The term Dictator did not the hold the same two bit Latin American sleaze ball connotation that we regard today. I think in examining our forbearers it is important to keep a sense of perspective of who these people were and how different they were from us.
Until Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, the term Dictator marked a man of reverence and respect. Think Father of Our Country style reverence. They believe this because the Romans invested absolute power in one man to solve one problem for sixth month at a time.
The Romans hated the idea of Kingship. They were jealous of their liberty. They held their liberty in reverence and awe. It marked his superiority against those people still subject to the whims of kings - read tyrant.
Athenian concepts of liberty and tyranny rested firmly in the breasts of the Romans. The man who wielded dictatorial power only did it for a number of months. From 509 to 83 BC, a period of 426 years, the Senate invoked the Roman office of dictator a mere 85 times and from the years 202 to 83 BC, the Senate had no need to convoke a dictator.
Famous men who held the office of dictator include men like Fabius Maximus, Lucius Papirius Cursor - twice consul during the Samnite Wars, Marcus Valerius Corvus, Marcus Furius Camillus five times Dictator and known as the Second Founder of Rome, but the most famous dictator of them all was Cincinnatus. Cincinnatus, who was living a type of political exile on his farm as his son had been convicted in absencia for political violence committed in defense of senatorial prerogative. Messengers found Cincinnatus at his plow when called to service. Cincinnatus mustered an Army and rescued the besieged Army personally by leading the infantry into battle and resigned from the office a mere 16 days in office.
By 202, the Senate replaced the office of Dictator with the Senatus consultum ultimum (the Final Act of the Senate) which empowered the Consuls with dictatorial power for a short window of time.
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