The Collaborative International Dictionary
Principate \Prin"ci*pate\, n. [L. principatus: cf. F.
principat.]
Principality; supreme rule. [Obs.]
--Barrow.
Wiktionary
n. (context in Ancient Rome English) The period of the early Roman Empire during which some characteristics of republican government were retained
Wikipedia
The principate (27 BC – 284 AD), the first period of the Roman Empire, extended from the beginning of the reign of Augustus Caesar to the Crisis of the Third Century, after which it evolved into the dominate. The principate is characterized by a concerted effort on the part of the emperors to preserve the illusion of the formal continuance of the Roman Republic.
Usage examples of "principate".
On the whole, the achievements of his principate had been admirable, but the labors of peace to which the best of his advisors had ingeniously directed him, those great projects of the architects and legists of his reign, had always counted less for him than a single victory.
Witch Kingdom and, even with the matchless roads built and maintained by the army, the remainder of a full month needs must be ridden out before the southwesternmost principate, on the eastern and northern shores of the brackish River-Sea, was reached.
From the northernmost pointNohtohpolisburk in the Principate of Kuhmbuhluhntwenty days of hard riding would lead to the southern border, unmarked amidst the treacherous salt fens beyond which lay the legendary evil Witch Kingdom and, even with the matchless roads built and maintained by the army, the remainder of a full month needs must be ridden out before the southwesternmost Principate, on the eastern and northern shores of the brackish River Sea, was reached.
Smiling, silver-scaled troopers of the principate horseguards and footguards gently pushed the crowds back to make way for the cavalcade with nudges of long, limber poles—Djylz had always forbidden the use of whips or polearms against his folk.