''Princeps'' (plural: ''principes'') is a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

word meaning "first in time or order; the first, foremost, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble; the first man, first person". As a title, ''princeps'' originated in the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...

wherein the leading member of the Senate was designated ''princeps senatus''. It is primarily associated with the Roman emperors as an unofficial title first adopted by

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

() in 23 BC. Its use in this context continued until the regime of Diocletian (r. 284 – 305 AD) at the end of the third century. He preferred the title of ''dominus'', meaning "lord" or "master". As a result, the Roman Empire from Augustus to Diocletian is termed the "

principate The Principate is the name sometimes given to the first period of the Roman Empire from the beginning of the reign of Augustus in 27 BC to the end of the Crisis of the Third Century in AD 284, after which it evolved into the so-called Dominate. ...

" (''principatus'') and from Diocletian onwards as the "

dominate The Dominate, also known as the late Roman Empire, is the name sometimes given to the " despotic" later phase of imperial government in the ancient Roman Empire. It followed the earlier period known as the "Principate". Until the empire was reuni ...

" (''dominatus''). Other historians define the reign of Augustus to

Severus Alexander Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander (1 October 208 – 21/22 March 235) was a Roman emperor, who reigned from 222 until 235. He was the last emperor from the Severan dynasty. He succeeded his slain cousin Elagabalus in 222. Alexander himself was ...

(r. 222 – 235) as the Principate, and the period afterwards as the "Autocracy". The

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

title "Prince" is a derivative of princeps.Encyclopædia Britannica – Princeps
/ref>

Roman military

* See

Principes ''Principes'' (Singular: ''princeps'') were spearmen, and later swordsmen, in the armies of the early Roman Republic. They were men in the prime of their lives who were fairly wealthy, and could afford decent equipment. They were the heavier in ...

(legionary heavy infantry soldier) * centurio(n) in command of a unit or administrative office. * ''Princeps ordinarius vexillationis'': centurion in command of a ''

vexillatio A ''vexillatio'' (plural ''vexillationes'') was a detachment of a Roman legion formed as a temporary task force created by the Roman army of the Principate. It was named from the standard carried by legionary detachments, the ''vexillum'' (plural ...

'' (detachment). * ''Princeps peregrinorum'' ("commander of the foreigners"): centurion in charge of troops in the ''castra peregrina'' (military base at Rome for personnel seconded from the provincial armies) * ''Princeps prior'': Centurion commanding a ''manipulus'' (unit of two centuries) of ''principes'' (legionary heavy infantry). * ''Princeps posterior'': deputy to the Princeps prior * ''Princeps praetorii'' : centurion attached to headquarters. ''Princeps'' was also used as the second part of various other military titles, such as ''

Decurio ''Decurio'' was an official title in Ancient Rome, used in various connections: * Decurion (administrative), a member of the senatorial order in the Italian towns under the administration of Rome, and later in provincial towns organized on the It ...

princeps'', Signifer princeps (among the standard-bearers). See also Principalis (as in '' Optio principalis''): NCO.

Roman administration

''Princeps'' is also the (official) short version of Princeps officii, the chief of an officium (the office staff of a Roman dignitary).

Roman Emperor

''Princeps civitatis'' ("First Citizen") was an official title of a Roman

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

, as the title determining the leader in

Ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...

at the beginning of the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post- Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediter ...

. It created the

Roman imperial system.Grant, p. 62 This usage of "''princeps''" derived from the position of '' Princeps senatus'', the "

first among equals ''Primus inter pares'' is a Latin phrase meaning first among equals. It is typically used as an honorary title for someone who is formally equal to other members of their group but is accorded unofficial respect, traditionally owing to their se ...

