Frumentarii

A frumentarius ( pl. frumentarii ) was originally a legionary in the Roman army, who was responsible for the procurement of food. From the imperial period is meant by frumentarii officials who have been recruited to specific police tasks Legion. The activity of a frumentarius ranged from spy services to execution of murder contracts. The service can best be compared with a secret police. A frumentarius was retained on the parent roll his legion. In the Roman provinces the headquarters of frumentarii was in the palace of the governor. Frumentarii there were in Rome itself where they formed a numerus and fulfilled especially courier services. The headquarters of the cavalry unit was the castra peregrina.

In late antiquity the frumentarii were replaced by the agentes in rebus.

Is mentioned in inscriptions a frumentarius example, the Mainz Dativius -Victor- arc from the 3rd century. The grave inscription CIL 3, 2063 describes a frumentarius, said to have been traveling for 40 years.