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By the First and Second Century AD, ultimate responsibility for the armies lay in the hands of the Emperor. Throughout the history of Rome the armies would be used as pieces in the game of politics and power, often with the Emperor or the hopeful Emperor making promises which he hoped to be able to keep after gaining ascension, occasionally though he would relegate upon the promised rewards with disastrous consequences.The creation of the position Emperor was the response of the Senate and the People of Rome to large scale threats such as war. It was seen early on that under such national trauma it was important to have one man making the required decisions with the council of the Senate. However, Julius Caesar became Rome's first true dictator, not quite an Emperor but the largest single step to creating the role. After Caesar's assassination in 44BC Rome gained its first true Emperor, Octavian who would after his ascension be known as Augustus. After this Emperors came and went throughout the period of Roman power, some good, some bad and others simply evil. During the end of a civil war Rome would see four men claim the position of Emperor resulting in Vespasian who would start the most famous of Roman Buildings, the Flavian Amphitheatre in Rome, or the Colosseum.
Roger Oldhamstead has made a lavish costume for the Emperor to wear based upon iconography which can be seen in the pictures worn by Dan, a member from the USA who bares a striking resemblance to the Emperor Vespasian.Other Emperors portrayed on TV by members of the society are Claudius (Roger Oldhamstead), Nero (Graham Ashford & Richard Viney) and Caligula (Steve Button & Molly Richardson as the infant Caligula).
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