 Most authors contend that the power of naming the Pontifices was not really used as an "instrumentum regni", an enforcing power.From this point on, "Pontifex Maximus" was one of the many titles of the Emperor, slowly losing its specific and historical powers and becoming simply a referent for the sacral aspect of imperial duties and powers.During the Imperial period, a promagister (vice-master) performed the duties of the "pontifex maximus" in lieu of the emperors whenever they were absent.