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SPQR

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This article is about the Latin initialism. For other uses, seeSPQR (disambiguation).

Politics of ancient Rome
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Titles and honours

SPQRorS.P.Q.R.,aninitialismforSenatus Populusque Romanus(Classical Latin:[s̠ɛˈnäːt̪ʊs̠pɔpʊˈɫ̪ʊs̠kʷɛroːˈmäːnʊs̠];transl.  "The Senate and People of Rome"), is an emblematic phrase referring to the government of theRoman Republic.It appears on documents made public by an inscription in stone or metal, in dedications of monuments and public works, and on someRoman currency.

The full phrase appears in Roman political, legal, and historical literature, such as the speeches ofCiceroandAb Urbe Condita Libri(Books from the Founding of the City) ofLivy.

Translation

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InLatin,Senātusis anominativesingular noun meaning "Senate".Populusqueis compounded from the nominative nounPopulus,"the People", and-que,anenclitic particlemeaning "and" whichconnectsthe two nominative nouns. The last word,Rōmānus( "Roman"), is anadjectivemodifying the whole ofSenātus Populusque:the "Roman Senate and People", taken as a whole. Thus, the phrase is translatedliterallyas "The Roman Senate and People", or more freely as "The Senate and People of Rome".

Historical context

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A modern recreation of aRoman standard

The title's date of establishment is unknown, but it first appears in inscriptions of theLate Republic,from around 80 BC onwards. Previously, the official name of the Roman state, as evidenced on coins, was simplyROMA.The abbreviation last appears on coins ofConstantine the Great(ruled 312–337 AD), the first Roman emperor to supportChristianity.[citation needed]

This signature continued in use under theRoman Empire.The emperors were considered thede jurerepresentatives of the people even though thesenātūs consulta,or decrees of the Senate, were made at thede factopleasure of the emperor.[citation needed]

Populus Rōmānusin Roman literature is a phrase meaning the government of the People. When the Romans named governments of foreign states, they usedpopulusin the singular or plural, such aspopulī Prīscōrum Latīnōrum,"the governments of the Old Latins".Rōmānusis the established adjective used to distinguish the Romans, as incīvis Rōmānus,"Roman citizen".[citation needed]

The Roman people appear very often in law and history in such phrases asdignitās,maiestās,auctoritās,lībertās populī Rōmānī,the "dignity, majesty, authority, freedom of the Roman people". They were apopulus līber,"a free people". There was anexercitus, imperium, iudicia, honorēs, consulēs, voluntāsof this samepopulus:"the army, rule, judgments, offices, consuls and will of the Roman people". They appear in early Latin asPopolusandPoplus,so the habit of thinking of themselves as free and sovereign was quite ingrained.[citation needed]

The Romans believed that all authority came from the people. It could be said that similar language seen in more modern political and social revolutions directly comes from this usage. People in this sense meant the whole government. The latter, however, was essentially divided into the aristocratic Senate, whose will was executed by theconsulsandpraetors,and thecomitia centuriāta,"committee of the centuries", whose will came to be safeguarded by theTribunes.[citation needed]

One of the ways the emperorCommodus(180–192) paid for his donatives and mass entertainments was to tax the senatorial order, and on many inscriptions, the traditional order is provocatively reversed (Populus Senatusque...).[citation needed]

Medieval use

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Beginning in 1184, theCommune of Romestruck coins in the name of the SENATVS P Q R. From 1414 until 1517, the Roman Senate struck coins with a shield inscribed SPQR.

Modern use

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Duringthe regimeofBenito Mussolini,SPQR was emblazoned on a number of public buildings andmanhole coversin an attempt to promote hisdictatorshipas a "New Roman Empire".[citation needed]

Modern coat of arms of Rome municipality

Even in contemporary usage, SPQR is still used in the municipal coat of arms of Rome and as abbreviation for thecomuneof Rome in official documents.[1][2]The Italians have long used a different and humorous expansion of this abbreviation, "Sono Pazzi Questi Romani"(literally:" They're crazy, these Romans ").[3]SPQR is also part of the coat of arms of the Capital Military Command of the Italian army (Italian:Comando Militare Capitale).

