The consilium, or advisory council, played an important role in the everyday activities of the Roman magistrate in his role as military commander. This work is an in-depth look at the commander's consilium from its first depicted appearances in the accounts of the legendary period to 31 BC. After an overview of the main sources the commander's consilium, the members of that consilium and the basic terminology are introduced. The status of foreigners in the consilium and its role in training young aristocrats, as well as the consilium’s wartime activities of dispensing military justice and receiving foreign legates are examined. The negotiating and witnessing roles of the consilium as well as its role in civil and criminal proceedings, including the collection of provincial revenues, show its versatility. More than an institution, the consilium adapted to meet changing needs and serves to illustrate how Romans felt about their own society. The role of the commander's consilium can be seen as a pragmatic compromise between the desire for competent leadership and personal ambition on the one hand, and the Romans' ever-present fear of tyrannical behavior (if not actual tyranny) on the other hand.

Pamela D. Johnston received her B.A. in Classics and Latin from the University of Washington and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Latin from Bryn Mawr College. She teaches Ancient History and Classics at Fresno Pacific University, where her particular area of interest is in Roman Republican political and social institutions.