List of Roman dictators
A list of all of the Roman dictators and magistri equitum known from ancient sources. In some cases the names or dates have been inferred by modern historians.
Key to Latin terms and phrases
Roman dictators were usually appointed for a specific purpose, or causa, which limited the scope of their activities. The chief causae were rei gerundae, clavi figendi, and comitiorum habendorum.Other causae included ludorum faciendorum, holding the Ludi Romani, an important religious festival; ferarium constituendarum ; seditionis sedandae ; and in one remarkable case, senatus legendi.
The causa given at the very end of the Republic for the dictatorships of Sulla and Caesar are completely novel, as the powers granted greatly exceeded those traditionally accorded a Roman dictator. By legibus faciendis et rei publicae constituendae causa, Sulla was empowered to rewrite the laws and revise the constitution of the Roman state; by dictator perpetuo rei publicae constituendae causa, Caesar was appointed dictator in perpetuity, and given the power to revise the constitution.
The various causae may not have been legally distinguished from one another prior to 368 BC, when Publius Manlius Capitolinus was appointed dictator seditionis sedandae et rei gerundae causa. The precise formula of each causa later reported by ancient historians may only date to Manlius' dictatorship, in which case the causae attributed to earlier dictators must be later additions.
Other phrases
- abdicavit – abdicated, or resigned.
- mortuus est – died in office.
- non iniit – not inaugurated.
- occisus est – killed, slain.
- sine magistro equitum – without a magister equitum.