[1587] ib. liii 32.
[1588] C.I.L. vi. n. 930. It describes itself as a law and is generally known as the lex de imperio Vespasiani. But its wording bears more analogy to that of a senatus consultum. See Mommsen Staatsrecht ii. p. 878.
[1589] Vitae Macrini 7; Alexandri 8; Probi 12; Maximi et Balbini 8.
[1590] “Dato imperio” (Vita Veri 4), “accepit imperium” (Vita Alexandri 1). It is possible, however, that these are references merely to the reception of the title imperator; cf. Vita Juliani 3 “imperator est appellatus”; Vita Probi 12 “nomen imperatorium.” For the view that there was always a lex de imperio see Karlowa Römische Rechtsgeschichte i. pp. 493 ff.
[1591] Gaius Inst. i. 5 (on the imperial constitutio) “nec unquam dubitatum est quin id legis vicem obtineat, cum ipse imperator per legem imperium accipiat”; Ulpian in Dig. 1, 4, 1 “Quod principi placuit, legis habet vigorem: utpote cum lege regia, quae de imperio ejus lata est, populus ei et in eum omne suum imperium et potestatem conferat.” The view that these passages are interpolations is possible but hazardous. A genuine expression of belief in the lex regia appears in Justinian (Cod. i. 17, l. 7).
[1592] For the monopoly of the sacramentum possessed by the Princeps compare the charge brought against Agrippina after her death (59 A.D.), “Adiciebat crimina ... quod consortium imperii juraturasque in feminae verba praetorias cohortes ... speravisset” (Tac. Ann. xiv. 11).
[1593] “Romae ruere in servitium consules, patres, eques” (Tac. Ann. i. 7).
[1594] Tac. Hist. i. 55 “Inferioris tamen Germaniae legiones sollemni Kalendarum Januariarum sacramento pro Galba adactae.” For the renewal of the oath on the anniversary of accession see Plin. ad Traj. 52.
[1595] Cf. Tac. Hist. iii. 58 (Vitellius) “vocari tribus jubet, dantes nomina sacramento adigit.”
[1596] Lex de imp. Vesp. 1 “foedusve cum quibus volet facere liceat.” These powers are summed up by Dio Cassius liii. 17 (as imperators the Emperors have the right) καταλόγους τε ποιεῖσθαι ... πολέμους τε ἀναιρεῖσθαι καὶ εἰρήνην σπένδεσθαι.