Editing Principate (section)

== Etymology and anticipations==
'Principate' is etymologically derived from the [[Latin]] word ''[[princeps]]'', meaning ''chief'' or ''first'', and therefore represents the political regime dominated by such a political leader, whether or not he is formally [[head of state]] or [[head of government]]. This reflects the principate emperors' assertion that they were merely "[[primus inter pares|first among equals]]" among the citizens of Rome.

Under the Republic, the ''[[princeps senatus]]'', traditionally the oldest or most honored member of the [[Senate]], had the right to be heard first on any debate.<ref>O Seyffeert, ''A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities'' (London 1891) p. 516</ref> [[Scipio Aemilianus]] and [[Scipionic circle|his circle]] had fostered the (quasi-Platonic) idea that authority should be invested in the worthiest citizen (''princeps''), who would beneficently guide his peers, an ideal of the patriot statesman later taken up by [[Cicero]].<ref>H J Rose, ''A Handbook of Latin Literature'' (Methuen 1967) pp. 99, 235</ref>