PROCONSUL and PROPRIETOR, func tionary of the ancient Roman Empire, to whom the administration of the provinces was en trusted; proconsul or proprietor being one whose term of office had expired as prator or consul. The first consul who received the of proconsul, was Q. Pubilius Philo in 327 B.C. This was done in order that he might conclude a campaign successfully begun in southern Italy. It was afterward provided by a law of C. Sempronius Gracchus that, at the and pratorial elections the senate should dis tribute the provinces into two consular and six prwtorial provinces, for which the consuls and praetors should cast lots or divide them among themselves by agreement, a few days after their entrance upon their term of office, on the ex piration of which they took the provinces al lotted them. But in 55 ac. it was provided by a decree of the senate that no consul or prwtor should enter on the government of a province till five years after his surrender of office. As the number of provinces increased, proconsuls were appointed who had not previously held the office of consul. The duties of proconsuls or
proprietors were the administration of justice, the supervision of provincial affairs, and the command of the troops. They were assisted in their duties by quxstors and legates. Within 30 days after his return to Rome the provincial governor was bound to make a report of his government. The Lex Julia in 61 B.C. further required that a copy of his report (sationes) should be deposited in the two chief cities of his province. He was liable to impeachment for extortion, peculation or embezzlement of the public money or for abuses in regard to the army. Nowitlistanding these precautions the provinces were subjected to various oppressions and exactions. From the time of Augustus the government of some provinces was taken out of the hands of the proconsuls and proprietors, and entrusted to legates called procurators, or stewards of the Imperial who gov erned under the immediate direction of the emperor. See PROVINCE; PROCURATOR.