It is no secret that ancient Roman society was far ahead of its time in many different ways. In terms of art, technology, engineering, and military discipline, the degree of cultural advancement that the Romans attained over 2,000 years ago is plain to see for anyone who studies these things.
However, one area of Roman sophistication that is far more subtle to observe is the high level of their political institutions and practices. The Roman Senate is easy enough to understand, but the Romans were adept in every aspect of traditional politics, including public image and the manipulation of popular opinion.
A great example of this is the abbreviation SPQR that was used ubiquitously in Roman society to reinforce the idea of their government’s dominance and general benevolence.
SPQR in Ancient Rome
The four characters SPQR are a shorthand for the Latin phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus, which roughly translates to “The Senate and People of Rome” in English.
This phrase appeared everywhere in the ancient Roman world: on legal documents, imprinted on coins, waving on the Roman battle standards, and in many other prominent places.
In terms of its usage, it was the ancient equivalent of the modern abbreviation USA that is used to refer to the United States of America. The phrase SPQR was meant to represent the state of Rome itself, where political authority was held only by the Senate, who served at the behest of the people who had elected them.
While the origins of the phrase remain a mystery, the first concrete appearance of SPQR in Rome’s historical record comes from the time of the Late Roman Republic in 80 BC. However, many historians believe that it had been in use by the Senate for quite some time by then, dating back to some point after the removal of the last Roman king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, and subsequent establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BC.
It was used in varying capacities up until its final appearance on coinage during the rule of the emperor Constantine the Great in the early 4th century AD.
In ancient Roman society, the use of SPQR reinforced the idea of popular sovereignty, free from arbitrary domination of a monarch or other autocrat, that would come to define the Roman Republic.
However, it is important to note that this ancient democratic idea was still constrained by the high degree of legal and financial inequality of Rome's citizens that was baked into their political system, making it quite distinct from any modern conception of democracy or legal equality.
Even after the fall of the Roman Republic, the emperors that followed would continue to use the SPQR insignia to represent the Roman Empire. This was done in order for these rulers to continue to style themselves as representatives of the people and their political will, despite the fact that Roman emperors wielded absolute power as de facto dictators.
SPQR After the Fall of Ancient Rome
Even after the sacking of Rome and the end of the Roman Empire, the abbreviation SPQR continued to have cultural significance.
For people who lived on the Italian peninsula in later centuries, these letters were a timeless symbol of their rich ancestral heritage that could be used to invoke a past golden age.
For example, The Commune of Rome, an independent faction that rebelled against Papal authority in the Middle Ages, sought to bring about the second coming of the Roman Republic, and presented this image by printing SPQR on the coins they minted.
Centuries later, the fascist leader Benito Mussolini began emblazoning buildings and public places with the abbreviation to send the same message.
Even today, the modern city of Rome uses SPQR as the official abbreviation for their municipality on official documents and in the city’s coat of arms.
Due to the broad reach of ancient Roman culture and the significant impact it had on the rest of the Western world, the SPQR abbreviation can be seen in places that are nowhere near the city of Rome.
For instance, it can be seen in the flag and coat of arms of the municipality of Sabiñánigo in Spain, as well as in a mural adorning the walls of City Hall in the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. Furthermore, a general template of the SPQR phrase has emerged and been used by other localities all over Europe to represent their own popular sovereignty.
