ancient Roman religion Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the people of Rome as well as those who were brought under its rule. The Romans thought of themselves as highly religious, ...

and

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...

, the ''auspicia maxima'' (also ''maxima auspicia'') were the "greatest auspices," conferred on senior magistrates who held ''

imperium In ancient Rome, ''imperium'' was a form of authority held by a citizen to control a military or governmental entity. It is distinct from '' auctoritas'' and '' potestas'', different and generally inferior types of power in the Roman Republic ...

'': "''

auspicium Augury is the practice from ancient Roman religion of interpreting omens from the observed behavior of birds. When the individual, known as the augur, interpreted these signs, it is referred to as "taking the auspices". "Auspices" ( Latin ''aus ...

'' and ''imperium'' were the twin pillars of the magistrate's power" ''(

potestas ''Potestas'' is a Latin word meaning power or faculty. It is an important concept in Roman Law. Origin of the concept The idea of ''potestas'' originally referred to the power, through coercion, of a Roman magistrate to promulgate edicts, give ac ...

''). Only magistrates who had ''auspicia maxima'' were entitled to begin a war and, if victorious, to celebrate a

triumph The Roman triumph ( Latin triumphus) was a celebration for a victorious military commander in ancient Rome. For later imitations, in life or in art, see Trionfo. Numerous later uses of the term, up to the present, are derived directly or indirec ...

. The ''auspicia maxima'' were reserved primarily for

consuls A consul is an official representative of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, as well as to facilitate trade and friendship between the people ...

and

censors Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...

, but these were two different types of auspices. Consuls and censors were not

colleagues Collegiality is the relationship between colleagues. A colleague is a fellow member of the same profession. Colleagues are those explicitly united in a common purpose and respect each other's abilities to work toward that purpose. A colleague is ...

, and the censors lacked military auspices ''(auspicia militiae)''.

Praetor Praetor ( , ), also pretor, was the title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to a man acting in one of two official capacities: (i) the commander of an army, and (ii) as an elected ''magistratus'' (magistrate), assigned to discharge vario ...

s, however, held a form of ''auspicia maxima'' and could also lead an army, though their ''imperium'' was lesser than that of the consuls.

T. Corey Brennan Terry Corey Brennan (born November 24, 1959) is a Professor of Classics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick (USA). Under the stage name Corey "Loog" Brennan he was a guitarist and songwriter involved with several bands, including Boston-based ba ...

, ''The Praetorship 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 Kingd ...

'' (Oxford University Press, 2000), vol. 1, pp. 55–5
online.
/ref>

References

Roman law Ancient Roman religion {{AncientRome-law-stub