The commander's consilium in Republican Rome

The consilium, or advisory council, played an important role in the everyday activities of the magistrate militiae. In this dissertation I examine the commander's consilium from its first depicted appearances in the accounts of the legendary period to 31 BC. The first chapter summarizes the dissertation research and examines the etymology and meaning of the Roman word "consilium." I also give a brief overview of three other types of consilia: that of the magistrate domi, the civil iudex, and the consilium used by private citizens. In the last section I discuss the Latin word "consiliarius" and how it differs from its apparent Greek synonym su&d12;mb oulov .;The second chapter is an in-depth look at the commander's consilium. Here I establish its basic terminology, format, and composition. The members of the commander's consilium are discussed. Next, I examine the entourages of four different generals. Finally, I examine the participation of Rome's allies in the commander's consilium.;The third chapter looks at the commander's consilium in action. I also examine the participation of the commander's consilium in two wartime activities: the dispensation of military justice and the reception of foreign legates. Finally, I discuss how the commander's consilium acted as a witness to the activities of the commander.;In the fourth chapter, I discuss criminal and civil proceedings and the collection of provincial revenues in which the consilium of the magistrate militiae plays an important role.;The decem legati form the focus of the fifth chapter. I illustrate how these Senate-appointed commissions acted as consilia to magistrates assigned to various tasks such as peace negotiations and the settlement of newly-acquired territories. I also discuss evidence for the changing role of the decem legati in the last days of the Republic.;In the concluding chapter, I consider briefly how the depiction of foreign consilia by Romans sources illuminates the way the Romans thought about their own consilia. Finally, I reflect on the idea of the commander's consilium as a pragmatic compromise between the Roman desire for competent leadership and the fear of tyranny.