Thetresviri capitales ortresviri nocturni were a college of minor magistrates in ancient Rome. They were included in thevigintisexviri, a board of 26 minor magistrates ranked below thequaestors.[1] They were a group of three men that managedpolice andfirefighting.[1][2][3] Despite this they were feared by theRoman people due to their police roles, and they were condemned due to their neglect of firefighting during an unknown incident, which was likely the Great Fire of Rome. The Roman people gave theTresviri Capitales the nicknamenocturni due to the night patrols they managed. They were elected by theUrban praetors and laterTribal Assembly.[3]
TheTresviri Capitales managed the police in Ancient Rome. They were somewhat feared by thecitizens ofRome. Although theTresviri Capitales hadcriminal jurisdiction over the people of Rome, they did not havejudicial jurisdiction. They dispensed justice in theforum, supervised executions, andcastigated thieves and slaves.[3][4] Also, they, along with theaediles, organized special guard troops dedicated to arresting criminals. Although they could only do this with a mandate from the Senate and other higher magistrates.[5] TheTresviri Capitales most likely handled ordinary crimes that would not be handled by the Popular Assembly or Courts. Another explanation is that thieves caught whilst stealing would be brought to theTresviri Capitales, to whom the criminal would then confess or deny his crime.[5] Aside from policing Rome, they also arrested and punished runaway slaves. However, this does not necessarily mean theTresviri Capitales searched for the slaves. Fines and fees for starting lawsuits would be collected by theTresviri Capitales.[6] Another legal duty of theTresviri Capitales was managing Roman prisons.[7] TheTresviri Capitales were one group responsible for firefighting in Rome. They organized nightly patrols. The people of Rome condemned theTresviri Capitales for neglecting their responsibility of firefighting on an unknown occasion. This occasion was likely the Great Fire of Rome.[5]
TheTresviri Capitales were formed around 290 or 287 BCE.[5][6] Their name was derived from their groups supervision of the prison and executions that took place there.[5] According toPlautus when they were founded they were a group of three men that would be elected by the Urban Praetors.[6] TheTresviri Capitales changed the way Roman society utilized the death penalty. The death penalty was a state tool instead of a private matter carried out due to vengeance.[7] Sometime between 242 and 122 BCE aLex Papiria ordered that theTresviri Capitales would be elected by theComitia Tributa, which is also known as Tribal Assembly.[8][9] During the year 213 BCE, after complaining fromRoman citizens, theTresviri Capitales would take action against the practice of foreign cults in public spaces. They destroyed the places of worship for these cults. Later the Senate put an Urban Praetor in charge of taking action against the practice of foreign cults in public places.[5]
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