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, capitarii, or capitolini, and their body capitulums. From this last come the words capitularis and capitouls. The appellative capitolini arose hence, that Capitulate they have the charge and custody of the townhouse, which was anciently called capitoul.

The office lasts only one year, and ennobles the bearers. In some ancient acts they are called capitulum novellum 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 townhouse; a custom which they have retained from the ancient Romans, as may be seen in Sigonius.

CAPITULATE, an appellation given to the several quarters or districts of the city of Thoulouse, each under the direction of a capitoul; much like the wards of London, under their aldermen. Thoulouse is now divided into eight capitulatures or quarters, which are subdivided into moulants, each of which has its tithingman, whose business is to inform the capitoul of what paffes in his tithing, and to inform the inhabitants of the tithing of the orders of the capitoul.