In the Roman army of the late Republic and the Principate, the Latin: tribunus laticlavius ("broad-striped tribune") was one of the six military tribunes in a legion. Usually, it consisted of young men around age 20 who belonged to a wealthy family or were friends with the legate. The position of Latin: tribunus laticlavius was the first step on the Latin: [[Cursus honorum]]. Tribunus laticlavius are typically depicted wearing a purple cloak.
The tribunus laticlavius were second in command to the Latin: [[legatus legionis]],[1] [2] the legion's commander. They were also above the other five Latin: [[tribuni angusticlavii]] and later the Latin: [[praefectus castrorum]]. It was common for the tribunus laticlavius to be a Roman noble younger than 25 years old, usually around the age of 20.[3] They were commonly either part of the richest families in Rome or a close friend to the legionary commander. It was also common for the tribune to have no previous military experience.[4]
Members of the Latin: tribunus laticlavius were part of the senatorial aristocracy.[5] It was common for the tribune to return to Rome and run for a political office, usually a quaestorship after two or three years as a tribune.[6] The position was the first step of the traditional Latin: cursus honorum.[7] [8] [9] [10] By the middle of 250s AD, at the earliest, the post of the Latin: tribunus laticlavius had disappeared from the Roman army, following the general trend of removal of the senatorial class from military commands.[11]