Principate facts for kids
The Principate was the way the Roman Empire was governed for a long time. It started when Augustus became emperor in 27 BC. It lasted until AD 284, when it changed into a different system called the Dominate. During the Principate, a single emperor, called the princeps, ruled. The early emperors tried to make it seem like the old Roman Republic was still somewhat in charge, even though they held most of the power.
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What Does Principate Mean?
The word 'Principate' comes from the Latin word princeps. This word means 'chief' or 'first'. So, the Principate was a government led by a main leader. The emperors wanted people to think they were just the "first among equals" among all Roman citizens. They didn't want to be seen as kings.
In the old Republic, there was a princeps senatus. This was usually the oldest or most respected member of the Senate. They got to speak first in any debate. Some important Romans, like Scipio Aemilianus, believed that the best citizen (the princeps) should guide everyone. This idea was later supported by Cicero.
How Long Did It Last?
The Principate generally refers to the first part of the Roman Empire's rule. It began when Augustus took power as princeps. It continued until the time of Diocletian, who changed the system. This period ended before the fall of Rome in 476 AD.
History of the Principate
Augustus Starts the Principate
The full title was princeps senatus or princeps civitatis. This meant "first among the senators" or "first among the citizens." Octavian Caesar Augustus was the first Roman "emperor." He took this title in 27 BC. Like Julius Caesar before him, Augustus chose not to bring back a formal monarchy (rule by a king).
Augustus wanted to bring peace and stability after many civil wars. He created a strong government that was secretly like a dictatorship. But he made it look like it still followed the old Roman Republic's rules. This was more acceptable to Romans than having a king, like in the early Roman Kingdom.
Even though Augustus's family tried to keep power, becoming a king was still risky. Augustus was smart to work within the Republic's existing forms to gain control. He started by having the powers of a Roman consul and a tribune of the plebs. Later, he also became a censor and finally the pontifex maximus (chief priest).
Tiberius, the next emperor, also gained his powers step by step. He liked to say he was just the "first citizen." He believed a good princeps should serve the Senate and all citizens. However, after Tiberius, the role of princeps became more official. For example, Dio Cassius wrote that Caligula was given all his powers in one day. Augustus had taken many years to get the same powers.
Under this early Principate, the emperor had almost total power. But this was carefully hidden by the old ways of the 'uncrowned' Roman Republic (509 BC–27 BC). Their motto was Senatus Populusque Romanus, meaning "The Senate and people of Rome" or SPQR. At first, the idea was that the 'first citizen' had to earn his special position through his good deeds, just like Augustus had.
The government spread the idea that the princeps was the perfect ruler. They said he had all the best qualities, like being kind, fair, and a great military leader. This made the princeps feel he had to act this way. It helped him stay in power and was seen as his duty. What people expected from the princeps changed over time. Tiberius saved a lot of money for Rome but was called a miser. Caligula was criticized for spending too much on games.
Generally, emperors were expected to be generous but not wasteful. They had to use their own money for public good. This included providing "bread and circuses" (panem et circenses). This meant offering public games, gladiators, horse races, and shows. Giving out food and helping charities also made them popular. Building public works gave jobs to the poor.
Changes Under Vespasian
The first ruling family, the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ended in AD 68. After this, the principate became more official under Emperor Vespasian starting in AD 69. The princeps became a clear position within the Roman government. Many of the old traditions and expectations remained. But the idea of the princeps as a civilian leader, like Augustus, slowly changed. It became more about the emperor's military role as an imperator.
Rule was no longer (even in theory) based on earning respect or auctoritas. It became more fixed. This allowed Vespasian and later emperors to choose their own heirs. These heirs didn't have to earn their position through years of public success.
During the Antonine dynasty, emperors often chose a successful and promising person as their successor. Many historians see this as an "ideal" time. The most capable person was chosen to be princeps. Edward Gibbon, a famous historian, wrote that this was the happiest and most productive time in human history. He believed the way emperors chose their successors was the main reason for this success.
The Tetrarchy Era
Over time, the emperors gained more and more power. The idea of sharing power with the Republic faded.
After the Crisis of the Third Century, the Roman Empire almost fell apart. Then, Diocletian made the emperor's power even stronger. He ended the one-headed principate. Instead, he created the Tetrarchy around AD 300. This system had two main emperors (called Augusti) and two junior emperors (called Caesares). In this new system, the old idea of the Republic was mostly gone.
The title of princeps disappeared. The empire was also divided into different parts. New fancy ceremonies were used to make the emperor seem more special. This was done to protect the emperor and the government from the army, which had caused problems earlier.
The Senate lost almost all its political power. The old way of dividing provinces between the emperor and the Senate was no longer used. Legal experts at the time said that all power now belonged to the emperor.
See also
- Constitution of the late Roman Empire
