The emperor
With the transformation of the government into an absolute monarchy, all the sovereignty of the Roman people was held to be transferred to the emperor, whose right to rule was now based on the divine will revealed in his election by a human agency.[1095] The emperor was no longer the 'first' Roman citizen but a divine monarch (dominus et deus', 'lord and god') presiding over a highly centralised administration which effectively regulated the social and economic life of each subject.
He was the sole authority in all spheres of government, administrative, military, legislative, judicial. He appointed the members of the imperial civil service at his discretion, controlled the state's finances, imposed taxes and decided on matters of foreign policy. As the sole fount of laws, he was also their final interpreter. His person and everything in any way associated with him were attributed a sacred character - hence the terms sacra constitutio (imperial constitution), sacrum consistorium (imperial council), sacrum palatium (imperial palace), etc. Because his acts were regarded as divinely inspired, those who questioned or disobeyed his orders were guilty of sacrilege. In the rare cases in which he appeared in public an elaborate code of court ceremonial and etiquette was observed based on Hellenistic and Persian models.[1096] This court ceremonial was designed to emphasise the divine nature of imperial authority and was aimed at inducing people's loyalty by taking advantage of the attraction which mysticism and supernatural faith exercised on the masses.[1097] After Constantine's conversion to Christianity the imperial cult was adapted to the demands of a stringent monotheism. The emperor was now regarded as governing in the name of God {Deo auctore) and as being divinely inspired and protected.face="Times New Roman">[1098] [1099] [1100]
More on the topic The emperor:
- The emperor
- Court of the emperor
- Emperor Justinian
- The Emperor as a Law-Maker
- CHAPTER XI The Emperor and Constitutiones
- A. THE EMPEROR, HIS ADVISORS AND CHANCELLERY
- The major reform on intestacy of Emperor Justinian
- The most important legal undertaking of Antiquity was the compilation of what was later called Corpus luris Civilis promulgated by Emperor Justinian.
- Legal scholars use the term ‘civil law systems’ to describe the legal systems of all those nations predominantly within the historical tradition derived from Roman law as transmitted to Continental Europe through the Corpus Iuris Civilis of Emperor Justinian.[834]
- APPLIED CIVIL LAW: LEGISLATIVE POWER
- B. CONSTITUTIONES