Roman emperors

Most inhabitants of the Roman Empire had never seen their emperor. They knew the emperor's appearance solely through images on coins and Roman statues, busts, and reliefs.

That the profession of emperor in the Roman Empire was very dangerous is clear. 35% of all Roman emperors were murdered and 47.6% met a violent end. Yet the leading Roman families were all too willing to make a bid for the emperorship, often at the expense of other emperors or family members.

Of course, most Roman emperors often had their 'loyal' bodyguards in the form of the Praetorian Guard. This proved less safe in practice than expected. Six emperors were personally murdered by the Praetorian Guard. That's 7.32%. 

Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD): The first emperor of Rome, also known as Octavian, consolidated his power after the fall of the Roman Republic and established the principate.

Tiberius (14 AD - 37 AD): Stepson of Augustus. His reign was marked by political intrigues and repression.

Caligula (37 AD - 41 AD): Known for his excesses and cruelty. Ruled with terror and even appointed his horse as consul.

Claudius (41 AD - 54 AD): Physically limited emperor, known for his administrative reforms and the conquest of Britain.

Nero (54 AD - 68 AD): Notorious for his cruelty and megalomania. Associated with the Great Fire of Rome (which he probably did not cause) and the persecution of Christians.

Galba (68 AD - 69 AD): Brief ruler after Nero's death. Was murdered during a revolt.

Otho (69 AD): Short reign after Galba's death. Committed suicide after his defeat in the struggle for the throne.

Vitellius (69 AD): Reign characterized by cruelty and excesses. Was deposed and executed after a revolt.

Vespasian (69 AD - 79 AD): Came to power after the Year of the Four Emperors. Consolidated the empire, restored finances, and began the construction of the Colosseum.

Titus (79 AD - 81 AD): Son of Vespasian. Conquered Jerusalem, completed the Colosseum, actively provided help during natural disasters. 

Domitian (81 AD - 96 AD): Autocratic ruler known for his draconian measures and strengthening of imperial power.

Nerva (96 AD - 98 AD): The first of the Five Good Emperors. Implemented reforms to restore the position of the Senate.

Trajan (98 AD - 117 AD): Military emperor who expanded the empire to its greatest extent. Known for his public works, such as Trajan's Forum.

Hadrian (117 AD - 138 AD): Emperor with a broad cultural interest. Traveled throughout the empire and built the famous Hadrian's Wall in Britain.

Antoninus Pius (138 AD - 161 AD): Peaceful and just emperor. Known for his philanthropy and promotion of arts and literature.

Marcus Aurelius (161 AD - 180 AD): Stoic emperor and philosopher. Known for his meditations and leadership during wars.

Lucius Verus (161 AD - 169 AD): Co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius. Waged wars against the Parthians and was involved in the Antonine Plague.

Commodus (180 AD - 192 AD): Notorious for his cruelty and extravagance. Called himself Hercules and performed as a gladiator.

Pertinax (193 AD): Short reign after the assassination of Commodus. Was murdered by the Praetorian Guard.

Didius Julianus (193 AD): Brief ruler after acquiring the throne through bribery. Was deposed and executed after a revolt.

Septimius Severus (193 AD - 211 AD): Strengthened military power and reformed provincial administration. Waged wars against Parthia and Scotland.

Caracalla (211 AD - 217 AD): Known for extending Roman citizenship to all free men in the empire. Waged war against the Parthians.

Macrinus (217 AD - 218 AD): First emperor of non-noble origin. He was assassinated after a defeat in battle against Elagabalus.

Elagabalus (218 AD - 222 AD): Controversial and extravagant emperor. He was deposed and killed by the Praetorian Guard.

Severus Alexander (222 AD - 235 AD): Young emperor known for his philosophical interests and reform attempts. He was murdered during a military uprising.

Maximinus Thrax (235 AD - 238 AD): First emperor of Thracian origin. Ruled with an iron fist and was assassinated during an uprising.

Gordian I (238 AD): Proclaimed emperor with his son Gordian II, but their reign lasted only a few weeks.

Gordian II (238 AD): Proclaimed emperor with his father, but was quickly killed in battle.

Maximus Thrax (238 AD): Returned to power after the death of the Gordians, but was eventually assassinated.

Gordian III (238 AD - 244 AD): Young emperor who was under guardianship during his reign. Was assassinated during a military uprising.

Philippus the Arab (244 AD - 249 AD): First emperor of Arab origin. Ruled during a period of economic decline and was assassinated.

Decius (249 AD - 251 AD): Ruled during a period of great military and political unrest. Died in battle against the Goths.

Gallus (251 AD - 253 AD): Ruled with his son Volusianus. Was assassinated during an uprising.

Aemilianus (253 AD): Short reign after the murder of Gallus. Was murdered by his own troops.

Valerianus (253 AD - 260 AD): Captured by the Persians and died in captivity. The first emperor to be taken prisoner.

Gallienus (253 AD - 268 AD): Ruled during a period of great chaos and invasions. Was murdered during a conspiracy.

Claudius Gothicus (268 AD - 270 AD): Repelled the Gothic invasion and restored the borders. Died of the plague.

Quintillus (270 AD): Short reign after the death of Claudius Gothicus. Committed suicide after a defeat in the struggle for the throne.

Aurelianus (270 AD - 275 AD): Restored the empire after the crisis of the third century. Known for his military successes and reforms.

