Ancient History, Rome

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Rulers of the Roman Empire

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Rulers of the Roman Empire

Rulers of the Roman Empire
( including dates of reign )

Augustus, grandnephew of Julius Caesar, 27 BC–AD 14

Tiberius, stepson of Augustus, AD 14–AD 37

Caligula, grandnephew of Tiberius, 37–41

Claudius, uncle of Caligula, 41–54

Nero, stepson of Claudius, 54–68

Galba, proclaimed emperor by his soldiers, 68–69

Otho, military commander, 69

Vespasian, military commander, 69–79

Vitellius, military commander, 69

Titus, son of Vespasian, 79–81

Domitian, son of Vespasian, 81–96

Nerva, elected interim ruler, 96–98

Trajan, adopted son of Nerva, 98–117

Hadrian, ward of Trajan, 117–38

Antoninus Pius, adopted by Hadrian, 138–61

Marcus Aurelius, adopted by Antoninus Pius, 161–80

Lucius Verus, adopted by Antoninus Pius; ruled jointly Marcus Aurelius, 161–69

Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius, 180–92

Pertinax, proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard, 193

Didius Julianus, bought office from the Praetorian Guard, 193

Severus, proclaimed emperor, 193–211

Caracalla, son of Severus, 211–17

Geta, son of Severus, ruled jointly with Caracalla, 211–12

Macrinus, proclaimed emperor by his soldiers, 217–18

Heliogabalus, cousin of Caracalla, 218–22

Alexander Severus, cousin of Heliogabalus, 222–35

Maximin, proclaimed emperor by soldiers, 235–38

Gordian I, made emperor by the senate, 238

Gordian II, son of Gordian I, ruled jointly with his father, 238

Balbinus, elected joint emperor by the senate, 238

Pupienus Maximus, elected joint emperor with Balbinus by the senate, 238

Gordian III, son of Gordian II, 238–44

Philip (the Arabian), assassin of Gordian III, 244–49

Decius, proclaimed emperor by the soldiers, 249–51

Hostilianus, son of Decius, colleague of Gallus, 251

Gallus, military commander, 251–53

Aemilianus, military commander, 253

Valerian, military commander, 253–60

Gallienus, son of Valerian, coemperor with his father and later sole emperor, 253–68

Claudius II, military commander, 268–70

Aurelian, chosen by Claudius II as successor, 270–75

Tacitus, chosen by the senate, 275–76

Florianus, half brother of Tacitus, 276

Probus, military commander, 276–82

Carus, proclaimed by the Praetorian Guard, 282–83

Carinus, son of Carus, 283–85

Numerianus, son of Carus, joint emperor with Carinus, 283–84

Diocletian, military commander, divided the empire; ruled jointly with Maximian and Constantius I, 284–305

Maximian, appointed joint emperor by Diocletian, 286–305

Constantius I, joint emperor and successor of Diocletian, 305–6

Galerius, joint emperor with Constantius I, 305–10

Maximin, nephew of Galerius, 308–13

Licinius, appointed emperor in the West by Galerius; later emperor in the East, 308–24

Maxentius, son of Maximian, 306–12

Constantine I (the Great), son of Constantius I, 306–37

Constantine II, son of Constantine I, 337–40

Constans, son of Constantine I, 337–50

Constantius II, son of Constantine I, 337–61

Magnentius, usurped Constans' throne, 350–53

Julian (the Apostate), nephew of Constantine I, 361–63

Jovian, elected by the army, 363–64

Valentinian I, proclaimed by the army; ruled in the West, 364–75

Valens, brother of Valentinian I; ruled in the East, 364–78

Gratian, son of Valentinian I; coruler in the West with Valentinian II, 375–83

Maximus, usurper in the West, 383–88

Valentinian II, son of Valentinian I, ruler of the West, 375–92

Eugenius, usurper in the West, 393–94

Theodosius I (the Great), appointed ruler of the East, 379–95, by Gratian; last ruler of united empire, 394–95

Emperors in the East
(until the fall of Rome; see table entitled Rulers of the Byzantine Empire for later emperors)

