Duumviri navales
The Duumviri navales (literally two men who for dealing with naval matters)[1] were two (hence the duumviri) naval officers elected by the people to repair and equip the roman fleet.[2] Each duumviri navales was assigned to one roman consul.[3] It has been suggested that they may have been in charge of the ships of the socii navales rather than the roman fleet.[4]
History
The position was established in 311 BC by Lex decia.[5] It was likely connected to the colonization of the pontine islands in 313 BC, or else the construction of the Via Appia in 312 BC.Their first operation was likely a raid on the campanian coast.[6] Some historians believe that they ceased to exist in 267 BC, and were replaced by four quaestores classici,[7] other historians believe that the quastores classici acted as auxiliaries to the duumviri navales, rather than replacing them.[8]
Known Duumviri Navales
References
- ^ Erickson, Andew (2012). China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective. Naval Institute Press. p. 67. ISBN 9781612511528.
- ^ Hornblower, Simon (2012). The Oxford Classical Dictionary. OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780199545568.
- ^ Thiel, Johannes (1954). A History of Roman sea-power before the second Punic war. University of Michigan: North-Holland Publishing Company. p. 25.
- ^ Erickson, Andew (2012). China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective. Naval Institute Press. p. 67. ISBN 9781612511528.
- ^ Livy 9.30.4
- ^ Livy 9.38.2-3
- ^ Erickson, Andrew (2012). China Goes to Sea Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective. Naval Institute Press. p. 67. ISBN 9781612511528.
- ^ Clark, Frederick (1915). The Influence of Sea-power on the History of the Roman Republic. George Banta publishing Company. p. 8.