Dictator

Dictator, in Roman history, a special magistrate instituted, usually for six months, by one of the consuls in accordance with a resolution of the Senate, whenever the situation seemed to demand the suspension, of the constitutional checks on the supreme power, as at great military crises. The traditional account gives the first case as in 501 B.C. These dictators were technically appointed "to carry on affairs" (rci gerundec causa). The other magistrates continued in office meanwhile as their subordinates. A vice-dictator or "master of the horse" was always appointed with, and selected by, these dictators. Occasionally, however, when the consuls were absent, dictators were appointed to preside at elections or perform special acts which were beyond the legal competence of the inferior magistrates. No dictator existed between B.C. 202 and 82, but the consuls in the case of need were invested with dictatorial power. In 82, however, Sulla, quite irregularly, caused himself to be appointed dictator to reform the Constitution. Julius Ceesar's similar appointment was also quite irregular. (A magistracy with the same name existed in many Italian towns in early times, and in the cities of Greece an "ecsymnetes" was often appointed during civil strife with power to reform the Constitution.) The office was formally abolished soon after Ceesar's death. The title has often been adopted by revolutionary leaders, especially in S. America.