Dictator

Dictator is a term used in politics for a person who possesses absolute political power within a country or territory. It also applies to a person who exercises absolute power over others. The modern meaning of the term is derived from an ancient Roman system. Dictator was originally a magistrate in ancient republican Rome who was invested with absolute authority in times of exigence and danger. The constitution obliged him to resign his authority at the end of six months, till which time he was free without challenge afterwards to do whatever the interest of the commonwealth seemed to him to require. The most famous dictators were Cincinnatus, Camillus, Sulla, and Cæsar, who was the last to be invested with this power. The office ceased with the fall of the republic, or rather, was merged in the perpetual dictatorship of the emperor.

Nearby pages
Dictator of Letters, Dictys Cretensis, Didayi, Dido, Didot, Didymus