• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    You’re both right. Caesar was emperor except in name. His title was Dictator. Octavian/Augustus was the first emperor.

    • Kichae@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Worth nothing that Augustus used the title “princeps”, which was also an existing title in the Republic. And his power came from holding existing offices. He was careful to make himself the ruler of Rome using the existing governing framework.

      He just negotiated that he would hold these positions for life.

      This is the same thing Julius Caesar did, except the existing title he held - dictator - carried too much political baggage.