Dictator
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Today, dictator is usually understood to mean a person who
controls or governs a totalitarian
regime, and usually carries a
connotation of brutality.
See also: Dictatorship,
benevolent dictator,
Dictatorship of the proletariat.
Ancient Rome
In its original sense, dictator meant a political
office of the Roman Republic. Indeed,
dictator is a Latin word that means (roughly) "one who
commands". A dictator was elected in times of military emergency to
take command of the state and its armies for a term of 6 months. Unlike
ordinary Roman govenment officials, dictators were elected without
colleagues and had no limits on their authority, military or civil. A
dictator was chosen by the Senate and confirmed by a vote of the people.
The dictator, once confirmed, chose his own Magister Equitum or
"Commander of the Cavalry" to help him in his administration.
The best known of the Roman dictators
of the regular type were Cincinnatus
and Fabius Maximus (see
Second Punic War).
Julius Caesar was named dictator for
a 10 year term in 46 BC and
"dictator for life" in 45,
both irregular appointments.
See Roman Republic
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictator
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
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