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The princeps senatus (plural principes senatus) was the leader of the Roman senate. Although officially out of the cursus honorum and owning no imperium, this office brought enormous prestige to the magistrate holding it.The princeps senatus was not, like most Roman offices, a lifetime job. He was chosen by every new pair of censors (that is, every five years). Censors could, however, confirm a princeps senatus for a period of another five years. He was selected from patrician senators with consular rank, usually former censors. The successful candidate had to be a patrician with an impeccable political record, respected by his fellow senators.
The office tasks include:
- Declaring opening and closure of the senate sessions
- Deciding the agenda
- Deciding where the session should take place
- Imposing order and other rules of the session
- Meeting, in the name of the senate, with embassies of foreign countries
- Writing, in the name of the senate, letters and dispatches
After the fall of the Roman Republic, the princeps senatus was the Emperor.
Incomplete list of principes senatus
- …
- 214 BC – Marcus Fabius Buteo
- 209 BC – Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus
- 199 BC – Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major
- 184 BC – Lucius Valerius Flaccus
- 179 BCCenturies: 3rd century BC 2nd century BC 1st century BC Decades: 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC Years: 184 BC 183 BC 182 BC 181 BC 180 BC 179 BC 178 BC 177 BC 176 BC 175 BC 174 BC Events Praetor Luc – Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus
- 147 BCCenturies: 3rd century BC 2nd century BC 1st century BC Decades: 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC Years: 152 BC 151 BC 150 BC 149 BC 148 BC 147 BC 146 BC 145 BC 144 BC 143 BC 142 BC Events Scipio Aemil – Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica
- 136 BCCenturies: 3rd century BC 2nd century BC 1st century BC Decades: 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC Years: 141 BC 140 BC 139 BC 138 BC 137 BC 136 BC 135 BC 134 BC 133 BC 132 BC 131 BC Births Deaths Events – Appius Claudius PulcherAppius Claudius Pulcher was the name of several members of the Claudii during the Roman Republic The first was active in the Second Punic War. He was governor of Sicily in 214 BC and co-commanded an expedition to the island in 213 with Marcus Claudius Mar
- 131 BCCenturies: 3rd century BC 2nd century BC 1st century BC Decades: 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC Years: 136 BC 135 BC 134 BC 133 BC 132 BC 131 BC 130 BC 129 BC 128 BC 127 BC 126 BC Events Aristonicus o – Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Lupus
- 125 BCCenturies: 3rd century BC 2nd century BC 1st century BC Decades: 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC Years: 130 BC 129 BC 128 BC 127 BC 126 BC 125 BC 124 BC 123 BC 122 BC 121 BC 120 BC Events Cleopatra Thea – Publius Cornelius Lentulus
- 115 BCCenturies: 3rd century BC 2nd century BC 1st century BC Decades: 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC Years: 120 BC 119 BC 118 BC 117 BC 116 BC 115 BC 114 BC 113 BC 112 BC 111 BC 110 BC Events Parthia makes a – Marcus Aemilius ScaurusMarcus Aemilius Scaurus (born circa 163 BC died 88 BC) was a Roman politician. During his time, he was considered one of the best. Scaurus was born in a patrician family, although impoverished. In order to maintain the family lifestyle, his father became
- 86 BC - Lucius Valerius Flaccus
- …
Ancient Roman titles
