  In ancient Rome, an officer with authority to judge cases of
equity, responsibility for producing public games, and, in the
absence of a consul, extensive authority in the government.
After a one-year term, a praetor typically went on to govern a
province. Originally only a patrician magistrate could be a
praetor, but from circa 337 BC, the position was also open to
plebeians. The number of praetors increased to eight by the 1st
century BC, two for civil matters and six for specific courts.
It continued to vary under different government leaders and
emperors; by the late empire, only the city praetor for public
games remained.  Learn more about praetor with a free trial on
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to
men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of
an army, either before it was mustered or more typically in the
field, or an elected magistrate assigned duties that varied
depending on the historical period. The magistracy was called
the praetura (praetorship