Portal:Ancient Rome/Selected article/9
Praetor was a title given in the Roman Republic to citizens acting as commander of an army (in the field or, less often, before the army had been mustered), or to an elected magistrate. The purpose of the praetorship varied through time. The praetor peregrinus administered justice between Roman citizens and non-citizens, and therefore usually based in the Roman provinces. The praetor urbanus was responsible for law and order in the city of Rome, and was therefore not permitted to leave Rome for more than ten days at a time. When the consuls were at war, the city praetor remained in Rome to satisfy the Senate's requirement that a magistrate with imperium be in the city at all times.