An Attempt To Date
The Roman Empire
G.D.O'Bradovich III
October, 2014
The following information is courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Forms:
see Roman n.1 and adj.1 and empire n. and adj.
Etymology:
< Roman adj.1 + empire n.
Compare classical Latin imperium Romānum , Middle French, French empire romain (1537 or earlier in sense 1, 1601 or earlier in sense 2), Italian impero romano (beginning of the 14th cent. as †imperio romano , originally in sense1), Spanish imperio romano (late 14th cent., originally in sense 1), Middle Dutch romesches keiserrīke (in sense 1), and Middle Low German romesch rīke , German römisches Reich (Middle High German rœmisch rīche ), in both senses (now hist. in sense 2). Compare earlier Romeland and Romeriche (see Rome n.).
1. hist. The territories under the rule or administration of ancient Rome; spec. the empire as established by Augustus in the 1st cent. b.c. and divided in a.d. 395 into two parts, the Western and Eastern Empires (cf. Western Empire at western adj. 5b and Eastern Empire at eastern adj. 6b).At its greatest extent Roman rule or influence extended from Armenia and Mesopotamia in the east to the Iberian peninsula in the west, and from the border of Scotland in the north to Egypt and provinces on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa in the south.
?a1475 (1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1876) VI. 17 (MED),
The Romane empyre [L. Romanum imperium]..was so attrite and trowblede with batells civile, that hit was unnethe sufficiaunte ageyne their awne enemyes.
1528 T. Wyatt tr. Plutarch Quyete of Mynde sig. c.vv,
How great aparte is nowe Macedony of the romayn Empyre [Gk. τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἡγεμονίας]?
1563 W. Fulke Meteors Ep. Ded.,
The moost myghtye Monaychie of the Romain Empire Octauius Augustus.
1609 P. Holland tr. A. Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 226,
I have devowed my selfe to the Roman Empire [L. pro Romano orbe].
1660 tr. R. Arnauld d'Andilly Manner of Ordering Fruit-trees sig. a3,
Cicero (that admirable Spirit, who alone was capable of equalling the vast greatness of the Roman Empire).
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 267. ¶6
Æneas's Settlement in Italy produced the Cæsars, and gave Birth to the Roman Empire.
1783 J. Beattie Diss. Moral & Crit. 621
That part of Italy, where a few centuries after was built the great metropolis of the Roman empire.
2. = Holy Roman Empire n.
Also Sacred Roman Empire. hist. in later use.
1583 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (ed. 4) II. 734/1
For euen from my youth hitherto, I haue applyed all my care and study, fyrst for the honour of your maiesty, and consequently for the amplifying of the Germayne nation, and sacred Romayne Empire.
1610 E. Bolton Elements of Armories 146
These the present Armories of the Romaine Empire.
1725 J. Henley tr. B. de Montfaucon Antiq. Italy (ed. 2) xxii. 235
Our Sovereign Lord Charles, by the Grace of God, most Serene King of Sicily, Duke of Apulia..and Vicar General of the Sacred Roman Empire.
Roman Republic
1. hist. The ancient Roman state, governed by an elected Senate and dating from the expulsion of the Etruscan monarchs in 510 b.c. until the assumption of power by Augustus in 27 b.c. and the subsequent transition into an imperial state (cf. Roman Empire n. 1).
1625 P. Heylyn Μικρόκοσμος (rev. ed.) 225
In this town was the meeting of three great Captaines, Pompey, Cæsar, and Crassus; so pernicious to the Roman Republicke.
1696 Seasonable & Modest Thoughts 22
Many times [the Romans] admitted those [people] they had subdued, to a Share and Participation of all the Privileges of Rome, and of the Roman Republick.
1711 tr. L. Bordelon Hist. Ridiculous Extravagancies Monsieur Oufle xix. 127
The three greatest Men of the Roman Republic, which were Pompey, Crassus and Cæsar.
1773 H. Chapone Lett. Improvem. Mind II. 166
The history of the Roman Republic—which continued in that form of government to the time of Julius Cesar's dictatorship.
The above citations in chronological order:
1475?a (1425) (1876) (MED), The Romane empyre ...
1528 ... is nowe Macedony of the romayn Empyre ...
1563 ... Monaychie of the Romain Empire Octauius Augustus.
1583 ...and sacred Romayne Empire.
1609 ... to the Roman Empire [L. pro Romano orbe].
1610 These the present Armories of the Romaine Empire.
1625 ... so pernicious to the Roman Republicke.
1660 ,... of the Roman Empire).
1696 ...the Privileges of Rome, and of the Roman Republick.
1711 ... of the Roman Republic...
1712 ... and gave Birth to the Roman Empire.
1725 ...of the Sacred Roman Empire.
