Praefectus urbi is a Latin voice, also known as “praeficere” or in our language as “prefect”, it was that official or authority of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire whose attributions included the military and civil spheres. In other words Praefectus URBI the title granted to the deputy who, by virtue of the kings, was appointed to represent the supreme authority during his absence in the war, or for any other reason. This position had a variable hierarchy and was normally occupied by an original individual from the order in question. It should be noted that in the civil environment this character was not a magistrate, but rather a substitute for him.
Other sources state that the word praefectus urbi or "prefect of the City" referred to a consular office which was the highest dignity of the Senate, who was in command of the city of Rome when the two consuls were not present. His jurisdiction extended to the countryside around Rome for a distance of one hundred miles. The appointment of Adventus to the position by Macrinus Emperor in AD 217 caused considerable dissent among the Senate because he had not yet served as consul, a condition that has been met since the time of Augustus.
It is stated that in 23 BC. at least two prefects of the City preceded each day of the Feriae Latinae, and that one of them had not yet reached adulthood. In accordance with previous references, they stated that during the republic, there were several urban prefects in office at the same time.
