Emperor

The title of the sovereign ruler of an empire. This designation was ailoptel] by the rulers of the Roman world after the decay of the republic, and was assumed by those who claimed to be bheir successors in the “Holy Roman Empire,” as also by Napoleon. [t is now used as the title of the monarch of some single countries, as lately in Brazil, and some composite states, as Germany and Austria-Hungary, and by the queen of England as “Empress of India.” The title “emperor” seems to denote a power and dignity superior to that of a “king.” It appears to be the appropriate style of the executive head of a federal government, constructed on the monarchical prineiple, and comprising in its orvanization several distinct kingdoms or other guast sovereign states; as is the case wilh the German empire at the present day.