to have his command prorogued. But in the years 296-95, several prorogations are recorded at once, including four promagistrates who were granted imperium while they were private citizens (privati). Territorial expansion and increasing militarization drove a recognition that the "emergencies" had become a continual state of affairs, and a regular system of allotting commands developed.

In this early period, prorogued assignments, like the dictatorship, originated as special military commands, they