 A more recent article suggests that the title may have been kept by Gratian and even accepted by Theodosius and Valentian.The practice of religious and secular authority united in the sovereign has a long history.In ancient Athens, the Archon basileus was the principal religious dignitary of the state; according to legend, and as indicated in his title of "Basileus" (meaning "king"), he was supposed to inherit the religious functions of the king of Athens in earlier times.