Roman dictator facts for kids

A dictator in the Roman Republic was a special leader chosen during tough times. They were like a temporary boss with lots of power. This role was used often from the very start of the Republic until a big war called the Second Punic War.

What Was a Roman Dictator?

A Roman dictator was a top official, like a very important magistrate. They were given full power by the state. This happened when there was a big problem, usually a military emergency, or a very important job that needed to be done quickly.

How Did Dictators Get Power?

Dictators were not elected in the usual way. They were appointed by other top officials, like the consuls. Once appointed, they had almost complete control. Even the Tribune of the plebs, who could usually stop official actions, had very little power to stop a dictator.

What Were Their Limits?

Even though dictators had huge power, there were rules to stop them from becoming too strong and hurting the state.

• They had a clear job to do.
• They had to step down once their task was finished.
• They could only stay in power for a maximum of six months.

These rules were put in place to make sure the dictator's power was only for emergencies and not forever.

Famous Roman Dictators

For a long time after the Second Punic War, Rome didn't appoint any dictators. But then, the idea came back with two very famous Romans: Sulla and Caesar.

Sulla and Caesar: A New Kind of Dictator

Sulla brought back the dictator role, but he used it differently. He was a very harsh ruler. Later, Caesar also became dictator. However, he was killed not long after taking the title. These later dictators often held power for longer than the traditional six months, changing the original idea of the role.

The End of Roman Dictators

After Caesar's death, the role of dictator was officially ended. It was never used again, not even when the Empire began.

Images for kids

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  A picture of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus. Fabius was a dictator in 217 BC.

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  A head believed to be of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Sulla was dictator from 82–79 BC.

See also

In Spanish: Dictador (Antigua Roma) para niños