In business, in English-speaking countries, SPQR is sometimes (humorously) used to mean "Small Profits, Quick Returns", often by people who have studied Latin at school.[4]

Civic references

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"SPQH" in theHamburg Rathaus,Germany
"Senatus Populusque Cracoviensis"over the Waza Gate inWawel Castle,Kraków, Poland
"SPQN" on the Charles Bridge,Nuremberg,Germany

SPQxis sometimes used as an assertion of municipal pride and civic rights. The Italian town ofReggio Emilia,for instance, has SPQR in its coat of arms, standing forSenatus Populusque Regiensis.There have been confirmed usages and reports of the deployment of the "SPQx"template in:

City Country SPQx Latin Where has it been used
Alkmaar Netherlands SPQA On the façade of theWaagbuilding.
Amsterdam Netherlands SPQA Senatus Populusque Amstelodamensis[5] At theStadsschouwburgtheater onLeidseplein[6]and some of thebridges.[5]
Antwerp Belgium SPQA Senatus Populusque Antverpensis OnAntwerp City Halland other public buildings and schools.[7]
Ascoli Piceno Italy SPQA Senatus Populusque Asculum On the wall above the south loggia of thePiazza del Popolo, Ascoli Piceno.
Basel Switzerland SPQB Senatus Populusque Basilea On the Webern-Brunnen in Steinenvorstadt.[8]
Benevento Italy SPQB[9] Senatus Populusque Beneventanus[9] On manhole covers.[9]
Bologna Italy SPQB Senatus Populusque Bonononiensis On theFountain of Neptune, Bologna.
Bremen Germany SPQB In theBremen City Hall.[10]
Bruges Belgium SPQB On its coat of arms.[11]
Brussels Belgium SPQB Senatus Populusque Bruxellensis(of the city) orSenatus Populusque Belgicus(of the country) Found repeatedly on thePalais de Justice,[12]over the main stage ofLa Monnaie,[citation needed]and on the ceiling of thehemicycle of the Belgian Senatein thePalais de la Nation.
Capua Italy SPQC
Catania Italy SPQC Can be found on manhole covers.
Chicago United States SPQC Senatus PopulusqueChicago Can be found on theGeorge N. LeightonCook County Criminal Courthouse.[13]
Dublin Ireland SPQH Senatus PopulusqueHibernicus On theCity Hall,built in 1769.
Florianópolis Brazil SPQF[9] Senatus Populusque Florianopolitanus[9]
Franeker Netherlands SPQF At the a gate on the Westerbolwerk and Academiestraat 16.[14]
Freising Germany SPQF Above the door of the town hall.
Ghent Belgium SPQG Senatus Populusque Gandavensis On the Opera, Theater and some other major buildings. Inscribed on a shield on coins struck in Ghent in 1583, during theDutch Revolt.[15]
Groningen Netherlands SPQG Above the entrance of theDer Aa-kerk.
The Hague Netherlands SPQH Above the stage inKoninklijke Schouwburg.
Hamburg Germany SPQH On a door in theHamburg Rathaus.[16]
Hanover Germany
Haarlem Netherlands SPQH On the face of the town hall at the "Grote Markt".
Hasselt Belgium SPQH
Kortrijk Belgium SPQC Senatus Populusque Cortoriacum City hall.
