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imperator
Sign in to saveThe title of imperator ( ) was originally the rough equivalent of commander under the Roman Republic. Later, it became a part of the titulature of the Roman emperors as their praenomen. The Roman emperors generally based their authority on multiple titles and positions, rather than preferring any single title. Nevertheless, imperator was used relatively consistently as an element of a Roman ruler's title throughout the Principate and the later Roman Empire. It was abbreviated to "IMP" in inscriptions. The word is an agentive form of the verb , meaning "to order, to command". The English word e
Article
8 sectionsContents
- ''Imperatores'' in the ancient Roman Kingdom
- ''Imperatores'' in the Roman Republic
- List of ''Imperatores''
- Use in eastern Rome and other post-Roman states
- ''Imperatrix''
- Derivatives
- References
- Bibliography
The title of imperator ( ) was originally the rough equivalent of commander under the Roman Republic. Later, it became a part of the titulature of the Roman emperors as their praenomen. The Roman emperors generally based their authority on multiple titles and positions, rather than preferring any single title. Nevertheless, imperator was used relatively consistently as an element of a Roman ruler's title throughout the Principate and the later Roman Empire. It was abbreviated to "IMP" in inscriptions. The word is an agentive form of the verb , meaning "to order, to command". The English word emperor derives from imperator via French. thumb|Marble statue of Augustus of Prima Porta, showing him in a pose of imperator (1st century AD) thumb|Roman sestertius of Emperor Titus with the inscription T CAESAR VESPASIAN (Titus Caesar Vespasianus) IMP IIII (Imperator Quartum) PON (Pontifex) TR POT II (Tribunicia Potestate Secundum) COS II (Consul Secundum). IMP IIII indicates four great victories by Titus and the associated fourth acclamation as emperor. thumb|The [[Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire with the inscription "ROMANORU[M] IMPERATOR AUG[USTUS]" (Emperor of the Romans, Augustus) on the right side of the arch]] thumb|Golden dedication inscription at the Äusseres Burgtor of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna of "FRANCISCUS. I. IMPERATOR. AUSTRIAE. MDCCCXXIV." (Francis I, Emperor of Austria, 1824), who ruled as Francis II, last Holy Roman Emperor until 1806
== Imperatores in the ancient Roman Kingdom == When Rome was ruled by kings, to be able to rule, the king had to be invested with the full regal authority and power. So, after the comitia curiata that was held to elect the king, the king also had to be conferred the imperium.