Legal Definitions - praefectura

Definition: Praefectura (pronounced pri-fek-chuh-ruh) is a Latin term used in Roman law. It refers to two things:

1. The office of prefect, which was a high-ranking government position in ancient Rome.
2. A town or territory that was administered by a prefect.

Examples:

• Julius was appointed to the praefectura of Rome, which meant he was in charge of the city's administration.
• The praefectura of Gaul was a large territory that included modern-day France, Belgium, and parts of Germany.

These examples illustrate how praefectura was used in ancient Rome. The first example shows how someone could hold the office of prefect and be responsible for governing a city like Rome. The second example shows how praefectura could refer to a larger territory that was under the control of a prefect.