Final answer:
The rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis is named in reference to the Egyptian pyramids, hence the position associated with the name would be that of an Emperor, particularly a pharaoh.
Step-by-step explanation:
Xenopsylla cheopis, commonly known as the rat flea, is not named after a person but rather alludes to an iconic architectural symbol associated with a historic ruler's time. In 1903, entomologist N. Charles Rothschild named it Pulex cheopis in reference to the great Egyptian pyramids, hence giving it a name associated with the era of the pharaohs. The correct answer to the position held by the ruler in question is c) Emperor. The term 'xeno' in Xenopsylla indicates its 'foreign' or 'strange' status, combining the Greek prefix with the species' identification as an Indian rat flea. While later historical references mention various roles of emperors, the specific name cheopis connects to the pyramids typically attributed to the reign of the Egyptian pharaohs.