Kraków Poland SPQC Senatus Populusque Cracoviensis Over the Waza Gate inWawel Castle.
La Plata Argentina SPQR On a monument outside of the city's "casco urbano".
Leeuwarden Netherlands SPQL Senatus Populusque Leovardia On the mayor's chain of office.[17]
Leuven Belgium SPQL Senatus Populusque Leuvensis Over the painting of Jesus in the back reception room insideLeuven Town Hall.
Liverpool United Kingdom SPQL Senatus Populusque Liverpudliensis On various gold doors inSt George's Hall.[18]
City of London United Kingdom SPQL Senatus Populusque Londiniensis On historic variants of theCity's coat of arms[19][20]
Lübeck Germany SPQL Senatus Populusque Lubecensis On theHolstentor.[21]
Lucerne Switzerland
Madrid Spain SPQM Senatus Populusque Matritensis On theFuente de Apolo[es],built in 1780.
Milan Italy SPQM TheHoly Roman Emperor Charles Vstruck coins at Milan with the inscriptionS P Q Mediol Optimo Principi.[22]
Modica Italy SPQM On the coat of arms.[23]
Molfetta Italy SPQM On the coat of arms.[24]
Naples Italy SPQN Senatus Populusque Neāpolis Inscribed on a shield on coins struck duringMasaniello's 1647 revolt.[25]
Noto Italy SPQN Senatus Populusque Netum On the coat of arms.[26]and the façade ofNoto Cathedral
Nuremberg Germany SPQN Senatus Populusque Norimbergensis On theCharles Bridge(one of the major bridges over riverPegnitzin the inner city).[27]
Oudenburg Belgium SPQO Senatus Populusque Odenburgensis On its water pump next to the market square.[28]
Olomouc Czech Republic SPQO[9] Senatus Populusque Olomucensis On its coat of arms.[29]
Palermo Italy SPQP [30]
Penne, Abruzzo Italy SPQP [30]
Rieti Italy SPQS Senatus PopulusqueSabinus On the coat of arms. Present also in the modern compositeLaziocoat-of-arms.
Rotterdam Netherlands SPQR On a wall painting in theRotterdam City Hall.
Severn Beach United Kingdom SPQR On the crest of Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council.
Seville Spain SPQH Senatus Populusque Hispalensis On the historic banner of the city.
Siena Italy SPQS On the base of a statue of theCapitoline Wolf.[31]
Solothurn Switzerland SPQS Senatus Populusque Solodori On theCathedralofSt UrsusandVictor.
Terracina Italy SPQT [32]
Tivoli, Lazio Italy SPQT [33]
Toruń Poland SPQT Senatus Populusque Thorunensis City Hall.[34]
Valencia Spain SPQV Senatus Populusque Valentinus In several places and buildings, including theSilk Exchange[35]and theUniversity of ValenciaHistoric Building.[36]
Verviers Belgium SPQV On the Grand Theatre.[37]
Vienna Austria SPQV[9] Senatus Populusque Viennensis[9] Schönbrunn Palace
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SPQR is often used to represent the Roman Empire and Roman Republic, such as in video games and movies. In the 2000 movieGladiator,the Roman general Maximus (portrayed byRussell Crowe) has "SPQR" tattooed on his upper arm, which he removes by scraping after he is sold into slavery.

