Final answer:
In the Roman Empire, the Emperor had the most power and authority, surpassing the Senate, Generals, and Citizens. Emperors could define citizenship, enact laws, command the military, and influence religious practices, highlighting their supreme position within the Roman governmental structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Most Powerful Figure in the Roman Empire
In the Roman Empire, the individual who held more power and authority than anyone else was the Emperor. This distinction is evident in how the emperors defined Roman citizenship and Romanness, and particularly in the expansive powers they possessed over both domestic and foreign policy. Emperors like Claudius, who ruled around 48 CE, had the authority to expand Roman citizenship and integrate new citizens into the political fabric of the empire, sometimes in the face of opposition from the Senate. While other entities such as the Senate, consuls, generals, and citizens played significant roles in the governance and military structure, none held as much individual sway as the Emperor.
During the earlier Roman Republic, the government was more of a complex system with checks and balances, including two consuls elected each year by the Centuriate Assembly. However, this system of power shifted dramatically with the transition to the Empire, where the Emperors held supreme authority. By the height of the Roman Empire, the Emperor's word was often law, and even though the Senate remained an important body of governance, its resolutions were typically aligned with the Emperor's desires. The Emperor had absolute authority over the state, including the military and religious institutions, and could enact laws, levy taxes, and lead armies.
Thus, Option 1: Emperor is the correct answer to the question of who had more power and authority than everyone else in the known Roman world.