APRIL 17TH

The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting in 27 BC). The Romans had no single term for the position although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor. If a man was "proclaimed emperor" this normally meant he was proclaimed augustus, or (for generals) imperator (from which English emperor derives). Several other titles, such as caesar, and offices such as princeps senatus, consul and Pontifex Maximus were regularly accumulated by emperors. The power of emperors was generally based on the accumulation of powers from republican offices