Roman emperor

Quick Facts: Who was Roman emperor?

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Roman emperor

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The supreme ruler of the Roman Empire, evolving from Republic general to divine figure.

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Origins & Early Life

The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman Empire, starting with the granting of the title augustus to Octavian in 27 BC. The title of imperator, originally a military honorific, was usually used alongside caesar, originally a cognomen. When a given Roman is described as becoming emperor in English, it generally reflects his accession as augustus, and later as basileus. Early emperors also used the title princeps ("first one") alongside other Republican titles, notably consul and pontifex maximus. The legitimacy of an emperor's rule depended on his control of the Roman army and recognition by the Senate; an emperor would normally be proclaimed by his troops, by the Senate, or both.

Career & Major Achievements

The first emperors reigned alone; later emperors would sometimes rule with co-emperors to secure the succession or to divide the administration of the empire between them. The office of emperor was thought to be distinct from that of a rex ("king"). Augustus, the first emperor, resolutely refused recognition as a monarch. For the first three hundred years of Roman emperors, efforts were made to portray the emperors as leaders of the Republic, fearing any association with the kings who ruled Rome prior to the Republic. From Diocletian, whose reformed tetrarchy divided the position into one emperor in the West and one in the East, emperors ruled in an openly monarchic style.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Although succession was generally hereditary, it was only hereditary if there was a suitable candidate acceptable to the army and the bureaucracy, so the principle of automatic inheritance was not adopted, which often led to several claimants to the throne. Despite this, elements of the republican institutional framework (Senate, consuls, and magistrates) were preserved even after the end of the Western Empire. Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, moved the capital from Rome to Constantinople, formerly known as Byzantium, in 330 AD. Roman emperors had always held high religious offices, and some early emperors were even worshiped as gods, at least following their death when they were said to have become divine. Under Constantine, there arose the specifically Christian idea that the emperor was God's chosen ruler on earth, a special protector and leader of the Christian Church, a position later termed Caesaropapism.

Notable Quotes by Roman emperor

“Augustus was the first emperor, solidifying power after the collapse of the Republic.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Roman emperor

True or False: “The title 'emperor' in English generally reflects the accession as Augustus, not necessarily the later Basileus title.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): While emperors used various titles like imperator and Caesar, modern usage often traces the imperial concept back to Octavian's acceptance of the title augustus.

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• Roman Kingdom — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The earliest period of Roman history, ruled by kings from c. 753 to c. 509 BC.

Frequently Asked Questions about Roman emperor