Decurio

, a subaltern officer in the Roman armies. He commanded a decuria , which consisted of 10 men, and was the third part of a turm a , or the thirtieth part of a legio of horse, which was composed of 300 men. The badge of the centurions was a vine rod or sapling, and each had a deputy called optio . There were certain magistrates in the provinces called dec uri ones municipales , who formed a body to represent the Roman senate in free and corporate towns. They consisted of 10, whence the name; and their duty extended to watch over the interest of their fellow-citizens, and to increase the revenues of the commonwealth. Their court was called curia decurionum , and minor senatus ; and their decrees, called decreta decurionum , were marked with two D. D. at the top. They generally styled themselves civitatum patres curiales , and honor at i municipiorum sena to res . They were elected with the same ceremonies as the Roman senators; they were to be at least 25 years of age, and to be po e ed of a certain sum of money. The election happened on the calends of March.