What does SPQR stand for ?
The abbreviation SPQR adorns many public buildings and statues of Rome and, most famously, it was engraved on the battle standards of the Roman legion. It stood for ‘senatus populusque romanus’ and means ‘the senate and the people of Rome’. Why did Rome rise ? Rome’s most potent weapon appeared to be ‘enfranchisement’. They brought upon Italy in particular, but also their other, later territories the rights and privileges of Roman citizenship, or at least good government, security and a reasonable justice system. In short, Rome was a state, not a tyranny. In fact during most of its expansion, Rome was in fact a republic, not governed by an emperor, but by the Roman senate. People preferred to be ruled by Rome for the alternatives were either wild barbarians to the north or tyrannies to the east and south. Also some kings without heirs left their kingdoms to the Romans, seeing Rome as the best governor of their people after their own death. Kingdoms like Cyrene and Pergamum fell into th