Arcadius, son of Theodosius I, 395–408

Theodosius II, son of Arcadius, 408–50

Marcian, brother-in-law of Theodosius II, 450–57

Leo I, chosen by the senate, 457–74

Leo II, grandson of Leo I, 474

Zeno, 474–75

Basilicus, 475–76

Emperors in the West

Honorius, son of Theodosius I, 395–423

Maximus, usurper in Spain, 409–11

Constantius III, named joint emperor by Honorius, 421

Valentinian III, nephew of Honorius and son of Constantius III, 425–55

Petronius Maximus, bought office by bribery, 455

Avitus, placed in office by Goths, 455–56

Majorian, puppet emperor of Ricimer, 457–61

Libius Severus, puppet emperor of Ricimer, 461–65

Anthemius, appointed by Ricimer and Leo I, 467–72

Olybrius, appointed by Ricimer, 472–73

Glycerius, appointed by Leo I, 473–74

Julius Nepos, appointed by Leo I, 474–75

Romulus Augustulus, put in office by Orestes, his father, 474–76

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Roman Empire

Dynasties of the World | 2002 | | Copyright

Roman Empire

The Julio-Claudian Emperors

27 bc–ad 14	Augustus ( C. Julius Caesar Octavianus) (son of C. Octavius; maternal grandson of Julia, sister of C. Julius Caesar)
14–37	Tiberius ( Ti. Claudius Nero) (son of Livia, later married to Augustus, and Ti. Claudius Nero)
37–41	Caligula ( C. Caesar) (grandnephew; maternal grandson of Julia, daughter of Augustus)
41–54	Claudius ( Ti. Claudius Drusus) (uncle; maternal grandson of Octavia, sister of Augustus)
54–68	Nero ( Nero Claudius Caesar) (son of Agrippina, sister of Caligula, and Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus)
68–69	Galba ( Ser. Sulpicius Galba)
69	Otho ( M. Salvius Otho)
69	Vitellius ( A. Vitellius)

The Flavian Emperors

69–79	Vespasian ( T. Flavius Vespasianus)
79–81	Titus ( T. Flavius Vespasianus) (son)
81–96	Domitian ( T. Flavius Domitianus) (brother)

The Five Good Emperors

96–98	Nerva ( M. Cocceius Nerva)
98–117	Trajan ( M. Ulpius Trajanus)
117–138	Hadrian ( P. Aelius Hadrianus)
138–161	Antoninus Pius ( T. Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus)
161–169	Lucius Verus ( L. Aurelius Verus)
161–180	Marcus Aurelius ( M. Aurelius Antoninus)
180–192	Commodus ( M. Aurelius Commodus Antoninus) (son; co-regent 177)
193	Pertinax ( P. Helvius Pertinax)
193	Didius Julianus ( M. Didius Severus Julianus)

The Severi

193–211	Septimius Severus ( L. Septimius Severus)
211	Geta ( L. or P. Septimius Geta) (son; co-regent 209)
211–217	Caracalla ( M. Aurelius Antoninus) (brother; co-regent 198)
217–218	Macrinus ( M. Opellius Macrinus)
218	Diadumenian ( M. Opellius Diadumenianus) (son; co-regent)
218–222	Elagabalus ( M. Aurelius Antoninus) (maternal grandson of Julia Maesa, sister-in-law of Septimius Severus)
222–235	Severus Alexander ( M. Aurelius Alexander) (maternal grandson of Julia Maesa)

The Soldier-Emperors

235–238	Maximinus the Thracian ( C. Julius Verus Maximinus)
238	Gordian I ( M. Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus)/ Gordian II ( M. Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus) (son)
238	Balbinus ( D. Caelius Calvinus Balbinus)/ Pupienus Maximus ( M. Clodius Pupienus Maximus)
238–244	Gordian III ( M. Antonius Gordianus) (maternal grandson of Gordian I)
244–249	Philip I, the Arabian ( M. Julius Philippus)
247–249	Philip II ( M. Julius Severus Philippus) (son)
249–251	Decius ( C. Messius Quintus Decius)
251	Herennius Etruscus ( Q. Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius) (son; co-regent)
251	Hostilian ( C. Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus) (brother; co-regent with Trebonianus Gallus)
251–253	Trebonianus Gallus ( C. Vibius Trebonianus Gallus)
251–253	Volusian ( C. Vibius Afinius Gallus Veldumnianus Volusianus) (son)
253	Aemilian ( M. Aemilius Aemilianus)
253–260	Valerian ( P. Licinius Valerianus) (deposed)
253–268	Gallienus ( P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus) (son)
260	Saloninus ( P. Licinius Cornelius Saloninus Valerianus) (son)
268–270	Claudius II, Gothicus ( M. Aurelius Claudius)
270	Quintillus ( M. Aurelius Quintillus) (brother)
270–275	Aurelian ( L. Domitius Aurelianus)
275–276	Tacitus ( M. Claudius Tacitus)
276	Florian ( M. Annius Florianus)
276–282	Probus ( M. Aurelius Probus)
282–283	Carus ( M. Aurelius Carus)
283–284	Numerian ( M. Aurelius Numerianus) (son)
283–285	Carinus ( M. Aurelius Carinus) (brother; co-regent 283)

The ‘Gallic Empire’

260–269	Postumus ( M. Cassianius Latinius Postumus)
269	Laelian ( Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus)
269	Marius ( M. Aurelius Marius)
269–271	Victorinus ( M. Piavonius Victorinus)
271–274	Tetricus ( C. Pius Esuvius Tetricus) (deposed)

Diocletian and the Tetrarchy

284–305	Diocletian ( C. Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus) (abdicated, died 311)
286–305	Maximian ( M. Aurelius Valerius Maximianus) ( Caesar 285; abdicated; resumed the title of Augustus 307–8, 309–10)
305–306	Constantius I, Chlorus ( Fl. Valerius Constantius) ( Caesar 293)
305–311	Galerius ( C. Galerius Valerius Maximianus) ( Caesar 293)
306–307	Severus ( Fl. Valerius Severus) ( Caesar 305; deposed, died 307)
307–312	Maxentius ( M. Aurelius Valerius Maxentius) (son of Maximian)

