Praeses

Praeses (Latin pl. praesides) is a Latin word meaning "placed before" or "at the head".^[1] In antiquity, notably under the Roman Dominate, it was used to refer to Roman governors; it continues to see some use for various modern positions.

Roman governors

Praeses began to be used as a generic description for

procuratores—but, while this may reflect earlier usage, it was certainly no longer the case by the time he wrote.^[1] In the usage of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, the term appears originally to have been used as an honorific, affixed to the formal gubernatorial titles (legatus Augusti etc.), and even, occasionally, for legion commanders or fiscal procuratores. By the mid-3rd century, however, praeses had become an official term, including for equestrian officials.^[1] The form [procurator] vice praesidis had also come into common use for equestrian procuratores entrusted with the governance of provinces in the absence of, or in lieu of, the regular (senatorial) governor. This marks a decisive step in the assumption of full provincial governorships by equestrians, with the first equestrian praesides provinciae appearing in the 270s.^[1]

This evolution was formalized in the reforms of

hegemon).^[1]

Most of the provinces ("diocese") created by Diocletian by splitting the larger older ones were entrusted to such praesides, and they form the most numerous group of governors in the late-4th century Notitia Dignitatum:^[1]

in thirty-one provinces in the Western Roman Empire^[1]^[2]

four in the
Diocese of Illyricum: Dalmatia, Pannonia Prima, Noricum Mediterraneum, Noricum Ripense

four in
Insulae Baleares, Mauretania Tingitana

eleven in the
Maxima Sequanorum, Aquitanica Prima and Secunda, Novempopulania, Narbonensis Prima and Secunda, Lugdunensis Secunda, Tertia and Senonica

three in the
Diocese of Britain: Britannia Prima and Secunda, Flavia Caesariensis
.

in forty provinces in the Eastern Roman Empire [1]^[3]

five in the
Arcadia
.
eight in the
Osrhoene, Mesopotamia, Cilicia Secunda

four in the Diocese of Dacia: Dacia Ripensis, Moesia Prima, Praevalitana, Dardania
four in the
Macedonia Salutaris
.

In the East, the staff (

a libellis, subadiuva; finally unspecified exceptores and cohortalini (menial staff).^[1]^[4] In the West (attested for Dalmatia), the officium was again the same as with the consulares and correctores, comprising the princeps officii, cornicularius, two tabularii, commentariensis, adiutor, ab actis, subadiuva, and the usual exceptores and cohortalini.^[1]^[5]

The status of a praeses could also be awarded as a separate honour, ex praeside, attached to the rank of vir perfectissimus.^[1]

German advisors

In German academia a doctoral advisor is called the Doktorvater. However, in the 18th century and before, the doctoral system was quite different. Instead of a Doktorvater as such, the candidate had a praeses to act as mentor and who would also head the oral viva voce exam. In the 18th century the praeses often chose the subject and compiled the theses and the candidate had only to defend. Sometimes there were several candidates at the same time defending the same thesis, in order to save time.

Modern uses

The

chair of a student society in the Netherlands or Belgium may be called a praeses; in Dutch the official spelling has changed to "preses" but most student societies still observe the Latin spelling. Various minor offices may be designated by a compound title, e.g. dooppraeses in charge of initiation and associated hazing

.

In modern

headmaster

positions.

In Norway, the office of archbishop has been abolished. Instead, the Lutheran Church of Norway has a Bishops Conference which is presided over by a praeses.

The church bodies Evangelical Church in the Rhineland and Evangelical Church of Westphalia, in which the title and function of bishop are unknown, are also chaired by a praeses (German: Präses, plural: Präsides).

In other German church bodies the title usually refers to the president of the synod.

Franciscan

ones, use the term to indicate the presiding officer of a collegial meeting of the order.

The official Scots title of the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament is Preses o the Scots Pairlament.^{[citation needed]}

The Polish word prezes, derived from Latin praeses means chairman.

References

^
Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft
. Vol. Supplementband VIII, Achaios–Valerius. col. 598–614.
^ Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Occidentis, I
^ Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Orientis, I
^ Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Orientis, XLIV
^ Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Occidentis, XLV

[PW-1] 
Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft
. Vol. Supplementband VIII, Achaios–Valerius. col. 598–614.

[OccidensI-2] Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Occidentis, I

[OriensI-3] Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Orientis, I

[4] Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Orientis, XLIV

[5] Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Occidentis, XLV

[1]

[2]

[3]

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[5]