Defensor civitatis
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Black's (1910), Black's (1891)
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Defender or protector of a city or municipality. An officer under the Roman empire, whose duty it was to protect the people against the injustice of the magistrates, the insolence of the subaltern officers, and the rapacity.of the money-lenders. Schm. Civil Law, Introd. 16; Cod. 1, 55, 4. He had the powers of a judge, with jurisdiction of pecuniary causes to a limited amount, and the lighter species of offenses. Cod. 1, 55, 1; Nov. 15, e. 3, § 2; Id. c. 6, 1: He had also the care of the public records, and powers similar to those of a notary in regard to the execution of wills and conveyances.
Defined under Defensor in Black's Law Dictionary.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
Lat. Defender or protector of a city or municipality. An oflicer under the Roman empire, whose duty it was to protect the people against the injustice of the magistrates, the insolence of the subaltern officers, and the rapacity of the money-lenders. Schm. Civil Law, Introd. 16; Cod. 1, 55, 4. He had the powers of a judge, with jurisdiction of pecuniary causes to a limited amount, and the lighter species of offenses. Cod. 1, 55, 1; Nov. 15, ¢. 3, §2; Id.c.6,§1. He had also the care of the public records, and powers similar to those of a notary in regard to the execution of wills and conveyances.