" of the Senate. The ''princeps senatus'' (plural ''principes senatus'') was the first member by precedence of the Roman Senate, and his opinion would usually be asked first in senatorial debates. It was first given as a special title to Caesar Augustus in 27 BC, who saw that use of the titles ''rex'' (king) or

dictator A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute power. A dictatorship is a state ruled by one dictator or by a small clique. The word originated as the title of a Roman dictator elected by the Roman Senate to rule the republic in tim ...

would create resentment amongst senators and other influential men, who had earlier demonstrated their disapproval by supporting the assassination of

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, ...

. While Augustus had political and military supremacy, he needed the assistance of his fellow Romans to manage the Empire. In his '' Res Gestae'', Augustus claims

auctoritas ''Auctoritas'' is a Latin word which is the origin of English "authority". While historically its use in English was restricted to discussions of the political history of Rome, the beginning of phenomenological philosophy in the 20th century e ...

for the princeps (himself). Various official titles were associated with the Roman Emperor. These titles included '' imperator'',

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, an ...

, and later

dominus Dominus or domini may refer to: * Dominus (title), a title of sovereignty, clergy and other uses Art, entertainment, and media * Dominus (band), a Danish death metal band * Dominus (DC Comics), an alien character in DC Comics * Dominus (Mar ...

(lord) and basileus (the Greek word for " sovereign"). The word

is derived from the Roman title "imperator", which was a very high, but not exclusive, military title until Augustus began to use it as his praenomen. The Emperor Diocletian (284–305), the father of the

Tetrarchy The Tetrarchy was the system instituted by Roman emperor Diocletian in 293 AD to govern the ancient Roman Empire by dividing it between two emperors, the ''augusti'', and their juniors colleagues and designated successors, the '' caesares'' ...

, was the first to stop referring to himself as "princeps" altogether, calling himself "dominus" (lord, master), thus dropping the pretense that emperor was not truly a monarchical office. The period when the emperors that called themselves princeps ruled—from Augustus to Diocletian—is called "the

Principate The Principate is the name sometimes given to the first period of the Roman Empire from the beginning of the reign of Augustus in 27 BC to the end of the Crisis of the Third Century in AD 284, after which it evolved into the so-called Dominate. ...

", Diocletian's rule began "the

Dominate The Dominate, also known as the late Roman Empire, is the name sometimes given to the " despotic" later phase of imperial government in the ancient Roman Empire. It followed the earlier period known as the "Principate". Until the empire was reuni ...

" period. Ancient Rome knew another kind of "princely" principes too, like "princeps iuventutis" ("the first amongst the young"), which in the early empire was frequently bestowed on eligible successors to the emperor, especially from his family. It was first given to Augustus' maternal grandsons

Gaius Gaius, sometimes spelled ''Gajus'', Kaius, Cajus, Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People * Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist *Gaius Acilius *Gaius Antonius *Gaius Antonius Hybrida *Gaius Asinius Gallus *Gaius Asinius P ...

and

Lucius Lucius ( el, Λούκιος ''Loukios''; ett, Luvcie) is a male given name derived from '' Lucius'' (abbreviated ''L.''), one of the small group of common Latin forenames ('' praenomina'') found in the culture of ancient Rome. Lucius derives from ...

.Suetonius

Nobiliary legacy

"''Princeps''" is the root and Latin rendering of modern words as the English title and generic term ''

prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...

'' (see that article, also for various equivalents in other languages), as the Byzantine version of Roman law was the basis for the legal terminology developed in feudal (and later absolutist) Europe.

Non-Roman meaning

Princeps has been used in various scientific names, including the following: * ''Princeps'', a former genus of swallowtail butterflies now treated as a subgenus of ''

Papilio ''Papilio'' is a genus in the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae, as well as the only representative of the tribe Papilionini. The word ''papilio'' is Latin for butterfly. It includes the common yellow swallowtail (''Papilio machaon''), ...

