CON'SUL, in the Roman common wealth, the title of the two chief magis trates, whose power was, in a certain de gree, absolute, but who were chosen only for one year. The authority of the two consuls was equal ; yet the Valerian law gave the right of priority to the elder, and the Julian law to him who bad the greater number of children ; and this was generally called consul major or prior. In the first ages of Rome they were elect ed from patrician families; but in the year of Rome 385, the people obtained the privilege of electing one of the con suls from their own body, and sometimes both were plebeians.—In modern usage, the name consul is given to an officer ap pointed to reside in a foreign country, to protect the interests of trade, and to aid his government in any commercial trans actions with such country. Such officers appear to have been first employed by the Italian republics, to protect their merchants engaged in trade in the cities of the Levant.. The consuls of European
states in that region, and in Africa, are at the present time officers of more im portance than those established in the cities of Christendom: as they exercise, according to treaties, civil jurisdiction over the citizens of theirrespective states. In general, the consul is not regarded as a minister or diplomatic functionary, and is subject to the civil authorities of the place whore he resides.—Consuls, in French history, were the persons (Bona parte, Sieyes, and Duces) to whom, after the dissolution of the Directory in No vember 1799, was entrusted the provi sional government of the country, and at whose suggestion it was agreed that France should be permanently subjected to consular authority.