Tacitus (275 AD - 276 AD): Short reign after the death of Aurelianus. Was murdered by the troops.

Florianus (276 AD): Short reign after the death of Tacitus. Was murdered during a revolt.

Probus (276 AD - 282 AD): Known for his military successes and promoting agricultural reforms. Was murdered by his own troops.

Carus (282 AD - 283 AD): Ruled alongside his sons Carinus and Numerianus. Was presumably killed by lightning.

Carinus (283 AD - 285 AD): Co-emperor with his brother Numerianus. Was murdered during a revolt.

Numerianus (283 AD - 284 AD): Co-emperor with his brother Carinus. Was murdered by his own troops.

Diocletianus (284 AD - 305 AD): Reformed the empire by implementing the Tetrarchic system. Known for his economic and military reforms.

Maximianus (286 AD - 305 AD): Co-emperor with Diocletianus. Ruled over the western part of the empire.

Constantius I (305 AD - 306 AD): Father of Constantine the Great. Ruled as co-emperor with Diocletian and Maximian.

Galerius (305 AD - 311 AD): Ruled as co-emperor with Diocletian and Maximian. Carried out persecutions of Christians.

Severus II (306 AD - 307 AD): Short reign after the death of Constantius I. Was defeated and executed by Maxentius.

Maxentius (306 AD - 312 AD): Rival of Constantine the Great. Was defeated at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge and killed.

Constantine the Great (306 AD - 337 AD): Known for his conversion to Christianity and the relocation of the capital to Constantinople.

Constantine II (337 AD - 340 AD): Co-emperor with his brothers Constantius II and Constans. Waged war against his brothers and was killed.

Constans (337 AD - 350 AD): Co-emperor with his brothers Constantine II and Constantius II. Was murdered during a revolt.

Constantius II (337 AD - 361 AD): Ruled as co-emperor with his brothers Constantine II and Constans. Combated paganism and promoted Christianity.

Julian the Apostate (361 AD - 363 AD): Attempted to restore paganism after decades of Christian dominance. Was killed during a campaign against the Persians.

Jovian (363 AD - 364 AD): Short reign after the death of Julian. Was poisoned during his retreat from Persia.

Valentinian I (364 AD - 375 AD): Ruled as co-emperor with his brother Valens. Focused primarily on military affairs.

Valens (364 AD - 378 AD): Co-emperor with his brother Valentinian I. Was killed at the Battle of Adrianople against the Goths.

Gratian (367 AD - 383 AD): Ruled as co-emperor with his father Valentinian I and later with his half-brother Valentinian II.

Valentinian II (375 AD - 392 AD): Co-emperor with his brother Gratian. Was presumably murdered.

Theodosius I (379 AD - 395 AD): Temporarily restored the unity of the empire. Known for ending paganism and promoting Christianity.

Arcadius (395 AD - 408 AD): Ruled over the eastern part of the empire after the death of Theodosius I.

Honorius (395 AD - 423 AD): Ruled over the western part of the empire after the death of Theodosius I. Known for his inability to stop the barbarian invasions.

Theodosius II (408 AD - 450 AD): Ruled over the eastern part of the empire. Known for his codification of Roman law.

Johannes (423 AD - 425 AD): Brief usurper in the western part of the empire. Was defeated and executed by Valentinian III.

Valentinian III (425 AD - 455 AD): Ruled over the western part of the empire. Was assassinated during a conspiracy.

Maximus (455 AD): Usurper in the western part of the empire. Was defeated and executed by the Visigoths.

Avitus (455 AD - 456 AD): Brief usurper in the western part of the empire. Was deposed and imprisoned.

Majorianus (457 AD - 461 AD): Ruled over the western part of the empire. Was deposed and executed.

Libius Severus (461 AD - 465 AD): Ruled over the western part of the empire. Was deposed and lived the rest of his life in exile.

Anthemius (467 AD - 472 AD): Ruled over the western part of the empire. He was murdered during a revolt.

Olybrius (472 AD): Brief usurper in the western part of the empire. He was recognized by the Eastern Roman emperor but died soon after.

Glycerius (473 AD - 474 AD): Ruled over the western part of the empire. He was deposed and became a bishop.

Julius Nepos (474 AD - 475 AD): Ruled over the western part of the empire. He was deposed and lived the rest of his life in exile.

Romulus Augustulus (October 31, 475 AD - September 4, 476 AD): Last emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Was deposed by Odoacer, king of the Germanic tribe the Heruli.

Zeno (474 AD - 491 AD): Eastern Roman emperor who recognized the deposition of Romulus Augustulus and accepted Germanic rule over Italy.

Anastasius I (491 AD - 518 AD): Ruled over the Eastern Roman Empire. Known for his financial and administrative reforms.

Justin I (518 AD - 527 AD): Ruled over the Eastern Roman Empire. Known for his legal reforms and his conflict with Arianism.

Justinian I (527 AD - 565 AD): Known for his reconquest of large parts of the former Western Roman Empire and his codification of Roman law.

Justin II (565 AD - 578 AD): Ruled over the Eastern Roman Empire. Suffered from mental issues and made controversial decisions.

Tiberius II Constantine (578 AD - 582 AD): Ruled over the Eastern Roman Empire. Waged war against the Persians and consolidated the empire's borders.