Legal Definitions - centenarius

Definition: A petty judge or undersheriff of a hundred, derived from the Latin word "centum" meaning "hundred-man".

Historical context: In the past, a hundred was a county subdivision that had its own local court. It may have consisted of an area taxed at one hundred hides, one hundred households, or an area that had to supply one hundred fighting men for national defense. The populace of such a subdivision was also referred to as a hundred. In the United States, hundreds existed in colonial Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, but today they only exist in Delaware.

Example: In medieval England, a centenarius was responsible for maintaining law and order in a hundred. They would preside over the hundred court and assist the sheriff in enforcing the law.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a centenarius was a local official who had judicial and law enforcement responsibilities in a hundred. They were responsible for maintaining peace and order in their jurisdiction and ensuring that the law was upheld.