1773 The history of the Roman Republic...
1783 ...the great metropolis of the Roman empire.
Forms:
see Roman n.1 and adj.1 and empire n. and adj.
Etymology:
< Roman adj.1 + empire n.
Compare classical Latin imperium Romānum , Middle French, French empire romain (1537 or earlier in sense 1, 1601 or earlier in sense 2), Italian impero romano (beginning of the 14th cent. as †imperio romano , originally in sense1), Spanish imperio romano (late 14th cent., originally in sense 1), Middle Dutch romesches keiserrīke (in sense 1), and Middle Low German romesch rīke , German römisches Reich (Middle High German rœmisch rīche ), in both senses (now hist. in sense 2). Compare earlier Romeland and Romeriche (see Rome n.).
1. hist. The territories under the rule or administration of ancient Rome; spec. the empire as established by Augustus in the 1st cent. b.c. and divided in a.d. 395 into two parts, the Western and Eastern Empires (cf. Western Empire at western adj. 5b and Eastern Empire at eastern adj. 6b).At its greatest extent Roman rule or influence extended from Armenia and Mesopotamia in the east to the Iberian peninsula in the west, and from the border of Scotland in the north to Egypt and provinces on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa in the south.
?a1475 (1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1876) VI. 17 (MED),
The Romane empyre [L. Romanum imperium]..was so attrite and trowblede with batells civile, that hit was unnethe sufficiaunte ageyne their awne enemyes.
1528 T. Wyatt tr. Plutarch Quyete of Mynde sig. c.vv,
How great aparte is nowe Macedony of the romayn Empyre [Gk. τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἡγεμονίας]?
1563 W. Fulke Meteors Ep. Ded.,
The moost myghtye Monaychie of the Romain Empire Octauius Augustus.
1609 P. Holland tr. A. Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 226,
I have devowed my selfe to the Roman Empire [L. pro Romano orbe].
1660 tr. R. Arnauld d'Andilly Manner of Ordering Fruit-trees sig. a3,
Cicero (that admirable Spirit, who alone was capable of equalling the vast greatness of the Roman Empire).
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 267. ¶6
Æneas's Settlement in Italy produced the Cæsars, and gave Birth to the Roman Empire.
1783 J. Beattie Diss. Moral & Crit. 621
That part of Italy, where a few centuries after was built the great metropolis of the Roman empire.
2. = Holy Roman Empire n.
Also Sacred Roman Empire. hist. in later use.
1583 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (ed. 4) II. 734/1
For euen from my youth hitherto, I haue applyed all my care and study, fyrst for the honour of your maiesty, and consequently for the amplifying of the Germayne nation, and sacred Romayne Empire.
1610 E. Bolton Elements of Armories 146
These the present Armories of the Romaine Empire.
1725 J. Henley tr. B. de Montfaucon Antiq. Italy (ed. 2) xxii. 235
Our Sovereign Lord Charles, by the Grace of God, most Serene King of Sicily, Duke of Apulia..and Vicar General of the Sacred Roman Empire.
Roman Republic
1. hist. The ancient Roman state, governed by an elected Senate and dating from the expulsion of the Etruscan monarchs in 510 b.c. until the assumption of power by Augustus in 27 b.c. and the subsequent transition into an imperial state (cf. Roman Empire n. 1).
1625 P. Heylyn Μικρόκοσμος (rev. ed.) 225
In this town was the meeting of three great Captaines, Pompey, Cæsar, and Crassus; so pernicious to the Roman Republicke.
1696 Seasonable & Modest Thoughts 22
Many times [the Romans] admitted those [people] they had subdued, to a Share and Participation of all the Privileges of Rome, and of the Roman Republick.
1711 tr. L. Bordelon Hist. Ridiculous Extravagancies Monsieur Oufle xix. 127
The three greatest Men of the Roman Republic, which were Pompey, Crassus and Cæsar.
1773 H. Chapone Lett. Improvem. Mind II. 166
The history of the Roman Republic—which continued in that form of government to the time of Julius Cesar's dictatorship.
The above citations in chronological order:
1475?a (1425) (1876) (MED), The Romane empyre ...
1528 ... is nowe Macedony of the romayn Empyre ...
1563 ... Monaychie of the Romain Empire Octauius Augustus.
1583 ...and sacred Romayne Empire.
1609 ... to the Roman Empire [L. pro Romano orbe].
1610 These the present Armories of the Romaine Empire.
1625 ... so pernicious to the Roman Republicke.
1660 ,... of the Roman Empire).
1696 ...the Privileges of Rome, and of the Roman Republick.
1711 ... of the Roman Republic...
1712 ... and gave Birth to the Roman Empire.
1725 ...of the Sacred Roman Empire.
1773 The history of the Roman Republic...
1783 ...the great metropolis of the Roman empire.