Yup. At first it was the principate, where the senate still had some power and influence. It was the republic but with the princeps at the helm with a hell of a lot of power. It was a very much a benevolent dictatorship.
Then Diocletian turned it into a true military autocracy in the form of the dominate. Although I wouldn’t argue that it was Constantine that made it hereditary, dynasties had been a thing since the beginning.
I would say the Principate were a “Republic in name Only” but they were de facto dictators. The most use the senate had during the principate was providing legitimacy to the Imperator.
It was Diocletian that created the “Dominate” in which he was the divinely ordained absolute ruler of Rome. He created what we would call today an absolute monarchy, but it was one in which succession was determined by appointment not by blood.
This changed with Constantine who took the principle of the dominate and made succession de facto hereditary rather than by appointment.
Constantine’s dynasty was, after all, the first imperial dynasty of the Dominate.
I’m aware that the principate was a republic in name only, but the senate did have some power and decision making abilities. They conspired against Domitian and did pick some emperors.
Diocletians tetrarchy was...interesting to say the least.
Sadly even though he made it a de facto hereditary succession it still didn’t fix the issue of succession. Maybe if Crispus had succeeded him he could’ve fixed it but sadly we’ll never know.
Yup. At first it was the principate, where the senate still had some power and influence. It was the republic but with the princeps at the helm with a hell of a lot of power. It was a very much a benevolent dictatorship.
How so? Octavian wasn't challenged on anything, and made Caesar a god (and therefore, he was the (adopted) son of one).
They didn’t challenge them but they still functioned and kept doing what they always did. They did get into scuffles with Caligula, Nero, and Domitian. And picked nerva as emperor from among their ranks.
Yup. At first it was the principate, where the senate still had some power and influence. It was the republic but with the princeps at the helm with a hell of a lot of power. It was a very much a benevolent dictatorship.
Then Diocletian turned it into a true military autocracy in the form of the dominate. Although I wouldn’t argue that it was Constantine that made it hereditary, dynasties had been a thing since the beginning.
I would say the Principate were a “Republic in name Only” but they were de facto dictators. The most use the senate had during the principate was providing legitimacy to the Imperator.
It was Diocletian that created the “Dominate” in which he was the divinely ordained absolute ruler of Rome. He created what we would call today an absolute monarchy, but it was one in which succession was determined by appointment not by blood.
This changed with Constantine who took the principle of the dominate and made succession de facto hereditary rather than by appointment.
Constantine’s dynasty was, after all, the first imperial dynasty of the Dominate.
I’m aware that the principate was a republic in name only, but the senate did have some power and decision making abilities. They conspired against Domitian and did pick some emperors.
Diocletians tetrarchy was...interesting to say the least.
Sadly even though he made it a de facto hereditary succession it still didn’t fix the issue of succession. Maybe if Crispus had succeeded him he could’ve fixed it but sadly we’ll never know.
How so? Octavian wasn't challenged on anything, and made Caesar a god (and therefore, he was the (adopted) son of one).
They didn’t challenge them but they still functioned and kept doing what they always did. They did get into scuffles with Caligula, Nero, and Domitian. And picked nerva as emperor from among their ranks.