Pater Patriae (plural Patres Patriae), also seen as Parens Patriae, is a Latin honorific meaning "Father of the Country."

Roman history

Like all official titles of the Roman Republic and Principate, the honor of being called pater patriae was conferred by the Roman Senate.

It was first awarded to the great orator and senatorial statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero for his part in the suppression of the Catilinarian conspiracy during his consulate in 63 BC.

It was next awarded to Julius Caesar, who as dictator for life became the de facto ruler of the Roman republic and its imperium.

The Senate voted the title to Caesar Augustus in 2 BC, but being neither important for the ruler's legitimacy nor for his legal powers, it did not become a regular part of the imperial honors, contrary to imperator, caesar, augustus, princeps senatus, pontifex maximus and tribunicia potestas. According to the historian Suetonius, Augustus' successor, Tiberius, was offered this title, but refused it.^[1]

The Senate eventually conferred the title on many Roman emperors, often only after many years of rule, or if the new emperor was particularly esteemed by the senators, as in the case of Nerva. As a result, many of the short-lived Emperors never received the title.

The honor was subject to the approval of the honoree, who could decline it. Suetonius notes in his work The Twelve Caesars that Nero did so when first offered the honor during the first year of his reign, on account of his youth. It was traditional for the honoree, in a proper sign of humility, to defer the honor for some time once conferred. Hadrian deferred for eleven years, for example.^[2]

Chronological list of Roman Patres Patriae

Note that with the exceptions of Cicero and Julius Caesar, the following are all considered Roman emperors.

• Cicero, 63 BC (due to his role in the suppression of the Catilinarian conspiracy)
• Julius Caesar, 45 BC (who restored the Pax Romana in the 40s BC after the civil wars)
• Augustus, February 5, 2 BC
• Caligula, 37
• Claudius, January, 42
• Nero, 55
• Vespasian, 70
• Titus, June, 79
• Domitianus, September 14, 81
• Nerva, September, 96
• Trajan, 98
• Hadrian, 128
• Antoninus Pius, 139
• Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, 166
• Commodus, 177
• Septimius Severus, 193
• Caracalla, 199
• Macrinus, June, 217
• Elagabalus, July, 218
• Gordian III, May, 238
• Probus, July, 276
• Diocletian, November 20284
• Maximian, April 1, 286
• Constantine I, 307

See also

• Founding Fathers
• Victory title
• Father of the Nation

References

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