MASTER (Magister), was a title frequent among the Romans: they had their master of the people, magister populi, who was the dictator. Master of the cavalry, magister equitum, who held the second post in an army after the dictator. Under the later emperors there were also masters of the infantry, magistri pedum. A master of the census, magister census, who had nothing of the charge of a censor, or subcensor, as the name seems to intimate; but was the same with the propositus frumentariorum.
MASTER of the Militia (magister militum), was an officer in the lower empire, created, as it is said, by Dioclesian, who had the inspection and government of all the forces, with power to punish, &c. somewhat like a constable of France. At first there were two of these officers instituted, the one for the infantry, and the other for the cavalry; but the two were united into one under Constantine. Afterwards, as their power was increased, so was their number also; and there was one appointed for the court, another for Thrace, another for the East, and another for Illyria. They were afterwards called comites, counts, and clarissimi. Their power was only a branch of that of the praefectus pratorii, who by that means became a civil officer.
MASTER of Arms (magister armorum), was an officer or comptroller under the master of the militia.
MASTER of the Offices (magister officiorum), had the superintendence of all the officers of the court; he was also called magister officii palatini, simply magister; and
Master. his post magisteria.—This officer was the same in the western empire with the europolates in the eastern.