LEGATUS

(Lat.) In Roman History, an officer who acted as deputy under a commander-in-chief, and whose duty it was to aid the proconsuls and propraetors in the administration of the Roman provinces. Of the number of the legati nothing certain is known; thougli the probability is that there was one to every legion. In the absence of the consuls and other magistrates entitled to the fasces, this honour was conferred on the legati. [s. 664]