A censor was a high-ranking Roman government official responsible for conducting the census, which involved counting the population and assessing property for tax and military purposes.
Censors also oversaw public morality and could remove senators deemed corrupt or unfit. Additionally, they managed some state finances, including public contracts and construction projects.
The famous Roman statesman Cato the Elder served as a censor in 184 BC. Known for his strict moral standards and opposition to luxury, Cato rigorously enforced Roman values and traditions, earning him the nickname “Cato the Censor.”
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