Roman republic, the ancient state centered on the city of rome that began in 509 bce, when the romans replaced their monarchy with elected magistrates, and lasted until 27 bce, when the roman empire was established. The position of consul was the apex political position in the roman republic. During the roman republic the citizens would elect almost all officeholders annually. In the roman republic, the consuls were officials who did what.
The idea of coconsuls meant no one individual could abuse the executive power. The republic became an empire after the consolidation of power by octavian augustus, who first used the title imperator commander. The end of the republic is still a matter of dispute. Popular elections for high office were largely undermined and then brought to an end by augustus r. The consuls alternated in holding imperium each month when. In the early roman republic, religious powers were separated between the rex sacrorum making the annual sacrifice to jupiter and the pontifex maximus who had complete religious authority, the. Consul, latin consul, plural consules, in ancient rome, either of the two highest of the ordinary magistracies in the ancient roman republic.
One had to be at least 43 years old to become consul. They served for one year, presided over the roman senate, and commanded the roman military. Roman consul simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It began with the overthrow of the roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 509 bc, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and advised by a senate. They retained several elements of the former kingly regalia, such as the toga praetexta, and the fasces, which represented the power to inflict physical punishment. The roman army of the midrepublic also known as the manipular roman army or the polybian army, refers to the armed forces deployed by the midroman republic, from the end of the samnite wars 290 bc to the end of the social war 88 bc. Within that timespan, the roman republic was in existence from 509 b. A senate composed of patricians elected these consuls. Which of these describes the function of the of the consuls in the early roman republic. The government that ruled rome through its early years of empire. Consul s latin plural consules was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the roman republic, and subsequently also an important title under the roman empire. Praetors were the secondhighest office on the cursus honorum, and the office was generally available to politicians when they reached their 38th birthday. Kids learn about how ancient rome went from a republic to an empire including the first and second triumvirates, julius caesar, the roman civil war, octavian, mark antony, and the beginning of the roman empire. The highest positions in the government were held by two consuls, or leaders, who ruled the roman republic.
What was the difference between roman praetors and consuls. Consul, in ancient rome, either of the two highest of the ordinary. A consul, elected through the assembly, had the power of a king, power. Also, the roman republic was in an almost constant state of war, whereas the roman empires first. Some of the ideas of the roman republic are still used today.
Initially the office was only open to patricians until the lex licinia opened it to plebeian candidates in 367 bc. The related adjective is consular, from the latin consularis. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading consuls and res publica. Senate senatus council of elders, related to the word senior was the advisory branch of the roman government, early on composed of about 300 citizens who served for life. There were normally two consuls elected for each year. Here, consuls are only given for the roman republic, ending with 27 bc, when octavian was granted the title augustus, by which he is then known as the first of the roman emperors, although the title imperator commander was already used for a military commander with both civil and military jurisdiction. Roman magistrate, comparable with a prime minister or a president. Although not a true democracy by the modern definition, the roman republic appeared somewhat representative. Is it true that consuls in the ancient roman republic. The following list of consuls, beginning with the foundation of the republic in 509 bc, is taking largely from the list of varro compiled in the 1st century bc prior to 300 bc, the list has some known inaccuracies regarding varros dating system, but still provides a quality background, highlighting the prominent magistrates of the early republic.
The senate of the roman republic was a political institution in the ancient roman republic. Julius caesar repeatedly broke roman law during his time as consul of cisalpine gaul, transalpine gaul, and illyricum, but could not be tried in the senate where the conservatives were very eager to convict him due to legislative immunity granted by consulship. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Absolute authority was expressed in the consuls imperium q. Consuls of the roman republic below is a list of the consuls of the roman republic from its foundation until the battle of actium in 31 b. If during that year a consul resigned from office or died, a suffect replacement consul was elected in his place. Rome was built along the tiber river on the italian peninsula.
They were chosen by the kings, at first, then by the consuls, and by the end of the 4th century, by the censors. Usually, the dates of the start of the first triumvirate or the second triumvirate are given. Rome has existed as a distinct civilization from 753 b. This is a list of consuls known to have held office, from the beginning of the roman republic to the latest use of the title in imperial times, together with those magistrates of the republic who were appointed in place of consuls, or who superseded consular authority for a limited period. In order to keep the consul from becoming a king or dictator, there were always two consuls elected and they only served for one year. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Both men and women were citizens in the roman republic, but only men could vote. Reserved for the most experienced of men in the republic, or exceptional figures or lucky during times of crisis, consulship had a lot of power. This page is the start point for exploring the roman republic. The two most important were the tribunes of the plebs and the military tribunes. They also commanded the roman army both had two legions and exercised the highest juridical power in the roman empire.
Each year, the citizens of rome elected two consuls to serve jointly for a oneyear term. Youll find here all the consuls, but also the dictators and their masters of the horse. Absolute authority was expressed in the consul s imperium q. The civil functions of the consuls in the roman republic pina polo, francisco on. Consuls definition of consuls by the free dictionary. Brutus and collatinus became republican romes first consuls. In the 360s, however, the office was opened for plebeians in 366, according to an inaccurate chronology discussed here. Leading the republic were two consuls who were elected by legislative assemblies. The civil functions of the consuls in the roman republic. Below is a list of the consuls of the roman republic from its foundation until the battle. A consul held the highest elected political office of the roman republic 509 to 27 bc, and ancient romans considered the consulship the highest level of the cursus honorum an ascending sequence of public offices to which politicians aspired. Many historians believe that in the first stages of the roman republic, a praetor maximus was appointed for one year only.
