Dictator (Roman) In Rome the original term for the office was probably magister populi (Master of the People [under Arms]) and it was essentially for a special purpose, varying from military command to presiding over elections and religious ceremonies, although the first was the commonest. The holder, unlike all other officials, had no colleague, only a lieutenant known as the ‘Master of the Horse’ (magister equitum), and until the 1st century bc was limited to a six-month term, during which his authority (imperium) was superior to that of all others. The first dictator was appointed around 500 bc (possibly 498 or 497) and down to 368 all had military duties. But after 202 no more dictators were elected until 82, when Sulla was appointed to ‘write laws and reconstitute the state’, holding the post until 78. In 49, the office was used by Julius Caesar to give him some sort of constitutional position in the fight against his enemies, and he was reappointed in 48 after Pharsalus and again in 46 after his African campaign, this time for ten years. About a month before his assassination he was appointed dictator for life, the last time the office was used. The term was subsequently used to describe an absolute ruler, with particular application to Hitler and Stalin.
— John Lazenby
