Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/282

268 Lepidus, who was to be master of horse for 45. In March he gained the hard-fought but decisive victory at Munda. He was delayed, however, and did not return to Rome until the beginning of October.

Caesar's Title of Imperator. — New honors and powers were showered upon him before and after his arrival from Spain. He was called deliverer (liberator), and in his honor a temple was to be built to liberty. The senate conferred on him the title, or rather the name, of imperator, as a hereditary distinction. The people decreed that, in accordance with this title, no one was to be commander-in-chief except Caesar, that he alone should be authorized to have soldiers, and that he was to have sole control of the public moneys. This decree simply defined the powers he already had as extraordinary dictator.

He was empowered to appoint all magistrates, even those of the plebeians, but did not accept this sweeping concession. He established by a plebiscite the rule that the people should elect the consuls and one-half of the other magistrates; and he was to nominate the candidates for the remaining offices.

He was also offered the privilege of holding the consulship for ten years in succession, but he declined. Neither he nor the Roman emperors wished to base their authority on the consular office, which was perhaps too closely associated with the republican principles of collegiate and annual tenure.

Caesar Dictator for Life. — In 44 Caesar was made dictator for life (dictator perpetuus), but he was still to appoint a master of horse every year. He obtained the censorial powers for life. Thus he was permanently to have a free hand in dealing with senators, knights, and other citizens, and not be hampered by limited and collegiate tenure. He