Lesson plan
Imperator
The title of imperator ( ) was originally the rough equivalent of commander under the Roman Republic. Later, it became a part of the titulature of the Roman emperors as their praenomen. The Roman emperors generally based their authority on multiple titles and positions, rather than preferring any single title. Nevertheless, imperator was used relatively consistently as an element of a Roman ruler's title throughout the Principate and the later Roman Empire. It was abbreviated to "IMP" in inscriptions. The word is an agentive form of the verb , meaning "to order, to command". The English word emperor derives from imperator via French. , showing him in a pose of imperator (1st century AD) of Emperor Titus with the inscription T CAESAR VESPASIAN (Titus Caesar Vespasianus) IMP IIII (Imperator Quartum) PON (Pontifex) TR POT II (Tribunicia Potestate Secundum) COS II (Consul Secundum). IMP IIII indicates four great victories by Titus and the associated fourth acclamation as emperor. with the inscription "ROMANORU[M] IMPERATOR AUG[USTUS]" (Emperor of the Romans, Augustus) on the right side of the arch in Vienna of "FRANCISCUS. I. IMPERATOR. AUSTRIAE. MDCCCXXIV." (Francis I, Emperor of Austria, 1824), who ruled as Francis II, last Holy Roman Emperor until 1806
Article summary
The title of imperator ( ) was originally the rough equivalent of commander under the Roman Republic. Later, it became a part of the titulature of the Roman emperors as their praenomen. The Roman emperors generally based their authority on multiple titles and positions, rather than preferring any single title. Nevertheless, imperator was used relatively consistently as an element of a Roman ruler's title throughout the Principate and the later Roman Empire. It was abbreviated to "IMP" in inscriptions. The word is an agentive form of the verb , meaning "to order, to command". The English word emperor derives from imperator via French. , showing him in a pose of imperator (1st century AD) of Emperor Titus with the inscription T CAESAR VESPASIAN (Titus Caesar Vespasianus) IMP IIII (Imperator Quartum) PON (Pontifex) TR POT II (Tribunicia Potestate Secundum) COS II (Consul Secundum). IMP IIII indicates four great victories by Titus and the associated fourth acclamation as emperor. with the inscription "ROMANORU[M] IMPERATOR AUG[USTUS]" (Emperor of the Romans, Augustus) on the right side of the arch in Vienna of "FRANCISCUS. I. IMPERATOR. AUSTRIAE. MDCCCXXIV." (Francis I, Emperor of Austria, 1824), who ruled as Francis II, last Holy Roman Emperor until 1806
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.