among the ancient Romans, a magistrate chosen out of the commons, to protect them against the oppressions of the great, and to defend the liberty of the people against the attempts of the senate and consuls.

The tribunes of the people were first established in the year of Rome 259. The first design of their creation was to shelter the people from the cruelty of usurers, and to engage them to quit the Aventine mount, whither they had retired in disfavour.

Their number at first was but two; but the next year, under the consulship of A. Posthumius Aruncius and Caius Viscellinus, there were three more added; and this number of five was afterwards increased by L. Trebonius to ten.

Military TRIBUNE, an officer in the Roman army, commander in chief over a body of forces, particularly the division of a legion; much the same with our colonel, or the French maître de camp.