Roman Empire Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Central government=== {{See also|Roman emperor|Senate of the Roman Empire}} [[File:Antoninus Pius Hermitage.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Antoninus Pius]] ({{R.|138|161}}) wearing a [[toga]] ([[Hermitage Museum]])]] The [[Imperial cult (ancient Rome)|Imperial cult of ancient Rome]] identified [[Roman emperor|emperors]] and some members of their families with [[Divine right of kings|divinely sanctioned]] authority (''[[auctoritas]]''). The rite of [[apotheosis]] (also called ''consecratio'') signified the deceased emperor's deification.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=William |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Apotheosis.html |title=A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities |date=1875 |publisher=John Murray |pages=105β106 |access-date=11 February 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713102925/https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA%2A/Apotheosis.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The dominance of the emperor was based on the consolidation of powers from several republican offices.{{Sfnp|Abbott|1901|p=354}} The emperor made himself the central religious authority as ''[[pontifex maximus]]'', and centralized the right to declare war, ratify treaties, and negotiate with foreign leaders.{{Sfnp|Abbott|1901|p=345}} While these functions were clearly defined during the [[Principate]], the emperor's powers over time became less constitutional and more monarchical, culminating in the [[Dominate]].{{Sfnp|Abbott|1901|p=341}} The emperor was the ultimate authority in policy- and decision-making, but in the early Principate, he was expected to be accessible and deal personally with official business and petitions. A bureaucracy formed around him only gradually.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Millar |first=Fergus |chapter=Emperors at Work |date=2004 |title=Rome, the Greek World, and the East: Government, Society, and Culture in the Roman Empire |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |isbn=0-8078-5520-0 |volume=2 |pages=3β22, especially 4, 20 |author-link=Fergus Millar}}</ref> The Julio-Claudian emperors relied on an informal body of advisors that included not only senators and equestrians, but trusted slaves and freedmen.{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|pp=195ff}} After Nero, the influence of the latter was regarded with suspicion, and the emperor's council (''consilium'') became subject to official appointment for greater [[Open government|transparency]].{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|pp=205β209}} Though the Senate took a lead in policy discussions until the end of the [[Antonine dynasty]], equestrians played an increasingly important role in the ''consilium''.{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|pp=202β203, 205, 210}} The women of the emperor's family often intervened directly in his decisions.{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|p=211}} Access to the emperor might be gained at the daily reception (''salutatio''), a development of the traditional homage a client paid to his patron; public banquets hosted at the palace; and religious ceremonies. The common people who lacked this access could manifest their approval or displeasure as a group at [[#Spectacles|games]].{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|p=212}} By the 4th century, the Christian emperors became remote figureheads who issued general rulings, no longer responding to individual petitions.{{Sfnp|Millar|2012|p=76}} Although the Senate could do little short of assassination and open rebellion to contravene the will of the emperor, it retained its symbolic political centrality.{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|p=215}} The Senate legitimated the emperor's rule, and the emperor employed senators as legates (''[[legatus|legati]]''): generals, diplomats, and administrators.<ref>{{Harvp|Boardman|2000|p=721}}; {{Harvp|Winterling|2009|p=16}}</ref> The practical source of an emperor's power and authority was the military. The [[Legionary|legionaries]] were paid by the Imperial treasury, and swore an annual [[Sacramentum (oath)|oath of loyalty]] to the emperor.{{Sfnp|Goldsworthy|2003|p=80}} Most emperors chose a successor, usually a close family member or [[Adoption in ancient Rome|adopted]] heir. The new emperor had to seek a swift acknowledgement of his status and authority to stabilize the political landscape. No emperor could hope to survive without the allegiance of the [[Praetorian Guard]] and the legions. To secure their loyalty, several emperors paid the ''[[donativum]]'', a monetary reward. In theory, the Senate was entitled to choose the new emperor, but did so mindful of acclamation by the army or Praetorians.{{Sfnp|Winterling|2009|p=16}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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