Præfect

Præfect, a common name applicable to various Roman functionaries. The most important was the Præfectus urbi, or warden of the city, whose office existed at an early period of Roman history, but was revived under Augustus, with new and greatly altered and extended authority, including the whole powers necessary for the maintenance of peace and order in the city, and an extensive jurisdiction civil and criminal. The Præfectus prætorio was the commander of the troops that guarded the emperor's person.