[German version]

Roman magistrates (Magistratus) were, on principle, elected for one year only. When, however, a magistrate resigned or died during his term of office, a successor had to be appointed for the rest of that year. This successor was called suffectus (from sufficere, 'to grow again'). While by-elections were rare during the Republic, it became normal during the period of the Triumvirate (43-30 BC) and then from 5 BC, to appoint more than two consuls per year from the outset who were to hold office in succession and in pairs. At first, there were usually only two suffecti per year…