Dynasty of Constantine

307–337	Constantine I, the Great ( Fl. Valerius Constantinus) (son of Constantius I; Caesar 306)
308–324	Licinius ( Valerius Licinianus Licinius) (deposed, died 325)
310–313	Maximinus II ( Galerius Valerius Maximinus) (son of Galerius' sister; Caesar 305)
316–317	Valerius Valens ( C. Aurelius Valerius Valens)
324	Martinian ( Martius Martinianus) (deposed, died 325)
337–340	Constantine II ( Fl. Claudius Constantinus) (son of Constantine I)
337–350	Constans ( Fl. Julius Constans) (brother)
337–361	Constantius II ( Fl. Julius Constantius) (brother)
350–353	Magnentius ( Fl. Magnus Magnentius)
360–363	Julian the Apostate ( Fl. Claudius Julianus) (nephew of Constantine I)
363–364	Jovian ( Fl. Jovianus)

Dynasty of Valentinian

364–375	Valentinian I ( Fl. Valentinianus)
364–378	Valens ( Fl. Valens) (brother)
375–383	Gratian ( Fl. Gratianus) (son of Valentinian I; co-regent 367)
375–392	Valentinian II ( Fl. Valentinianus) (brother)

Dynasty of Theodosius

379–395	Theodosius I, the Great ( Fl. Theodosius)
383–388	Maximus ( Magnus Maximus)
387–388	Victor ( Fl. Victor) (son)
392–394	Eugenius ( Fl. Eugenius)

Western Roman Emperors

395–423	Honorius ( Fl. Honorius) (son of Theodosius I; co-regent 393)
421	Constantius III ( Fl. Constantius)
423–425	John ( Johannes)
425–455	Valentinian III ( Fl. Placidus Valentinianus) (son of Constantius III; maternal grandson of Theodosius I)
455	Petronius Maximus
455–456	Avitus ( Eparchius Avitus) (deposed, died 456)
457–461	Majorian ( Julius Valerius Majorianus)
461–465	Libius Severus
467–472	Anthemius ( Procopius Anthemius)
472	Olybrius ( Anicius Olybrius)
473–474	Glycerius (deposed)
474–480	Julius Nepos
475–476	Romulus Augustus (deposed; end of direct imperial rule in the west 476/80)

Notes

Chronology

For Geta's death in December 211, see T. D. Barnes , Journal of Theological Studies, new series, XIX (1968), 522–4
; for the date of Valerian's capture, Aufstieg und Niedergang, 818–20. Dates for the ‘Gallic Empire’ follow ibid., 853–1012; other regional usurpers and pretenders are omitted.

Calendar and Dating

For the Julian year of 365 days, with an intercalary day every fourth year, see A. E. Samuel , Greek and Roman Chronology: Calendars and Years in Classical Antiquity (Munich, 1972), 155–8
. Under Augustus, the Egyptian vague year was synchronized with the Julian year, so that the Egyptian new year's day, 1 Thoth, fell on 29 August. Ibid., 177.Roman emperors numbered not their regnal years, but their years of tribunician power (tribunicia potestas); this was renewed annually, either on the anniversary of its first conferment, or on a fixed date. H. Mattingly, ‘“;Tribunicia Potestate”’, Journal of Roman Studies, XX (1930), 78–91. Egyptian materials are dated by regnal years, beginning 29 August (see above).

Names and Titles

As many emperors changed their names on adoption or accession, or both, it has not been possible to present them in a fully consistent manner. The names given are relatively familiar forms, and do not include elements of the imperial style: Nero Claudius Caesar rather than L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, M. Ulpius Trajanus and not Imp. Caesar Nerva Trajanus Augustus. For details on nomenclature, see the biographical articles in Paulys Realencyclopädie.

The style was complex, and included both ‘republican’ and ‘imperial’ elements; the basic title of emperor was Imperator Caesar [name] Augustus. See M. Hammond , ‘Imperial Elements in the Formula of the Roman Emperors during the First Two and a Half Centuries of the Empire’, Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, XXV (1957), 17–64.
Co-regents with full powers had the title of Augustus; rulers denoted above as Caesars were junior partners in Diocletian's tetrarchic system.

Latin praenomina

A.: Aulus	M.: Marcus
C.: Gaius	P.: Publius
Cn.: Gnaeus	Q.: Quintus
D.: Decimus	Ser.: Servius
Fl.: Flavius	T.: Titus
L.: Lucius	Ti.: Tiberius

Bibliography

BibliographyAufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt, ed. H. Temporini and W. Haase, II: Principat, pt. 2 (Berlin, 1975).
Barnes, T. D. , The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine (Cambridge, Mass., 1982).
Mattingly, H. et al., eds., The Roman Imperial Coinage (9 vols. in 12 pts., London, 1926–84).
Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft, ed. G. Wissowa et al. (49 vols. in 83 pts., Stuttgart and Munich, 1893–1978).
Schwartz, J. , Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire (3 vols. in 4 pts., Cambridge, 1971–1992).

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JOHN E. MORBY. "Roman Empire." Dynasties of the World. 2002. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O130-RomanEmpire.html

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