Rome is one of the oldest and most influential civilizations in history. It is a glorious heritage to be proud of, yet the intriguing aspects of its legacy have long been forgotten. Throughout its long-lasting empire it had a range of rulers, each with its own title. So, what were the rulers of ancient Rome called?
The most powerful ruler of the Roman Empire was the Emperor. The first Emperor, Augustus, was appointed in 27 BCE. This position quickly became a monarchy, whereby the Emperor was revered and obeyed as if he were a god. They held all executive, judicial, and legislative power, governing the Empire like a modern-day president. The title of Emperor was the supreme ruler who would be in charge for the entirety of their reign and could not be challenged.
The title of Caesar emerged in 44 BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Roman word for ‘head’ or ‘supreme’. This title was used to refer to a leader with extensive power, usually with a close and powerful relationship with the Emperor. Generally, the Emperor would choose a Caesar to act as their deputy and their duties included supervising military campaigns and enforcing the Emperor’s laws.
Below the Emperor and the Caesar were the Consuls, the most senior elected officials of the Roman Republic. The Consuls were elected for one year by the Senate and People of Rome and their primary roles were to lead their armies and represent the people of Rome in political matters. They were assisted in their role by a Senate made up of elected representatives from the People who would advise and guide the Empire’s laws.
The Senate was elected by six-hundred Judges or ‘Quaestors’, who were appointed by the Emperor or the Caesar. These Judges were elected to represent their region or city-state and to settle disputes between citizens. These Quaestors had an important role in Rome as it was their job to ensure all citizens were treated fairly and justice was upheld.
Finally, there were the Tribunes. Tribunes were appointed by the public to monitor the leaders of the Republic, they were appointed to ensure the Emperor or any opposing senators were not profiteering from their positions or abusing their power. The Tribune had the power to veto any decisions made by the Senate and People, thus having a major influence on Roman politics.
The Role of the Emperor
The Emperor was the supreme ruler and head of the Roman Empire. They were in charge of setting the laws and regulations of the Roman Empire and were the only ones with the power to overrule their decisions. It was the Emperor’s job to ensure its citizens were safe and justly treated and that all laws were followed.
The Emperor was considered a god-like figure, with divine powers that enabled them to make important decisions that affected the lives of all Romans. The title of Emperor was earned through heredity, chosen by the Senate and People of Rome, or awarded to a military leader who had achieved success in battle. The title of Emperor was highly respected and those who held it were expected to rule with strength and wisdom.
The Emperor ruled with a high level of control and power, but also with moderation and balance. The Emperor was aware of his power, which is why he was cautious about his decisions and gave citizens the chance to discuss and debate them before enacting them. It was up to the Emperor to ensure stability and justice was upheld in the Empire, and the People trusted that their leader was doing his best to improve their situation.
The Emperor had the ability to overrule decisions, appoint officials and set the punishments for anyone who had committed a crime. He chose the Senate, the Quaestors and the Tribunes and he relied on them to advise and guide him in his decisions. As the highest authority of the Empire, he had a powerful influence over the lives of all Roman citizens.
The Role of the Caesar
The position of Caesar was created to be the direct subordinate of the Emperor. The Caesar had virtually the same powers of the Emperor, but the Emperor had the power to overrule any decision or veto any law the Caesar attempted to implement. Caesars were most often appointed by the Emperor, but they could also be granted the title of Caesar by the Senate and People. The Caesar could not be challenged and their power superseded that of any other authority.
The primary roles of the Caesar were to enforce the laws set by the Emperor, to execute justice and to manage military campaigns. The Caesar had immense respect from the citizens, though some were skeptical of the possibilities of being bribed and manipulated by outside forces.
The Caesar was also involved in politics and would often advise the Emperor on their decisions. They held the power to influence the Senate and the People, and often their words and decisions were taken as the will of the Emperor.
The Caesar had a great deal of power within the Empire, and while they did not have the same power as the Emperor, they had the ability to make significant changes in the direction of the Empire. They had the power to impose taxes, to manage resources and to implement laws, making them a major player in Roman politics.
The people often looked to the Caesar for guidance and direction in times of crisis and unrest. While the title of Emperor was revered, the office of Caesar was often the voice of reason during difficult times and could ease public discontentment. Though it was the Emperor who made ultimate decisions, it was the Caesar who advised and counseled, and could ultimately shape the future of the Empire.
The Role of the Consuls
The Consuls were the elected leaders of the Roman Republic and the highest ranking of the elected officials. They were elected annually by the Senate and People and held a vast amount of power, rivaling the much-respected title of Caesar.
The primary role of the Consuls was to lead the armies of Rome and also to represent the people from Rome in political matters. The Consuls were assisted in their role by the Senate, which consisted of elected representatives from the People who were there to advise and guide the Consuls.
The Senate, with the consent of the People, could award the title of Triumvirate to a group of three men. This was an honorary title given by the Senate, and the Triumvirs held great power and influence. The job of the Triumvirs was to manage finances, to organize military campaigns, and to work with the Consuls to design laws that were favorable to the citizens of Rome.
The Senate and the Consuls had a great deal of power to shape the Empire, and often their opinions and ideas would be taken into account before any decisions were made. The Senate and People had the right to ratify any decision made by the Consuls or the Triumvirs, and they also had the power to unseat or replace any of them if they felt they weren’t acting in the best interests of the people.
The Consuls had the power to veto any decision of the Senate and People, giving the Consuls a great deal of power over the people of Rome. This power meant that the Consuls had the power to implement their own laws and regulations, and their influence in the Empire was felt in all aspects of life.
The Role of the Quaestors
The Quaestors were appointed by the Emperor or the Caesar and were responsible for representing their region or city-state when settling disputes between citizens. The Quaestors were the head Judges of Rome, and were expected to ensure fairness and justice was upheld.
The Quaestors had the power to elect the Senate, decide whether an Emperor or Caesar should be appointed, and also to approve or deny any new laws that the Senate proposed. They also had the power to impeach any member of the Senate if they felt they were acting unethically or not in the best interests of the Empire.
The Quaestors were highly respected in the Empire and had a great deal of power and influence. They could be trusted to make sensible decisions and often the People of Rome looked to the Quaestors for stability and justice.
The Quaestors had a duty to ensure the Emperor or Caesar was acting fairly and within the law. They had the final say when it came to any decisions made by the Emperor, the Caesar or the Senate, and any decisions that went against the will of the Quaestors could be overturned.
The Quaestors also held a great deal of power when it came to taxation and the distribution of resources. The Quaestors had the power to impose taxes and to manage resources, and they had a lot of influence over the economic stability of the Empire.
The Role of the Tribunes
The Tribunes were appointed by the public to monitor the political leaders and to make sure no one was profiteering or abusing their position. The Tribunes held a great deal of power, as they had the ability to veto any decision made by the Senate or the People.
The Tribunes could also appoint officials and had the power to set punishments for anyone who had committed a crime. They were appointed with the purpose of making sure the political authority of Rome was kept in check, and that any actions taken by the Senate or People were in line with the will of the people.
The Tribunes had the role of ensuring that the Senate and People were acting in the best interests of the citizens of Rome. They had the power to make decisions on their own if they felt the Senate or People were not acting based on the best interests of the people.
The Tribunes had the power to enact laws and changes to the government, though not as
