Rulers of the Republic
Rome was a realm of quasi kings: magistrates and senators. The senate, made up of former magistrates, was no doubt an imposing sight to behold, - much like the court of a monarch.
Yet the republican attitude of Rome, to an extent even under the emperors, remained utterly hostile toward the idea of kings.
It was as though the attitude prevailed that a mere mortal on his his own could possible rule Rome and her empire. - One might even speculate that this mentality could have been the reason for the later deification of dead emperors.
The Roman passion for power is infamous. Latin even has two different words to describe a person's power; potentia for personal power and potestas or political power.
But then to hold power in Rome was not comparable to political positions of a modern western state.
Roman magistrates were not comparable to today's government offices. Their powers were absolute. Today's governments separate the powers of the political rulers of the country (executive), the politicians making laws (legislature), and the judges who apply the law in the courts (judiciary). This however was not the case in ancient Rome. All such powers rested effectively with the highest magistrates, the consuls.
Not merely did the consuls hold tremendous power, but so, too, were they surrounded by symbols of 'royal' authority. Among them the lictors bearing the axes bound in rods, symbolizing their power over life and death, their purple striped tunic under the senatorial purple hemmed toga. And some of these symbols did indeed stem from the days when Rome had still been dominated by Etruscan kings.
And to the ordinary people of Rome their appearance must indeed have made them appear no less than kings.
But the consuls were not the only 'kings' in Rome. Other offices such as those of the praetors, aediles or quaestors, allowed their holders to make their own laws, oversee their enforcement and well as to prosecute and punish anyone who failed to abide by them. So they, too, enjoyed absolute power, although on a lower level.
This power of office was known as the provincia and it is hence no surprise that it eventually became the name for the 'kingdoms' Rome ruled over in its empire. For in those territories, the governors, held the same powers as consuls over their subjects. More so, they were under far less scrutiny when ruling over the provinces than anyone holding office within the capital. And yet, their positions generally demanded that they had previously proven their worth in high magistracies before they ever were entrusted with the absolute power of provincial governor.
Far away from Rome, subject to the many temptations of power, it is perhaps littel wonder that many governors suffered delusions of grandeur. In the eastern provinces they were often worshipped as gods by a population used to treating their rulers in such fashion.
Also of course many saw their time abroad as a marvellous opportunity to enrich themselves off the backs of their helpless subjects.
But, if the provincia did offer immunity from prosecution then this only extended for one's time in office. Thereafter one could be prosecuted for one's misdemeanours.
And there was many a young man ready and waiting to make a name for himself by prosecuting a corrupt governor in the courts.
When for example the governor of Gaul, Lucius Quinctius Flaminius, returned to Rome he was indeed prosecuted in 185 BC and expelled from the senate.
The Latin words res publica which are perhaps best translated as 'public affairs' are the source of today's term 'republic'.
Before setting out on reading about the history of the Roman republic, please find here the various offices and assemblies which were created in order to rule of the Roman state.
Offices