The Romani Princeps

[Michiel de Ruyter]

The principle of a "Princeps"(= First citizen) was well known before the Principate, althoughto my knowledge only in an unofficial connotation. It was simply applied to the most dominant (for whatever reason) man in Roman politics. Supposedly the eagerness to reach this status was what partially fueled many rivalries (Marius vs Sulla, Caesar vs Pompey) or fueled many factional conflicts (trying to prevent a single man from obtaining or keeping this status, like ie Scipio).

Only under the Principate the term Prrinceps became part of the official titulature.

[Apgad]

Also, consuls were elected in pairs for a year at a time. The one with the most votes was the senior consul, and took slight precedence over the other. If one died in office the Senate could appoint a replacement (suffectus) for the rest of that year. This could also happen if a consul resigned, which didn't happen much until Augustus' time. IIRC, he (and his "recommendees") would do this so that other loyal supporters appointed to the post would gain automatic admission to the Senate, in order to bump up the numbers. By this stage the number of senators had, umm, dwindled a little, what with civil wars and proscriptions...

[cmacq]

Princeps Senatus traditionally was applied to the oldest member of the Senate whos voice was always heard first in debate. In affect the Princeps acted as the presiding officer over the Senate, but included no organic power. This office tended to be occupied by members of the same families.

[CirdanDharix]

Not always the eldest. Scipio Africanus was Princeps Senatus when he was still quite young. To put into modern terms, it was the speaker, or president of the Senate; the Princeps gets to speak first and to lord it during Senatorial debates, but he still only gets one vote when push comes to shove. How much power he wields depends solely upon himself and how influential he is; the office only gives him a slight bump in prestige.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

What has been said above is more or less correct but "Princeps" was not an office during the Republic. The elected magistrates would usually preside in debate, not the Princeps. You weren't granted the title, you kept it as long as you could hold onto it. Marius, Sulla, Crassus, Pompey, Ceasar and Cicero could all have been deemed Princeps at one time or another.

Their official power at the time, particually Cicero's, was zero.

[cmacq]

Right, I said 'acted as the presiding officer,' not an office. I also said, 'traditionally was applied to the oldest member,' not always applied. But I get your point.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Nuance is a bitch, being a writer and a historian I have a lot of practice.

Often though, the nuances of Tacitus and Cicero are damned irritating.