The praetors were one of the higher ranking magistrates who served as either the commander of an army or judicial administrator during the days of Ancient Rome. The leaders of Camp Jupiter, there can be only two praetors at a time, one male and one female, acting as the leaders in all of the legion's affairs, including battles. The only known surviving legion is the Twelfth Legion Fulminata.
Reyna, a praetor.
The Heroes of Olympus
The Lost Hero
Jason Grace declares, during the battle against Porphyrion, that he is the praetor of the First Legion. However, the First Legion directly pertains to the original Roman legion. (How he becomes a praetor is prior to the events of the book). He slowly regains his memory and remembers the demigods from his cohort including Hazel Levesque and his co-praetor, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano.
The Son of Neptune
Percy Jackson, former praetor of the Twelfth Legion.
It is explained in greater detail that Jason had become praetor after his successful defeat of Krios. This brought honor back to the Fifth Cohort, of which Jason was a part of. One month later, during the events of The Lost Hero, Jason was swapped with Percy Jackson by Hera who planned to unite the two camps. Octavian, having no progress as to Jason's status, takes the opportunity to question Reyna's decision to put the election of another praetor to replace Jason on hold. Reyna, knowing that Camp Jupiter is to be attacked by Polybotes, decides that if by the Feast of Fortuna, Jason does not appear, a new praetor can be elected.
Upon returning from the quest to release Death, and after reacquiring the Roman standard and defeating Alcyoneus, Percy returns to camp, along with Hazel and Frank Zhang, as the standard bearer. Upon Percy's defeat of Polybotes, the Romans raise him on a shield and proclaim him praetor. As his first decision in the senate, Percy orders that Camp Jupiter stand ready upon the arrival of the Argo II, to greet his old friends, the Greeks.
Frank Zhang, promoted to praetor by Jason Grace
The Mark of Athena
Shortly after Jason arrives back at Camp Jupiter, he reunites with Reyna and is introduced to the newly elected praetor in his place, Percy. During a meeting between Roman and Greek demigods, Octavian points out that with the return of Jason, the camp currently has three praetors instead of the usual two. Percy and Jason both point out that currently they both outrank him and order Octavian to hold his tongue. Percy then offers to step down to allow Jason to return to his old position as if it is no big deal, something that greatly upsets Octavian. After Percy and Jason are forced to flee camp because an eidolon possesses Leo Valdez to attack the Roman Legion, Reyna is once again burdened to lead the camp by herself as the only praetor.
The House of Hades
While inside the House of Hades, Jason Grace, Nico di Angelo and Frank Zhang were ambushed by Gaea's monsters. Despite having Diocletian's Scepter, used to control the army of dead Roman legionaries, they were powerless: Nico was a Greek demigod, Jason changed too much to have proper Roman authority and Frank was just a centurion - he wasn't important enough to command the entire legion. To save their lives and to break open the Doors of Death, Jason made his last order and, due to "emergency field promotion", made Frank into praetor.
List of Known Praetors
Jason Grace, a former praetor.
Current Praetors
Former Praetors
- Michael Varus (deceased)
- Jason Grace (stepped down)
- Percy Jackson (stepped down)
- Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano (Stepped down)
Trivia
- The symbol of a praetor is an eagle medal and a purple cape.
- The Fifth Cohort has housed five of the six known praetors: Jason Grace, Percy Jackson, Michael Varus, Frank Zhang, and Hazel Levesque.
- The four males are also the only known male praetors.
- Percy Jackson, Jason Grace, Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang have all been members of the Seven Demigods.
- Percy is the only known praetor to be promoted directly from the rank of a probatio, within 5 days of his arrival.
- Reyna is the only known female praetor in the current series.
- A centurion must serve at least five years in the legion to qualify as a senator, and then graduate to praetor. The only three exceptions to this rule are Reyna (she served for only four years); Percy Jackson (promoted directly from probatio to praetor within a week of joining for defending Camp Jupiter and restoring the Legion's honor) and Frank Zhang (he was promoted from Probatio to Centurion in accordance with Mars' wishes despite serving for only six weeks. He also received emergency promotion to praetor by Jason Grace to take control of the ghost legion in the House of Hades).
- Only two praetors can be in office at the same time. The sole known exception is when Percy Jackson is raised to praetorship the day before Jason returned to Camp Jupiter. This resulted in Percy, Jason, and Reyna all having the rank of praetor. Before this could be resolved, Percy and Jason are forced to flee Camp Jupiter on the Argo II.
- Percy, Jason, Frank, and Reyna have all entered the Mediterranean Sea, breaking Camp Jupiter's laws.
- In the days of the Roman Republic, praetors were among the highest authorities, second only to the consuls in power.