MASTER of the Militia (magister militiae), was an officer in the lower empire, created, as it is said, by Diocletian, 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 praetorii, who by that means became a civil officer.