The first board of decemvirs ruled with moderation and prepared 10 tables of law in 451 bc. During the period of the roman republic the roman army was commanded by the consuls, who were the two annually elected heads of the republic. It was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. Although the office of consulship remained after the collapse of the republic 27. Later his duties would be split in two by choosing two consuls at a time to govern rome. Normally there were two consuls who were appointed each year by the comitia centuriata. After a roman magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic appointment to the senate. Who was elected first consul of the roman republic. Consuls synonyms, consuls pronunciation, consuls translation, english dictionary definition of consuls. Especially during the early years of the roman republic, the pool of men from which the consuls would be chosen was relatively limited. Among the noblemen that incited the revolution were brutus and collatinus who became the first consuls of rome, thereby starting the roman republic. The roman kingdom, also referred to as the roman monarchy, or the regal period of ancient rome.
Below youll find a list of the roman consuls including dictators, suffect consuls and military tribunes with consular power from the start of the republic to a. The first plebeian consul, lucius sextius, was elected the following year. Why did the roman republic grant consuls and governors immunity. Two annually elected consuls convened the senate and the curiate and centuriate assemblies. Originally, the two consuls had to belong to the patriciate, the roman aristocracy. A consul, elected through the assembly, had the power of a king, power albeit restricted by his oneyear term and the authority of the other consul. The consuls were the chairmen of the senate, which served as a board of advisers.
Consuls of the roman republic below is a list of the consuls of the roman republic. Consuls were elected to office and held power for one year. At this time, lowerclass citizens, or plebeians, had virtually no say in the government. By signing up, youll get thousands of stepbystep solutions to your. The title was used in other european city states through antiquity and the middle ages, then revived in modern states, notably in the first french republic. Consuls were the chief civil and military magistrates, elected through the assemblies by popular vote. Here, consuls are only given for the roman republic, ending with 27 bc, when octavian was granted the title augustus, by which he is then known as the first. Tribunus was the title of various elected officials in ancient rome. This is a list of consuls known to have held office, from the beginning of the roman republic to the latest use of the title in imperial times, together with those magistrates of the republic who were appointed in place of consuls, or who. Nevertheless, the office remained largely in the hands of a few. The consuls, which would later replace the leadership of the roman kings, was not put in place immediately, but many years later. And this first triumvirate, even though it wasnt an official, its an official government group, it allowed them to really hold the power of the roman republic, and to really move and hold the power within the. How well did the consuls in the roman republic cooperate. A roman consul was the highest elected political office of the roman republic each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a oneyear term.
Which of these describes the function of the of the. Consuls at the top of the roman republic was the consul. Through this position a person dictated how rome would function and respond. Rome was a highly stratified society with patricians at. In times of peace, a consul would serve as the highest magistrate, arbitrator, and law maker within roman society.
For most of roman history, a college of ten tribunes of the plebs acted as a check on the authority of the senate and the annual magistrates, holding the power of ius intercessionis to intervene on behalf of the plebeians. Who were the roman consuls and how did they rule rome. Likewise the military tribune with consular power are placed in the proper year. The main difference between the roman republic and the roman empire was that the former was a democratic society and the latter was run by only one man. Brutus and collatinus became romes first consuls, marking the beginning of the roman republic. The first phase of this army, in its manipular structure 290ca. There were eight of them elected yearly by the time of caesar, and they acted as the judges. However, roman elections continued at the local, municipal level. There were always two consuls in power at any time. Consuls during the republic and the early empire are identified as consul prior and consul posterior, terms that the romans used to distinguish between the. Supposedly your coconsul should be someone who opposes the consul in the fashion similar to a prosecutor and defense but during late republic, often time the election is very rigged, people with enough wealth and influence can basicall. The ranks of the senate, drawn from exconsuls and other officers.
The roman people elected consuls, who ruled for a short time. The consuls of the roman republic were the highest ranking ordinary magistrates. A consul held the highest elected political office of the roman republic. Roman empire and the imperial system rome witnessed important changes in the shift from roman republic to roman empire, but the imperial system was not always as different or as powerful as it may have seemed. Though their power was somewhat limited by the establishment of other magistrate positions, the consuls were effectively the heads of state. They had the authority to convene the roman senate the main chamber of government and served as the republic s supreme diplomats, often meeting with foreign ambassadors and emissaries. Candidates for the office were expected to have already climbed high within the roman civil service, and to come from established patrician families. It expanded through conquest and colonization and became a major power of the ancient world. Why did the roman republic grant consuls and governors. Roman republic 509 bc 27 bc the roman republic was the period of the ancient roman civilization where the government operated as a republic.
1449 1502 321 643 1230 1013 1106 645 1246 801 5 1394 547 68 206 649 850 438 894 669 202 1200 1471 1223 1131 1481 313 1371 608 268 588