Consul of Latium
Spurius Julius
Valentia Verrucosa
The Consul is one of the most prestigious offices and honorifics in Latium, and was formerly the highest elected political office in ancient Latium. Despite lacking administrative duties or executive authority, the role of Consul remains of significant importance, as it is the only position that may be shared by the Emperor.
The role of the consul in government has frequently changed since its inception in the 6th century BCE. At its inception, the consuls served as the supreme civil and military authority of the state. However as the emperors supplanted the consuls as the supreme ruler of Latium, the consulship transitioned into a senior administrative role, and one that was frequently assumed by the emperor themselves. The emperor has been the sole appointer of the consulship since the 1st century CE, but until the 6th century CE was nominally elected.
Selection and duties
From the 6th century BCE origin of the consulship until the 6th or 7th century CE, the consuls were elected, even if only nominally, from among the Senate. From the 7th century onward, the consulship has been appointed by the emperor.
Two consuls are chosen every calendar year, with a term lasting from 1 January to 31 December. A consul appointed to start the year is the ordinary consul (consul ordinarius). Suffect consuls (consul suffectus) are appointed to serve the remainder of an ordinary consul's term if a consul resigns or is removed before their term is complete. Ordinary consuls chosen at the start of the year hold more prestige than a suffect consul.
The consul whose name is listed first is the consul prior. Most often, the consul prior is the emperor, a member of the Imperial Family, or other close relative of the emperor. The consul whose name is listed second is the consul posterior. Traditionally, the consul posterior is a prominent senator or other important figure at court or in government, or at times another member of the imperial family.
During a new emperor's first year on the throne, he serves as consul for the year without a colleague. When the role of junior emperor exists, the senior and junior emperor traditionally assume the role of consul for the first full year following the junior emperor's Acclamatio. Thereafter, the senior emperor and junior emperor each selected on consul for the year. When this arrangement exists, each also appoints a suffect consul for the final six months of the year. Following a senatorial election, the incoming Praeses Senatus is appointed consul posterior and serves as consul alongside the emperor for the first year of the new senate.
List of 21st century consuls
Key
- Terms
- Imperator, abbreviated as Imp., in reference to the emperor
- Caesar, abbreviated as Cae., in reference to the title Caesar
- Augustus, abbreviated as Aug., in reference to the title Augustus
- Princeps, abbreviated as Pr., in reference to a prince or princess
- Imperator Destinatus, abbreviated as Imp. Dest., in reference to the heir apparent or Prince of Youth
- Suffectus, abbreviated as Suff., in reference to a substitute or appointee in place of a consul who died, resigned, or was removed from office before the completion of term.
- Praenomen abbreviations
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- Colors
- Emperor serving as consul
- Member of the imperial family serving as consul
- Empress consort serving as consul
- Praeses Senatus serving as consul