Before the Republic, Rome was ruled by absolute monarchs with unchecked power

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before the rise of the Roman Republic, the city was governed by a line of legendary kings. These rulers held absolute authority, commanding armies and issuing laws by decree, possessing a level of supreme power that no later magistrate could ever legally match.

The Roman Kingdom, a legendary period beginning in 753 BC, functioned as an elective monarchy rather than a hereditary dynasty. While the first king, Romulus, founded the city on the Palatine Hill, the principle of hereditary rule did not appear in records until after the fifth king, Tarquinius Priscus. This transition from an elective system to an attempt at a permanent dynasty is often cited as the catalyst for the formation of the Roman Republic in 509 BC, following the overthrow of the final king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.

The authority of the king, or rex, was centered on the concept of imperium. This granted him supreme military, executive, and judicial power for life, protecting him from legal trial. As the sole holder of imperium, the king acted as commander-in-chief and chief justice, capable of issuing decrees with the force of law. While the Senate existed, it functioned as a weak oligarchy; its primary role was to administer the king's wishes and advise him during trials, though it could not control his decisions.

The process of succession was highly structured. Upon a king's death, an interregnum began, during which the Senate appointed an interrex to serve five-day terms to nominate a successor. Once a candidate was proposed, the Curiate Assembly voted on the nomination. However, election was only the first step. The king-elect had to undergo the auspices to confirm divine approval and then secure a specific law from the Assembly to formally grant him imperium. This complex ritual ensured that even an absolute ruler remained tethered to religious and civic legitimacy.

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