(Latin, tribunus militum), in ancient Rome, one who held a position of command in the army, for example, the commander of a legionary detachment or one of the commanders of an entire legion. In 444 B.C. the post of military tribune with consular authority was introduced for plebeians with a view toward excluding them from the consulship. It was abolished after 367 B.C., when, in accordance with a law proposed by the tribunes of the people Gaius Licinius Stolo and Lucius Sextius Lateranus, one of the consuls would be chosen from among the plebeians.