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kesint t1_ixllduk wrote

Reply to comment by Regulai in Coins study suggests ‘fake emperor’ was real, say scientists by IslandChillin

Isn't it a bit wrong to say that Princeps are a majesty and kingly title? Augustus received the title Princeps civitatis which is first citizen, since Rex and Dictator would create resentment amongst the influential people.

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Regulai t1_ixlna24 wrote

That's just the pretense to justify being granted a special title to circumvent the disliked rex. In actual practice "princeps" basically was conceived to indicate rulership as an alternative to rex and is essentially equivalent to rex.

Until it was eliminated, even if other titles were typically favoured, Princeps was the title that legally most indicated "the ruler of the empire" (it essentially meant that it was "right" for you to be in charge).

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