'' * '' Accipiter princeps'', the New Britain goshawk * '' Actenoides princeps'', the scaly-breasted kingfisher * ''Cattleya walkeriana'' var. ''princeps'', a synonym for ''Cattleya walkeriana'', an orchid species * '' Emberiza flaviventris princeps'', a subspecies of golden-breasted bunting found in Angola and Namibia * '' Grallaria guatimalensis princeps'', a subspecies of scaled antpitta found in Costa Rica and Panama * '' Heterohyrax brucei princeps'', a subspecies of yellow-spotted rock hyrax * '' Melionyx princeps'', the long-bearded melidectes * '' Morphnarchus princeps'', the barred hawk *'' Triplofusus princeps'', a tropical sea snail. * '' Passerculus sandwichensis princeps'', the Ipswich sparrow (a subspecies of Savannah sparrow) * '' Ploceus princeps'', the Príncipe weaver * '' Psittacus timneh princeps'', the Príncipe subspecies of Timneh parrot

Fiction

*The '' Star Trek'' episode "

Bread and Circuses "Bread and circuses" (or bread and games; from Latin: ''panem et circenses'') is a metonymic phrase referring to superficial appeasement. It is attributed to Juvenal, a Roman poet active in the late first and early second century CE, and is used ...

" takes place on Magna Roma, an alternate Earth where the Roman Empire never fell. In this episode, the leader of Magna Roman society (Merikus, played by

William Smithers William Smithers (born July 10, 1927) is an American actor, perhaps best known for his recurring role as Jeremy Wendell in the television series ''Dallas''. He appeared in the series in 1981 and from 1984 to 1989. Early life and career Smith ...

) is referred to as First Citizen of his empire. *In the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, First Citizen is the title taken by the Mule and his successors in their position as leader of the Union of Worlds. Asimov had previously used the title "First Citizen of the State" for Korell's authoritarian ruler Commdor in the original Foundation novel. *Princeps is the name of a dog that Brother Priad meets in the ''

Warhammer 40,000 ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...

'' book ''Brothers of the Snake''. *Princeps is the title for the captain of a Titan, a massive humanoid war machine in the tabletop wargame ''

''. *In the book series ''

Codex Alera Jim Butcher (born October 26, 1971) is an American author., He has written the contemporary fantasy ''The Dresden Files'', ''Codex Alera'', and '' Cinder Spires'' book series. Personal life Butcher was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1971. H ...

'' by

Jim Butcher Jim Butcher (born October 26, 1971) is an American author., He has written the contemporary fantasy ''The Dresden Files'', ''Codex Alera'', and '' Cinder Spires'' book series. Personal life Butcher was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1971. H ...

, Princeps is the title given to the crown prince of the empire of Alera. It is also used in the title of the fifth book in the series, Princeps' Fury. *In the '' Star Trek: Infinity's Prism'' book '' Seeds of Dissent'' by

James Swallow James Swallow is a British author. A BAFTA nominee and a ''New York Times'', ''Sunday Times'' and Amazon #1 best-seller, he is the author of several original books and tie-in novels, as well as short fiction, numerous audio dramas and video ga ...

, "Princeps" is the title for "Commander"

Julian Bashir Julian Subatoi Bashir, MD is a fictional character from the television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', portrayed by Alexander Siddig. Bashir is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS ''Defiant''. ...

of the warship ''Defiance'', which exists in an alternate universe from the more familiar 24th Century envisioned in the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. *In the book '' The Three-Body Problem'' by Cixin Liu, "Princeps" is the title of the leader of the Trisolaran civilization. *In the book ''

The Magic Mountain ''The Magic Mountain'' (german: Der Zauberberg, links=no, ) is a novel by Thomas Mann, first published in German in November 1924. It is widely considered to be one of the most influential works of twentieth-century German literature. Mann s ...

'' by Thomas Mann, "Princeps Scholasticorum" is the title Settembrini uses to introduce Naphta. *In the actual-play series '' Dimension 20: A Starstruck Oddysey'' by Dropout, Princeps Zortch is a non-binary member of Rubian V's royalty.

Roman military

Roman administration

Roman Emperor

Nobiliary legacy

Non-Roman meaning

Fiction

See also

References

Further reading