imperator

impĕrātor ( inp- ), ōris (archaic form induperator, Enn. Ann. v. 86; 332; 350; 552 Vahl.; Lucr. 4, 967; 5, 1227; cf. 1. init.; but in Enn. also imperator, Trag. v. 34 Vahl.), m. [id.].

I.

Orig., milit. t. t., a commander-in-chief, general, = stratêgos (cf.: dux, ductor).

A.

In gen.: si forte quaereretur, quae esset ars imperatoris, constituendum putarem principio, quis esset imperator: qui cum esset constitutus administrator quidam belli gerendi, tum adjungeremus de exercitu, de castris, etc.... de reliquis rebus, quae essent propriae belli administrandi: quarum qui essent animo et scientia compotes, eos esse imperatores dicerem, utererque exemplis Africanorum et Maximorum;

Epaminondam atque Hannibalem atque ejus generis homines nominarem,

Cic. de Or. 1, 48, 210:

aliae sunt legati partes, aliae imperatoris: alter omnia agere ad praescriptum, alter libere ad summam rerum consulere debet,

Caes. B. C. 3, 51, 4:

sapiens et callidus imperator,

Cic. Inv. 1, 34, 58:

bonus ac fortis,

id. de Or. 2, 44, 187; cf.:

egregie fortis et bonus,

id. ib. 2, 66, 268:

eosdem labores non aeque esse graves imperatori et militi,

id. Tusc. 2, 26, 62:

ego sic existimo in summo imperatore quatuor has res inesse oportere, scientiam rei militaris, virtutem, auctoritatem, felicitatem, etc.,

id. de Imp. Pomp. 10, 28:

unum ad id bellum imperatorem deposci,

id. ib. 2, 5:

nomen invicti imperatoris,

id. Verr. 2, 4, 38, § 82:

Themistocles... imperator bello Persico,

id. Lael. 12, 42:

cum pro se quisque in conspectu imperatoris... operam navare cuperet,

Caes. B. G. 2, 25 fin.: insece, Musa, manu Romanorum induperator Quod quisque in bello gessit cum rege Philippo, Enn. ap. Gell. 18, 9, 3 (Ann. v. 332 Vahl.):

induperatores pugnare ac proelia obire,

Lucr. 4, 967.—As a title, placed after the name:

M. Cicero S. D. C. Antonio M. F. Imp.,

Cic. Fam. 5, 5 inscr.:

Cn. Pompeio Cn. F. Magno Imperatori,

id. ib. 5, 7 inscr.:

Vatinio Imp. S.,

id. ib. 5, 11 et saep. —

B.

In partic., pregn., in the times of the republic, a title of honor conferred on a general after any important victory:

his rebus gestis Curio se in castra ad Bagradam recepit, atque universi exercitus conclamatione Imperator appellatur,

Caes. B. C. 2, 26, 1; cf.:

Pompeius eo proelio Imperator est appellatus,

id. ib. 3, 71, 3; Cic. Phil. 14, 4, 11; 14, 5, 12; Caes. B. C. 3, 31, 1; Liv. 27, 19, 4; Inscr. Orell. 542; 3417 sq. (cf. also Plin. Pan. 12, 1).—

II.

Transf. beyond the milit. sphere.

A.

In gen., a commander, leader, chief, director, ruler, master:

(Romani) immutato more annua imperia, binos imperatores sibi fecere,

i. e. consuls, Sall. C. 6, 7:

(vis venti) Induperatorem classis super aequora verrit,

admiral, Lucr. 5, 1227:

imperator histricus,

director, manager, Plaut. Poen. prol. 4:

di te servassint semper... salus interioris hominis amorisque inperator,

id. As. 3, 3, 66:

familiae,

id. Capt. 2, 2, 57: nolo eundem populum imperatorem et portitorem esse terrarum, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 24, 22 (Rep. 4, 7 Mos.):

dux et imperator vitae mortalium animus est,

Sall. J. 1, 3:

vitae nostrae necisque,

Plin. 29, 1, 5, § 11.—

B.

In partic.

1.

An epithet of Jupiter, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 58, § 129:

signum Jovis Imperatoris,

Liv. 6, 29, 8.—

2.

The conqueror at a game of chess, Vop. Proc. 13, 2.—

3.

The title of the Roman emperors, placed either before or after the name (cf. I.);

before it,

Suet. Caes. 76; Claud. 12; 26:

IMP. CAESARI DIVI IVLI F.,

Inscr. Orell. 596; so ib. 597; 600; 602; 604 sq.;

after it,

Suet. Oth. 2; Plin. 5, 2, 1, § 20; Plin. Ep. 3, 5, 9; 4, 17, 8; 4, 22, 4.—Hence afterwards absol.:

Imperator,

a Roman emperor, Tac. A. 3, 74:

velut praesagium insequentis casus, quo medius inter utriusque filios exstitit Imperator,

Suet. Galb. 6; id. Claud. 13; 29; id. Galb. 3, 6, 20; id. Vit. 3 et saep.