In pre-Christian times, the Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of the Roman Republic, was a popularly elected post. It did not have much political power, but brought with it great prestige and some influence in matters like adoption and running ceremonies. Julius Caesar got himself elected Pontifex Maximus in order to further his political career, and it later became one of the standard titles of the Roman emperors. When the Empire became Christian, the emperor's dropped the title, and it was picked up by the popes. Many of the customs associated with the papacy . are inherited from pagan Rome. For example, Caesar used a lot of bribes to get the needed votes, a tradition Catholic candidates for the position began to emulate during the Medieval period.