Who was the first Roman dictator appointed in 501 BC according to Livy?
Livy records two conflicting accounts for the first appointment. One version names Titus Larcius in 501 BC while the other suggests Manius Valerius Maximus.
Questions about Roman dictator
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Julius Caesar become dictator perpetuo before his assassination in 44 BC?
Julius Caesar appointed himself dictator perpetuo shortly before his assassination in 44 BC. This meant a dictatorship continuing each year without needing Senate approval or consular appointment.
How many lictors accompanied a Roman dictator compared to consuls?
A dictator walked surrounded by twenty-four lictors instead of the usual twelve carried by consuls. These attendants never removed the axes from their fasces even inside the city walls known as the pomerium.
Why did Augustus refuse the dictatorship offered in 22 BC?
Augustus refused the title knowing it would bring only hatred and that his own informal authority remained sufficient. The need for such an office had clearly vanished after decades of civil war.
What happened to anyone who became dictator after the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BC?
After Caesar's death, it became unlawful to propose, vote for, or accept any dictatorship. Any person who became dictator could be summarily executed.