Roman Vicarious? (Romans, slaves, president, Latin)

[Magic Qwan]

I thought I heard that the Romans would have a type of slave called a "Vicarious" that would go do the Master's job for them. Was this really a thing that happened?

[guidoLaMoto]

You are referring to a Vicarius (as in vice-president or vice-roy. Latin- vicis- an interchange). He was a bureaucrat who carried out the actual day to day administrative tasks for an elected official. Eg- vicarius praetoris-- "in the place of the praetor."

Well positioned slaves, like maybe a personal tutor or valet might have slaves to meet his needs- vicarius servi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarius