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Privatus
(298 words)

[German version]

Generally speaking, in Roman constitutional law, a citizen not employed by the state, opposite of magistratus (e.g. Cic. Inv. 1,35; Isid. Orig. 9,4,30); in the narrower sense, someone who had not occupied a political office, either ever or in the recent past (Cic. Fam. 8,10,2).

Privati cum imperio - like promagistrates who, strictly speaking, were also privati (Liv. 38,42,10) - were in possession of official powers ( imperium ) granted by the Senate or the people. They were also called proconsul or propraetor [5]. In the 1st cent. BC, a lex populi transferred extraordina…

Cite this page
de Libero, Loretana (Hamburg), “Privatus”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1009050>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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