chief magistrate

a mayor or chief magistrate of a Spanish town

One of the chief magistrates in ancient Athens, especially, by preeminence, the first of the nine chief magistrates.

formerly the chief magistrate in the republics of Venice and Genoa

The chief magistrate of any one of several republics in mediaeveal Italy. n

His duty was to attend the chief magistrates when they appeared in public, to clear the way, and cause due respect to be paid to them, also to apprehend and punish criminals.