a Roman magistrate, sent to govern a province with consular authority.

The proconsuls were appointed out of the body of the senate; and usually as the year of any one's consulate expired, he was sent proconsul into some province.

The proconsuls decided cases of equity and justice, either privately in their praetorium or palace, where they received petitions, heard complaints, granted writs under their seal, and the like; or else publicly, in the common hall, with the usual formalities observed in the court of judicature at Rome. They had besides, by virtue of their edicts, the power of ordering all things relating to the tributes, taxes, contributions, and provisions of corn and money, &c. Their office lasted only a year. See CONSUL.