Defender or protector of a city or municipality. An oflicer under theRoman empire, whose duty it was to protect the people against the injustice of themagistrates. the insolence of the subaltern officers, and the rapacitv of the moneylenders.Sclim. Civil Law, Introd. 10; Cod. 1, 55. 4. He had the powers of a judge, withjurisdiction of pecuniary causes to a limited amount, and the lighter species of offenses.Cod. 1, 55. 1 ; Nov. 15, c. 3,