The Rex Sacrorum (Latin: "king of sacred things") was a religious office under the
Roman Republic. It is analogous to the office of sacred
king in other cultures.
Establishment
When the Roman people overthrew the last Roman
king in 510 BC, the notion persisted that a person had to perform the rituals that the king of Rome traditionally presided over. The Romans therefore appointed a Rex Sacrorum, literally king of the sacred rites, who discharged the religious duties of the deposed
king. The Rex Sacrorum was a patrician, appointed to the priesthood for life by the
Pontifex Maximus. In theory and in social precedence, the Rex Sacrorum was the highest ranking priest in the Roman religion, in practice
his influence was far less than that of the Pontifex Maximus. He was exempt from all
civilian or military duties. Unlike the Pontifex Maximus or the Augurs he was forbidden to hold any other office, thus he wielded
no civil or military influence. Because of these restrictions, the office was never coveted by the plebeians, and remained a patrician monopoly until it was abolished during the reign of Theodosius I in 390 AD. The Rex Sacrorum's wife was also a priest,
called the Regina Sacrorum, "queen of the sacred rites."
Duties
The Rex Sacrorum and Regina Sacrorum presided over a sacrifice that was
offered several times a month, on the Ides, Nones, and Kalends of the Roman calendar; he
to Jupiter, she to Juno. He also played an
important role in the yearly religious ritual of the Regifugium, which commemorated
the expulsion of the last king from Rome. The Rex Sacrorum was also charged with the duty of placating the gods on behalf
of the Roman state when evil omens were discerned.
Another Roman priest given the title of "king" was the rex
Nemorensis.
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