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quaestor
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A quaestor ( , ; ; "investigator") was a public official in ancient Rome. There were various types of quaestors, with the title used to describe greatly different offices at different times.
~20 min read
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Under the kings
- During the Republic
- Responsibilities
- Domestic duties
- Provincial administration
- On campaign
- History
- During the empire
- Principate
- Late empire
- Byzantine empire
- See also
- References
- Notes
- Sources
- Further reading
A quaestor ( , ; ; "investigator") was a public official in ancient Rome. There were various types of quaestors, with the title used to describe greatly different offices at different times.
In the Roman Republic, quaestors were elected officials who supervised the state treasury and conducted audits. When assigned to provincial governors, the duties were mainly administrative and logistical, but also could expand to encompass military leadership and command. It was the lowest ranking position in the ' (course of offices); by the first century BC, one had to have been quaestor to be eligible for any other posts.