Dux (plural: duces) is Latin for leader (from the verb ducere, 'to lead') and could refer to anyone who commanded troops, such as tribal leaders.

Roman empire

In the Roman military, a Dux would be a general in charge of two or more legions. While the title of dux could refer to a Consul or Imperator, it usually refers to the Roman Governor of the provinces. As the governor, the dux was both the highest civil official as well as the commander-in-chief of the legions garrisoned within the province.

However, during the time of the Dominate, the powers as a dux were split from the role of the governor and were given to a new office called "Dux". The dux was still the highest military office within the province and commanded the legions, but the governor had to authorise the use of the dux's powers. But once authorised, the dux could act independently from the governor and handled all military matters. An example would be the Dux per Gallia Belgica which was the Dux of the province of Gallia Belgica.

Since Diocletian's Tetrarchy reform, the provinces were organized into dioceses each administered by a Vicarius. As with the Governors, the Vicarius was assisted by a Dux. This Dux was superior to all of other Duces within the dioceses and when the Vicarius called the legions of the dioceses into action, all of the legions were at the Dux's command. An example would be the Dux per Gallia which was the Dux of the Dioceses of Gaul. The office of Dux was, in turn, made subject to the Magister Militum of his respective Praetorian prefecture, and above him to the Emperor.

In the Byzantine Empire, the position of Megas Doux survived until the final Fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Post-Roman uses

King Arthur, in one of his earliest literary appearances, is described as dux bellorum ("dux of battles") among the kings of the Romano-Britons in their wars against the Anglo-Saxons.

Dux is also the root of various high feudal noble titles of peerage rank, such as (via the French duc) the English duke, the Venetian doge and Italian duca and duce and the modern Greek ducas (δούκας).

In schools in Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Iceland, Dux is a modern title given to the top student in academic and sporting achievement (Dux Litterarum and Dux Ludorum respectively) in each graduating year. In this usage, Dux is similar to the American concept of a valedictorian. The runner up may be given the title Proxime Accessit (meaning "he came next") or Semidux.

Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini used the title of Dux (and Duce in Italian) to represent his leadership.

In music theory, specifically in counterpoint, the subject of a fugue is sometimes referred to as the dux (and the countersubject by the Latin word for companion, comes).

Sources and references

• Pauly-Wissowa

The DUX-53 and DUX-59 were submachine guns designed at the Oviedo Arsenal in Spain. They were based directly on the design of the Finnish 9mm Model 44 submachine gun, which in turn was based on the Soviet PPS-43. A large number of these weapons were produced for the West German Border Police, and was later licensed to be produced by Anschütz and Mauser until the mid 1950s.

References

• Ezell, Edward Clinton (1977). Small Arms of the World, 11th edition. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-1558-2