King of Rome
This article is about the monarch of the ancient Roman Kingdom. For the medieval title under the Holy Roman Empire, see King of the Romans. For Napoleon I's son and heir, see Napoleon II. For the racing pigeon, and the song about it, see The King of Rome. The King of Rome (Latin: Rex Romae) was the chief magistrate of the Roman Kingdom.[1] According to legend, the first king of Rome was Romulus, who founded the city in 753 BC upon the Palatine Hill. The kings after Romulus were not known to be dynasts and no reference is made to the hereditary principle until after the fifth king Tarquinius Priscus. Overview[edit] Early Rome was not self-governing, and was ruled by the king (Rex). The supreme power of the state was vested in the Rex, whose position gave the following powers: Chief Priest[edit] Chief Executive[edit] Beyond his religious authority, the king was invested with the supreme military, executive, and judicial authority through the use of imperium. Chief Judge[edit] Election[edit]
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic (Latin: Res Pvblica Romana) was the period of the ancient Roman civilization when the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 509 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and advised by a senate. A complex constitution gradually developed, centered on the principles of a separation of powers and checks and balances. During the first two centuries of its existence the Republic expanded through a combination of conquest and alliance, from central Italy to the entire Italian peninsula. The victor in one of these civil wars, Octavian (later known as Augustus), reformed the Republic as a Principate, with himself as Rome's "first citizen" (princeps). Many of Rome's legal and legislative structures can still be observed throughout Europe and much of the world in modern nation states and international organizations. Constitution[edit]
Roman Senate
It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being founded in the first days of the city (traditionally founded in 753 BC). It survived the overthrow of the kings in 509 BC, the fall of the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC, the split of the Roman Empire in 395 AD, the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, and barbarian rule of Rome in the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries. The Senate of the West Roman Empire continued to function until 603 AD. During the days of the kingdom, it was little more than an advisory council to the king.[1] The last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, was overthrown following a coup d'état led by Lucius Junius Brutus. During the early Republic, the Senate was politically weak, while the executive magistrates were quite powerful. After the transition of the Republic into the Principate, the Senate lost much of its political power as well as its prestige. Senate of the Roman Kingdom[edit] Senate of the Roman Republic[edit]
Ancient Rome
Ancient Roman homes, houses and villas As with other aspects of ancient Roman life and Roman architecture, Roman homes, houses and Roman villas underwent a degree of evolution, particularly as the fortunes of Rome impacted wealth, society, roman technology and standards of living. A further factor to be taken into account is the vast period of time being considered when we speak of “Roman” homes and housing. Ancient Rome had a history which lasted over a thousand years and as such it is hardly surprising that the customs, needs and dwellings of the citizens should change. In the centre of town the most over-populated areas where the plebeians dwelt tended to be the lowest and generally least salubrious, probably as they used to be marshes before being drained. As we look at ancient Roman houses and villas we will notice that their development was influenced by very real aspects such as: Early Roman Homes These early huts were generally rectangular or lozenge shaped. Rome Apartments
Ancient Roman Homes - Domus, Insulae, Villa
Ancient Roman Homes Domus In ancient Rome, the domus was the type of house occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. The word dom in modern Slavic languages means "home" and is a cognate of the Latin word, going back to Proto-Indo-European. The elite classes of Roman society constructed their residences with elaborate marble decorations, inlaid marble paneling, door jambs and columns as well as expensive paintings and frescoes. The homes of the early Etruscans, predecessors of the Romans, were simple, even for the wealthy or ruling classes. Interior Atrium The domus included multiple rooms, indoor courtyards, gardens and beautifully painted walls that were elaborately laid out. In cities throughout the Roman Empire, wealthy homeowners lived in buildings with few exterior windows. To protect the family from intruders, it would not face the streets, only its entrance providing more room for living spaces and gardens behind. Exterior Insula
