Δικτάτωρ

When Malius,¹ who was Latin in origin and had great influence among his compatriots, raised up the race of the Latins in full force and brought together a great mercenary unit in order to avenge his relatives who had been pushed aside dishonourably, he demanded the power; but the senate, afraid of the multitude of the cloud of the enemy,² devised a new form of authority, appointing then the first dictator; in the Greek language he might be called bringer-in of the advantages, being superior to the authority of the consuls and very similar to the kings. For he had the power over everything without being liable to give account and tyrant-like scope for the determined period. Therefore Gaius Caesar first³ and Augustus Octavius⁴ after him, and those following them, whom we shall mention at the appropriate times, decided to lay claim to the monarchy under that name.⁵