Explanation: Funny enough, when the first Roman Emperor, Octavian, seized control over the Republic, there was no (formal) recognition that the Republic had actually changed in any substantial way. The Emperors collected gobs of offices to justify why they could do anything, anywhere, anytime, but denied being kings - like someone saying they were Prime Minister, President, head of every cabinet position, and governor of half the regions of a country. It’s… possibly, technically allowed, depending on your country’s laws? But very much against the spirit of republics!

He’s no king, please! He’s just the First Citizen! So humble, our Octavian!

Oh, sorry, he wants to be called ‘Augustus’ now - ‘Exalted One’.

Future Emperors would maintain this legal fiction, to some degree seriously until the late 3rd century AD, and then nominally until the Byzantine-era 6th century AD. The Emperor is your fellow citizen, and exhorts you to great deeds for the cause of OUR Republic!