or CAPITOL, an appellation given to the chief magistrates of Thoulouse, who have the administration of justice and policy both civil and mercantile in the city. The capitouls at Thoulouse are much the same with the echevins at Paris, and with the consuls, bailiffs, burgomasters, mayors, and aldermen, &c. in other cities. In ancient acts they are called consules capitularii or capitolini, and their body capitulum. From this last come the words capitularii and capitouls. The appellative capitouls arose hence, that they have the charge and custody of the town-house, which was anciently called capitul.

The office only lasts one year, and ennobles the bearers. In some ancient acts they are called capitulum nobilium Tolosae. Those who have borne it, style themselves afterwards burgesses. They are called to all general councils, and have the jus imaginum; that is, when the year of their administration is expired, their pictures are drawn in the town-house; a custom which they have retained from the ancient Romans, as may be seen in Sigonius.