Roman Emperor Titles

• The Titles of the Roman Emperor were added from Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) onwards to reflect their power.
• Augustus and his successors went to great lengths not to be called ‘King’, but to be seen as Leaders of the Roman Republic. Diocletian (284-305 CE) changed the role to being more openly Monarchical.

New Titles

• ‘Augustus’ meaning Majestic.
• ‘Caesar’ from the family name of Julius Caesar.
• ‘Imperator’ meaning Commander in Chief.
• ‘Invictus’ meaning unconquered.
• ‘Pater Patriae’ meaning Father of the Fatherland.
• ‘Princeps’ meaning First Citizen (of the Roman Republic)

Titles acquired from Former Offices of the Roman Republic

• ‘Consul’ was the Title of the highest Magistrate, originally an annual position as Head of State.
• ‘Pontifex Maximus’ was the Title of the Chief Priest.
• ‘Princeps Senatus’ was the Title of the First Senator in the Senate.
• ‘Tribunicia Potestas’ meaning the ‘Powers’ of the Tribune, who could not legally be a Patrician.

Titles added by Diocletian

• ‘Dominus’ meaning Lord.

Titles added by the Emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire

• ‘Basileus’ meaning King in Greek was used by the Eastern Roman Emperors.
• ‘Autokrator’ meaning Commander in Chief in Greek.