetor), the governor of an imperial province would be given the title of proconsul.