How would a Principate government type work?

[Cameron122]

I’m working on a little alt history mod, it’s not gonna be mechanically revolutionary or anything, mainly just titles and Europe is more carved up. Right now I just got a kingdom of Rome in central Italy (it was formally the exarchate of Ravenna in the lore I’m cooking up)

So anyway, I thought it would be fun to let the player be Princeps if they do certain things, but I don’t think it just being a merchant Republic would be right. I know in real life the division of Princeps and Dominus is not a clear cut. I’m just talking about video games lol. How would y’all think it should work compared to a ck2plus style imperial government?

Edit: it’s spelled principate and I am embarrassed

 

[Necal]

It should encourage ruling through law; increasing power through force and illegal actions (imprisonment or title revocation without cause) should introduce fairly strong penalties. Ruling within the law, by getting and relying on popular support, should in turn give strong benefits. Having low autocratic power (low laws) should make people more comfortable, giving a small benefit across the entire realm and a higher benefit to the personal demense of the Princeps. More power concentrated in the hands of the Princeps should encourage transition to a regular monarchy (done by transferring to a formally hereditary system then taking a decision to switch government forms, rather than a direct decision change), essentially by doing the opposite and giving a malus to provinces.

Succession should probably be elective monarchy. Switching succession should only be possible with high laws, so as to represent the transition to the dominate.

 

[Toa Kraka]

Edit: it’s spelled principate and I am embarrassed

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