MASTER of the Militia (magister militiae) was an officer in the lower empire, created, as is said, by Diocletian, and having the inspection and government of all the forces, 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 also their number; and there was one appointed for the court, another for Thrace, a third for the East, and a fourth for Illyria. They were afterwards called comites and clarissimi. Their power was only a branch of that of the praefectus praetorii, who by this means became a civil officer.