curule
/ˈkjʊəruːl
/adjective historical
Denoting or relating to the authority exercised by the senior magistrates in ancient Rome, chiefly the consul and praetor, who were entitled to use the sella curulis (‘curule seat’, a kind of folding chair).Publilius' dictatorship is also suspect but if he passed the first two measures (perhaps as consul), this marks a significant development in plebeian use of a curule magistracy for political reform....
- Little is known about him except that he was curule aedile c.67, praetor c.64, and later a pro praetor.
- The latter were called curule aediles (aediles curules) and they were considered curule magistrates.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Latin curulis, from currus 'chariot' (in which the chief magistrate was conveyed to the seat of office), from currere 'to run'.