The Consulship In The Early Roman Republic

The consuls were the supreme civil and military magistrates in Roman Republic. Their functions were performed in the political, military and judicial fields with the invested imperium. To study the consulship in the early Roman Republic is essentially helpful to understand the characteristics of the Roman magistracy and the history of the early Republic.The foreign scholars have done a great deal discussions and comments on the topic. The questions on its origin, organization and power are heated disputed. The domestic ones have also completed some works on it recently. Based on these works, my thesis' aim is to investigate its historic role in the early Republic and its status in the Republican constitution.Firstly, I present an overview of the early Republic, the organization of the thesis and the sources available. In Chapter one I provide a historical background and define the terms of 'consul' and 'praetor' from etymology. Chapter two explores the creation and development of the consulship. Its creation is both the historic result and the projection of the concept of res publica and its development is also the result of the Struggle of the Orders and the wars against the neighbors. With the establishment of some new magistrates, it changed in some way: its functions shrank and the qualification to the office was extended to the plebeians. Chapter three is on its power and functions. Including imperium and auspicium, the power of the consulship entitled their civil and military functions. Their activities were mainly performed in the field. In Chapter four, I analyze the status of the consulship in the Roman constitution by the investigation of the relationship with other magistrates and with the Senate.My conclusion is that the creation and development of the consulship is a historic result. The consuls played an important role in the process of consolidation and expansion of Rome. Although they were the chief magistrates, they had to subject to the Senate, the permanent organ of Roman government.