In 228 BC Rome was ruled by the Senate and a Consul. There was no Roman emperor at that time. The first Roman Emperor was Augustus, and his reign as Emperor did not commence until 27 BC. (Julius Caesar was the sole ruler of the Roman Empire from 49-44 BC, but he was never "officially" the Roman Emperor. Augustus ruled from 44 BC until 19 AD, but he was not declared the Emperor until 27 BC.)