The importance of Arval Brethren apparently dwindled during the Roman Republic, but emperor Augustus revived their practices to enforce his own authority. In his time the college consisted of a master ("magister"), a vice-master ("promagister"), a priest ("flamen"), and a "praetor", with eight ordinary members, attended by various servants, and in particular by four chorus boys, sons of senators, having both parents alive. Each wore a wreath of corn, a white fillet and the "toga praetexta". The election of members was by co-optation on the motion of the president, who, with a flamen, was himself elected for one year.