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References

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  1. ^"Roma Capitale – Sito Istituzionale – Home"(in Italian).Archivedfrom the original on 18 October 2019.Retrieved29 October2019.
  2. ^"OGGETTO: Revoca deleghe Consigliera Nathalie Naim"(PDF)(in Italian). S.P.Q.R. – ROMA CAPITALE – MUNICIPIO ROMA CENTRO STORICO. 2 February 2011.Archived(PDF)from the original on 29 October 2019.Retrieved29 October2019.
  3. ^See, e.g.von Hefner, Otto Titan[in German](1861).Handbuch der theoretischen und praktischen Heraldik.Munich. p. 106.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^"S.P.Q.R.".Oxford English Dictionary(Online ed.).Oxford University Press.(Subscription orparticipating institution membershiprequired.)
  5. ^ab"Heraldic symbols of Amsterdam".Livius.2 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 10 December 2006.
  6. ^de Cleen, Marjolein (24 February 2023)."Stadsschouwburg Leidseplein"(in Dutch).Retrieved6 May2023.
  7. ^Woesinger (5 January 2007)."SPQA".Flickr.Retrieved17 February2014.
  8. ^"Webern-Brunnen"[Webern Fountain].Basler Brunnenführer(in German). 1 January 2003.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved30 October2015.
  9. ^abcdefgh"Rome – Historical Flags (Italy)".Flags of the World.14 November 2003.Archivedfrom the original on 8 February 2007.Retrieved6 February2007.
  10. ^International Council on Monuments and Sites (2003)."Evaluations of Cultural Properties"(PDF).UNESCO. pp. 39–42.Archived(PDF)from the original on 23 June 2020.Retrieved17 February2014.
  11. ^"Crest of Brugge".Heraldry of the World.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2020.Retrieved17 February2014.
  12. ^"SPQB sign on the court of Justice of Brussels".Eupedia.Archived fromthe originalon 17 April 2010.Retrieved17 February2014.
  13. ^Jeffery Baer."Biking the Boulevards with Jeffery Baer".WTTV.Retrieved19 March2024.
  14. ^"Franeker".gevelstenen.net.Archivedfrom the original on 27 January 2018.Retrieved26 January2018.
  15. ^Carew Hazlitt, W.Coinage of the European Continent.p. 216.
  16. ^"Hamburg".Nefers Hapiland(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 3 November 2008.Retrieved6 January2009.
  17. ^"De Ambtsketen Van De Burgemeester"[The Mayor's Office].gemeentearchief.nl(in Dutch). Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2011.
  18. ^Coslett, Paul."St George's Hall".BBC Liverpool.Archivedfrom the original on 25 September 2015.Retrieved17 February2014.
  19. ^Corporation of London Records Office."The City Arms"(PDF).cityoflondon.gov.uk.The Corporation of the City of London. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 September 2011.The letters SPQL [Senatus Populusque Londinii– literally, The Senate and People of London] also occasionally appear in imitation of the SPQR of ancient Rome.
  20. ^Brunet, Alex (2013) [1839].Regal Armorie of Great Britain.London: Forgotten Books. pp. 156–7.
  21. ^Roberto (1 March 2007)."Holstentor – SPQL: Senatus Populusque Lubecensis".Flickr.Archivedfrom the original on 9 December 2019.Retrieved17 February2014.
  22. ^Potter, W. J.The Coinage of Milan.p. 19. coin 4.
  23. ^"Modica".Heraldry of the World.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2020.Retrieved26 July2020.
  24. ^"Molfetta".Heraldry of the World.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2020.Retrieved26 July2020.
  25. ^Italian Coinage Medieval to Modern, The Collection of Ercole Gnecchi, coin 3683
  26. ^"Noto".Heraldry of the World.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2020.Retrieved26 July2020.
  27. ^"Forum Romanum: Modell-Ausstellung im Hirsvogelsaal".nordbayern.de(in German). 14 December 2017.Retrieved26 September2023.
  28. ^"Stadspomp, Oudenburg".Flickr.30 May 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 26 January 2019.Retrieved20 December2017.
  29. ^"Olomouc".Heraldry of the World.20 August 2023.
  30. ^abmypixbox (5 December 2007)."SPQP".Flickr.Archivedfrom the original on 4 November 2012.Retrieved17 February2014.
  31. ^Moree (17 June 2008)."SPQS".Flickr.Retrieved17 February2014.
  32. ^Dilke, O. A. W.; Dilke, Margaret S. (October 1961). "Terracina and the Pomptine Marshes".Greece & Rome.II:8(2).Cambridge University Press:172–178.doi:10.1017/S0017383500014406.ISSN0017-3835.OCLC51206579.S2CID162727396.
  33. ^"Walking in Pomata".Tibursuperbum.Con il patrocinio del Comune di Tivoli Assessorato al Turismo.Archivedfrom the original on 25 December 2008.Retrieved17 February2014.
  34. ^"Sala Rady (Senatu) w Ratuszu Staromiejskim – Atrakcje Torunia – Przewodnik po Toruniu | Toruń Tour Toruński Portal Turystyczny".Toruński Portal Turystyczny(in Polish).Retrieved10 March2021.
  35. ^"Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes".Cervantesvirtual.com.Archivedfrom the original on 22 September 2013.Retrieved17 February2014.
  36. ^Gallardo, Elena (27 September 2008)."SPQV".Flickr.
  37. ^"Le Grand-Théâtre de Verviers".bestofverviers.be(in French). Archived fromthe originalon 12 November 2014.

Further reading

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Look upSPQRin Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toSPQR.
Library resourcesabout
SPQR
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