TRIUMVIR, one of three persons who govern abutels, and with equal authority, in a state. It is chiefly applied to the Roman government: Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus, were the first triumvirs who divided the government amongst them. There were also other officers so called; as the triumviri or tresviri
capitales, who were the keepers of the public goal: they had the office of punishing malefactors; for which purpose they kept eight lictors under them.