Ducenarius

Ducenarius(pl.ducenarii) was a social and military position in ancient Rome. The termducenariusmeans "containing two hundred."

The term was used as far back as the age ofAugustus,and it was initially used to refer to wealthyequestrianswho possessed at least two hundred thousandsesterces.By the time of theLate Roman Empireit was the name of an equestrian rank, as well as a type of non-commissioned officer in theRoman military.During this period, former ducenarii could still retain the title, and people who never held the office could gain the title. It also became a rank used by the civilian courier service known as theagentes in rebus.

While a ducenarius was originally an officer within the ranks of thedomesticus,by the third century CE, the title was used to describe any high-ranking official in the Roman government.