Proconsul

Usually understood as the governor of a Roman province, the term proconsul had a more specific meaning. At the time of the Roman Republic, two consuls were elected every year and they held office for just one year. When they retire at the end of the year, they were (technically speaking) not permitted to stand for office again immediately; this was in the hope that autocracy and corruption did not creep into the office. The retired consuls were then appointed "pro-consuls," i.e., 'on behalf of the consuls' to various task, always abroad, even if only for a short while. Many of them were, therefore, sent out to govern the Roman provinces. Being a consul was expensive stuff; they were not paid and they incurred huge expenses to get elected (vote buying is not a modern invention). This 'foreign' posting gave them an opportunity to recoup their financial outlay and to enrich themselves, for while they had to maintain the laws set down, there were always ways to get around them. When Rome ceased to be a republic and became an empire ruled by the emperors (beginning with Caesar Augustus), there ceased—technically speaking—proconsuls. Nonetheless, the title was retailed and the office came under the direct control of the emperors.