Interrex
It has been suggested that Interrex (Poland) be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2023. |
The interrex (plural interreges) was an extraordinary magistrate during the Roman Kingdom and Republic. Initially, the interrex was appointed after the death of the king of Rome until the election of his successor, hence its name—a ruler "between kings" (Latin inter reges). The position was retained during the Republic when both consuls were unable to assume their duties, especially holding elections. Interreges ruled for only five days, which often led several of them to be appointed in succession, the record being 15 interreges in 326 BC. They were exclusively chosen from among patrician senators, and during the Conflict of the Orders, their appointment was sometimes designed to hinder plebeians from reaching power or passing laws.
As with the dictatorship, interreges are mostly found until the time of the Second Punic War. The position was only resurrected by Sulla in 82 BC so he could become dictator, and between 55 and 52 BC, when Pompey disturbed the constitution for his own benefit.
History
The office of interrex was supposedly created following the death of Rome's first king Romulus, and thus its origin is obscured by legend. The Senate of the Roman Kingdom was at first unable to choose a new king. For the purpose of continuing the government of the city, the Senate, which then consisted of one hundred members, was divided into ten decuriae (groups of ten); and from each of these decuriae one senator was nominated as decurio. Each of the ten decuriones in succession held the regal power and its badges for five days as interrex; and if no king had been appointed at the expiration of fifty days, the rotation began anew. The period during which they exercised their power was called an interregnum, and on that occasion lasted for one year. Thereafter Numa Pompilius was elected as the new king.[1]
After the death of each subsequent king, an interrex was appointed by the Senate. His function was to call a meeting of the
Under the
Interreges continued to be appointed occasionally until the time of the
List of Roman interreges (509 - 52 BC)
Unless otherwise indicated, the names and dates of the interreges are taken from Thomas Broughton's The Magistrates of the Roman Republic.[10]
Year | Interrex | note |
---|---|---|
509 | Sp. Lucretius Tricipitinus | |
482 | A. Sempronius Atratinus, 1st
Sp. Lartius Flavus, 2nd |
|
462 | P. Valerius Poplicola | |
444 | T. Quinctius Capitolinus Barbatus | |
420 | L. Papirius Mugillanus | |
413 | Q. Fabius Vibulanus | |
396 | L. Valerius Potitus
|
|
391 | M. Furius Camillus II
L. Valerius Potitus II
|
|
389 | P. Cornelius Scipio II | |
387 | M. Manlius Capitolinus
L. Valerius Potitus III
|
|
355 | Q. Servilius Ahala I & II
M. Fabius Ambustus I & II
|
Servilius & M. Fabius appointed twice |
352 | 11 unknown interreges | Cornelius as the twelfth of a series of interreges |
351 | C. Sulpicius Peticus II
M. Fabius Ambustus III
|
|
340 | M. Valerius Corvus
M. Fabius Ambustus IV?
or M. Fabius Dursuo
|
|
332 | 4 unknown interreges | Valerius as the fifth and last of a series of interreges |
326 | 13 unknown interreges | Aemilius as the fourteenth of a series of interreges |
320 | Q. Fabius Maximus Rullianus | |
298 | Ap. Claudius Caecus | |
291 | L. Postumius Megellus | |
222 | Q. Fabius Maximus Verrucosus? | Fabius was twice Interrex, both at unknown dates.
This is one possible date as suggested by Broughton. |
216 | C. Claudius Centho | Scipio held the comitia that elected the consul Varro |
208? | Q. Fabius Maximus Verrucosus II? | Mommsen and Broughton suggests this as a possible
date for Fabius as interrex. Livy instead attributes the elections to the Dictator, T. Manlius Torquatus |
82 | L. Valerius Flaccus
|
|
55 | Marcus Valerius Messalla Niger | |
53 | numerous unknown interreges | |
52 | Marcus Valerius Messalla Niger
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir)
|
References
- Ab urbe condita, 1:17
- ^ see e.g. Livy, Ab urbe condita, 1:32
- ^ Cambridge, The Five Days Interregnum in the Roman Republic, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/classical-quarterly/article/abs/fiveday-interregnum-in-the-roman-republic/0EBEC44DCC8C90C719A8FBE08E7F4189
- ^ Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities 4.76.1; 4.84.5. Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 1.59.2; 1.60.4.
- ^ Acta Triumphalia (CIL I.p.45), Livy (4–41.10; 8.23.12), and Suetonius (Jul. 51.4)
- OCLC 959667246.
- ^ Koptev, Aleksandr (2016). The Five-Day Interregnum in the Roman Republic. Cambridge University.
- ISBN 9783406304859.
- ^ Koptev, Aleksandr (2016). The Five-Day Interregnum in the Roman Republic. Cambridge University.
- OCLC 1120836609.
Sources
Drummond, Andrew (2015). "Interrex". Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford Research Encyclopedias.