Imperator

• Imperator in Latin was the Title awarded to the man who had the Power to Command through Imperium.

The concept of Imperium

• The basis for Roman Government was the concept of Imperium, which was conferred by the Roman Law, ‘Lex Curiata de Imperio’, and gave the legal Right to Command, both military and civil, through an ‘Imperator’, either a Magistrate, Promagistrate (Governor) or a General.
• Unauthorised exercise of Imperium was a capital offence. Later the Emperors took the title ‘Imperator’ permanently.

Imperium under the Roman Republic

• Magistrates would exercise their Imperium using the title ‘Imperator’.
• Governors of Provinces would also exercise their Imperium using the title ‘Imperator’.
• Roman Generals would have to be declared ‘Imperator’ by their Legions after a great victory, before they could receive a Roman Triumph.

Imperium under the Roman Empire

• The Roman Emperors permanently took the title of ‘Imperator’ to show that they had legal Command of the Legions and of the Roman Government.