Tresviri capitales

The tresviri capitales or tresviri nocturni were a college of minor magistrates in ancient Rome. They were included in the vigintisexviri, a board of 26 minor magistrates ranked below the quaestors. They were a group of three men that managed police and firefighting. Despite this they were feared by the Roman people due to their police roles, and they were condemned due to their neglect of firefighting during an unknown incident, which was likely the Great Fire of Rome. The Roman people gave the Tresviri Capitales the nickname nocturni due to the night patrols they managed. They were elected by the Urban praetors and later Tribal Assembly.