consulatus

Consulatus is a Latin noun meaning the office or dignity of a consul; the English translation is usually consulship or consulate. It denotes the office itself and, more often, the term during which a person held the office.

In the Roman Republic, the consulship was the highest elected office, held by two magistrates annually who shared imperium and commanded armies; the consuls presided over the Senate and assemblies and had significant influence on policy and governance. The office typically lasted one year; after a term, another pair of consuls began, though early practice varied.

Under the Roman Empire, the consulship continued as a prestigious, largely honorific title conferred by the emperor, with real executive power greatly reduced. The role served as a symbol of authority and ceremonial precedence, and holders often used the position to advance prestige, military commands, or administrative opportunities.

Form and usage: the word appears in Latin literature and inscriptions to denote the office and the year of office. In English-language scholarship it is usually rendered as consulship; “consulate” is also used but more commonly refers to the modern diplomatic post or the broader office of the consul in later periods of the empire.

See also: consul; consulate; suffectus.