Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Emperor: A very important ruler who is in charge of an empire or a group of kings. They have more power and respect than a king. Some famous emperors were rulers of ancient Rome, Napoleon, and the leaders of Japan and Morocco. The title is used for leaders of big countries made up of smaller parts, like the German empire from 1871 to 1918.
Definition: An emperor is the ruler of an empire or the chief of a confederation of states where kings are members. The title denotes a power and dignity superior to that of a king.
For example, the rulers of the Roman world adopted the title of emperor after the fall of the republic. Napoleon also claimed to be the successor of the Holy Roman Empire and took on the title of emperor. The sovereigns of Japan and Morocco are often called emperors, as were the former sovereigns of Turkey and China.
The title of emperor is appropriate for the executive head of a federal government constructed on the monarchial principle and comprising several distinct kingdoms or other quasi-sovereign states, as with the German empire from 1871 to 1918.
These examples illustrate how the title of emperor is used to denote a ruler with a higher level of power and dignity than a king. It is often used in the context of empires or confederations of states with multiple rulers.