The Imperator ( Latin imperator - ruler, master, commander) is an ancient Roman honorary military title, the most common in the period of the Late Republic.
The honorary title appeared during the Second Punic War , Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus became the first emperor. As a rule, soldiers called their commander the emperor after winning a major battle. The emperor commander received the right to triumph and to use the title in his full name. He did not give any changes in legal status. Nevertheless, the title of emperor and triumph were the maximum possible achievement for the Roman military leaders.
Octavian Augustus was the first to use this title in front of his name, and not after it, as was customary. The last non- prince emperor was Quintus Young Blaise . After 22 years n. e. the title of emperor became the sole prerogative of emperors in the traditional sense of the word, and later applicants for rule in Rome began to take it. As a result, the main meaning of the term was the political designation of the supreme ruler.
Links
- Emperor // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
- Leus V. A. Scipio African and the title imperator in the political system of the Roman Republic (inaccessible link) // Bulletin of the University of Saratov. - 2010. T. 10. History and international relations. - S. 82-84.