consul

consul,
the title of the chief annual civil and military magistrates of Rome during the republic. Two consuls were elected annually for most, if not all, of the republic by the comitia centuriata (wealth-based citizen-assembly voting in centuries) at a meeting called for the purpose, normally by a consul, exceptionally by a dictator, interrex (a patrician senator chosen to supervise consular elections when both consuls died in office), or military tribune with consular power. Before 153 BC their year of office began on 15 March (possibly earlier in the years before c.220), thereafter on 1 January.

According to tradition the dual annual magistracy succeeded immediately to the kingship. Most of the powers of the king (including military command and the right to summon the senate and the people, but excluding certain religious functions, reserved for the pontifices (see [The entire page is 1122 words long]

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