Hierarchy classification:

1. top of the aat hierarchies
2. Agents Facet
3. People (hierarchy name)
4. people (agents)
5. [people by occupation]
6. [people in administration and government]
7. rulers (people)

Anotations

Scope note:

Officials of ancient Rome and later Italian states who were elected in times of crisis and invested with absolute authority for the duration of the emergency. In modern usage, rulers who exercise absolute, unrestricted power over the government of a nation or state. It often refers to non-hereditary rulers. For ancient Greek rulers, or modern rulers who exercise their power cruelly, oppressively, or unjustly, see "tyrants."