Government and Politics

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 Initially, Rome was governed by 7 kings. When the kings were driven out, the plebians demanded a republic, but the elites refused. so the plebians staged a public protest and that forced the elites to make some concessions.

In the newly formed Roman Republic, they had elected magistrates, the most famous on being Julius Caesar himself!

The two consuls (who had come to replace the king) were primarily generals whose task it was to lead Rome’s armies in war. In times of military emergency, when unity of command was sometimes necessary, Rome appointed a dictator in place of the consuls, who, however, could not hold supreme military command for longer than six months.

The Senate, which may have existed under the monarchy and served as an advisory council for the king, now advised both magistrates and the Roman people. 

During the republic there were two different popular assemblies, the centuriate assembly and the tribal assembly. The centuriate assembly was military in nature; it voted on war and peace and elected all those magistrates who exercised imperium (military power). The tribal assembly was a nonmilitary civilian assembly that elected those magistrates who did not exercise imperium. It did most of the legislating and sat as a court for serious public offenses.


Rome has had its share of great Rulers and Military figures, but like all other Civilizations, it HAD to crumble.

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