Why would the Romans who had democratic government turn to a dictator?

Answer 1

The position of dictator was created so that in times of emergency when the consuls opposed each other, there would be a person who had more authority than the consuls who could sort out the problem.

Answer 2

First of all the Roman Republic was not a democracy. It was an oligarchy. Although the popular assemblies elected the officers of state and vote on bill, the most powerful political body was the senate The senators were not elected and came for the aristocracy.

During the republic Rome responded to emergencies by appointing a dictator who was an extraordinary officer of state who was not legally liable for his actions and had an absolute authority which went beyond that of the consuls (the heads of the Republic) who were ordinary officers of state and had legal liability for their actions. A dictator could overrule or depose and sentence to death other officers of state. He could rule by decree and change any law, but these lasted only for his term of office. He could also issue new laws without the assemblies' vote, but these were usually put through a vote. He could punish without trial and was exempt from appeal. He could act without consulting the senate, but he usually did. The word did not have the negative connotation it has now and did not imply despotism. His term was only six months as the office was only for dealing with emergencies. His mandate was established by senatorial decree issued prior to his appointment and was defined by and restricted to the cause of the appointment. It was rei gerundae causa (for the matter to be done). The most common cause was a military emergency. The dictator was given sole lead of the army. This was done to make military command more efficient or to appoint a man with better military leadership skills. Occasionally, a dictator was appointed seditionis sedandae - for putting down rebellion.

This practice was stopped (with the exception of two instances in the second Punic war) after the wars in Italy because it was feared that a man with such great power would be dangerous if he was far from Rome. It was replaced by the Senatus consultum ultimum, a senatorial emergency decree that allowed the consuls to act as they saw fit. Gaius Marius was elected consul six times, five of which were consecutive (107, 105-100 BC) despite a low that prohibited re-election for 10 years because Rome had to deal with barbarian invasions. Sulla was appointed dictator (legibus faciendis et reipublicae constituendae causa, (for the making of laws and the settling of the constitution) at the end of his war against Marius (82 BC). He had thousands of his political opponents executed. It was this that gave the Dictatorship a bad name. In 53 BC, the senate, mindful of Sulla' precedent, appointed Pompey sole consul instead of dictator, to deal with domestic unrest. This made him accountable for his actions at the end of his office. Julius Caesar was appointed dictator four times

Answer 3

when Julius Caesar was elected consul of the roman republic he declared himself dictator in 48 BC

Answer 4

the need one because didn't have someone to rule right.