Template:Principas

The Principate of Rome was the Principas Civitas of many of the Caesars. 'Principate' is etymologically derived from the Latin word princeps, meaning chief or first, i.e. Ruler or leader. The emperors like to say they were "first among equals" they were rulers over the people. Jesus as the Christ of Judea was also a Principate of the Kingdom of God.

Caesar was the Principas Civitas because he was first of the Senate. The first presidents in America were the presidents of the continental congress of the States.

Under the Republic, the princeps senatus, traditionally the oldest or most honoured member of the Senate, had the right to be heard first on any debate.

Scipio Aemilianus believed that authority should be invested in the worthiest citizen (princeps), who would beneficently guide his compeers, as the Genius of their government, an ideal of the patriot statesman later taken up by Cicero.

This early, 'Principate' was Augustus Caesar who claimed the auctoritas for himself as princeps of the entire Empire. This continued at least to Diocletian which functioned as a monarchy or a Greek tyrannos.

While these rulers of men held this office and many others they needed the support or acceptance of the people which they often purchase with – panem et circenses, "bread and circuses". The principate was "the form of government of the early Roman Empire, under which some of the outward forms of the Republic were maintained." But underneath the masses degenerated as they became accustomed to living at the expense of their neighbor.

The Use of force by Emperors to maintain those Principalites they would bring the Roman government into conflict with the government of God appointed by Christ.