Interroi

The interroi is a magistrate named in exceptional circumstances in the ancient Rome, in the event of holidays of the capacity, i.e. after the disappearance of the king (according to the legendary tradition brought back by Tite-Live) or of the magistrates holders of the Imperium (Consul or military Tribun with consular capacity). The Roman Sénat then indicated one as of his which took the title of interrex (temporary king or interroi). This one received the Imperium, capacity supreme which gave him right to establish the Augures, and if they were favorable to join together the people to proceed according to the rites to the election of a king (under monarchy) or of the magistrates (under the Republic).

Under the Roman Republic, so at the end of five days the elections had not taken place, the interroi designated its successor, its imperium transmitted to him and resigned. The interrois followed one another thus, until magistrates are elected and succeed to them.

During the beginnings of the Roman Republic with Ve front century J.C., it was necessary to name several times of the interrois, when the supreme magistrates had finished their mandate or had died without elections designating their successors, delay generally due to a political crisis:

in 449 av. J.C, after the dismissal of the decemvirs to the capacity
in 421 av. J.C, long series of interrois was named, in consequence of political blocking between senators and powerful orators of the plebs on the questions of accepting the plebeian candidatures for the stations of Questeur S, and of electing rather Consul S than of the military powerful orators with consular capacity. This crisis was untied by the interroi Lucius Papirius Mugillanus, which made accept a compromise, and organized the election of the military powerful orators with consular capacity
in 356 av. J.C, the preserving patricians refused that the first plebeian dictator Caius Marcius Rutilus organizes the elections, pretexting that only a patrician had the capacity of Augure necessary to the electoral rite, and imposed that they are held under the imperium of a interroi patrician
in 326 av. J. - C., the dictator Claudius Marcellus did not organize a Comices centuriates for the election of the consuls. It is necessary to resort to the Interroi S, L. Aemilius Mamercinus Privernas, fourteenth interroi of this series, proceeds to the elections.

The last interroi, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, were indicated at the time of the crisis of beginning 52 av. J.C, whereas the consular elections could not have been carried out, because of the disorders create by the armed bands with Clodius Pulcher.

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