Historiae Romanorum

Consul

At the establishment of the Republic in 509 BC, two consuls were elected annually from the body of the Senate to serve the executive role once performed by a king.  As the Republic evolved, the consuls lost much of their authority to other newly-created magistracies and the Senate itself.

The consul's main function was to preside over the Senate, and to enforce the legislation passed by it.  It was the highest office on the cursus honorum.  The most important duty of the consuls, however, was their imperium, their ability to command armies of the Republic.  Later, as the Republic conquered new territories, the consuls would then serve as pronconsuls for one year, by which they would extend their possession of the imperium.

Source(s):

1. Livy.  Ab Urbe Condita.

2. Oxford Concise Companion to Classical Literature.  ed.  Howatson and Chilvers.  Oxford.  New York, 1993.

This page was last updated on July 21, 2004.