Chapters
Throughout the whole imperial period of ancient Rome, from 27 BCE to 476 CE, the state was ruled by many Roman emperors. When it comes to the four great Roman dynasties we do not have any problems with establishing the chronological order of their rules.
However, the problems begin with the death of the last member of the Severan dynasty (Alexander Severus) in 235 CE. Then Rome was hit by a crisis. The Empire suffered a plague and incursions of foreign armies. Moreover, the country was torn by infighting and civil wars. Ambitious commanders were being proclaimed emperors en masse – either by the army or themselves. They were in control of dominions but did not recognize the emperor in Rome. They were usurpers, there were plenty of them – I am going to successfully complete the table with information about them. I have marked them with a red colour. “Caesars”, on the other hand, so the potential successors, I have marked with the green colour. The table is not complete but it is because of the complexity of the late Empire history. Therefore the exact hierarchization of the ruling emperors (both those legally chosen and those self-proclaimed) is really difficult.
In 395 CE the Roman Empire was officially divided into two parts: eastern and western. I am going to focus on the emperors ruling over the western half although I do not say that I would not add also the emperors ruling over the eastern as well (to 476 CE) in the future. Then, I believe, it would be possible to maintain both chronological and historical order.
Some people consider Julius Caesar to be the first emperor but this is a misassumption. Caesar, after defeating Pompey in the Civil War, appointed himself dictator, but he did not become an emperor. Although he actually did rule and was the most important person in the whole country, he did not proclaim himself an emperor (or he did not make it) as he was afraid of unrest among the society) which was still rather against monocracy after dozens of years of monarchy. Caesar managed to skip this delicate matter with the position of the dictator in perpetuity. Eventually, Caesar, pursuing limiting Senate’s power, died assassinated by the senators, merited advisors, Brutus and Cassius and the rest of the gathered people.
After his death broke out another civil war, was won by his adopted son, Augustus who called himself princeps in 27 CE. This event is considered to be the beginning of the Roman Empire. Augustus started also the first dynasty ruling over Rome.
Julio-Claudian dynasty
Name | Reign | Short description |
27 BCE– 14 CE | The founder of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Seemingly he did not change the republican system but he did have the actual power in his hands as he was the first senator and the chief high priest. | |
14 – 37 CE | Octavian’s stepson, was adopted by the emperor. He was a suspicious person, but also a great commander and administrator. Being afraid of his life he was accusing people of lese majesty and then sentencing them to death. He eventually settled in the Capri island giving orders via correspondence. | |
37 – 41 CE | In the begging he ceased the trials for lese majesty but then he started to reign cruelly, demanding worship. He died assassinated in a conspiracy. | |
41 – 54 CE | Uncle of Caligula, proclaimed emperor by the praetorians. He was a man of scholarly interests. He was a clever ruler as he empowered the emperorship, extended the bureaucracy and granted Roman citizenship to the people living in the provinces. He built a new harbour in Ostia and an aqueduct in Rome. | |
54 – 68 CE | In politics, he was governed by his freedmen’s guides. When in 64 CE Rome burnt, the emperors’ enemies began to spread around the suspicions claiming that Nero ordered to burn the city. He committed a suicide when Galba proclaimed himself en emperor. |
The Year of the Four Emperors
Name | Reign | Short description |
June 68 – January 69 CE | He was trying to impose discipline in the army and implement retrenching. In the beginning he was backed by his supporter Otho but then he died on Otho’s order. He was the emperor from June 68 to January 69. | |
January – April 69 CE | He was appointed the emperor after assassinating Galba, by the praetorians. He ruled from January to April 69. | |
April – December 69 CE | After Otho’s suicide he proclaimed himself an emperor. Defeating by Vespasian in the battle of Cremona he was thrown into the Tiber. He ruled for 85 days, from April to December 69 CE. |
Flavian dynasty
Name | Reign | Short description |
69 – 79 CE | The founder of Flavian dynasty. After defeating Vitellius he was appointed the emperor. He accompanied Claudius in the conquest of Britain in the 40s. He put down Jewish uprising along with his side. He began the building of Roman amphitheater – Colosseum.. | |
79 – 81 CE | Vespasian’s son. He ended the First Jewish-Roman War (66-70 CE) demolishing Jerusalem. During his reign happened the eruption of Vesuvius and, as en effect, Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed. He became famous for being a great reformer and a good emperor. | |
81 – 96 CE | Titus’ brother. He finished the building of Colosseum and began organizing the games. He began reigning in an autocratic way and employed terror. He was assassinated by the praetorians. |
Antonine dynasty
Name | Reign | Short description |
96 – 98 CE | The founder of Antonine dynasty. He was far more gentle emperor than his predecessor. He released the prisoners accused of lese majesty and forbade such accusation in the future. He restored confiscated estates and empowered Senate. He also adopted a young commander, Trajan, fighting in Germania. | |
98 – 117 CE | Brilliant reformer. Famous noted for the Trajan’s Column which was erected in honor of his victories. He created new provinces: Dacia, Arabia, Armenia, Mesopotamia and Assyria. He defeated Persians in the war lasting in the years 144-117 CE. He was declared “The best” – Optimus for his achievements. | |
117 – 138 CE | Connoisseur of art. He reformed the tax system and relaxed the law concerning slavery. He enacted the Perpetual Edict in which he fixed the instructions for praetors. He put down the uprising in Jerusalem in the years 132-135 CE. | |
136 – 138 CE | The emperor adopted by Hadrian and appointed successor. Hadrian’s plans were destroyed by Commodus’ death. | |
138 – 161 CE | Adopted by Hadrian he ruled over the Empire after his death. He became famous for putting down the uprising of Britons and building the Antoninus Wall in 142 CE in Scotland. His reign was a time of peace and prosperity, often called Pax Romana. His reign and the reign of Marcus Aurelius are a decline of Rome’s greatness. | |
161 – 169 CE | He was an adopted brother to Marcus Aurelius and co-emperor until his death. | |
161 – 180 CE | His reign was the time of continuous fights. In his “Meditations” he writes that he considered his reign to bring only death and victims, without any benefit for the country. The main enemies of Rome were the Germanic tribes and Parthians. He was a good commander gaining spectacular victories. He was called a philosopher on a throne and he passed into history as a famous stoic. He was an adopted brother of Verus and a co-emperor until Verus died in 169 CE. | |
Avidius Cassius | 175 CE | Usurper in Syria and Egypt. |
180 – 192 CE | J His reign was a time of cruel tyranny. He is being compared to Caligula. He was assassinated as a result of conspiracy with the participation of his lover, Marcia. |
Year of the Five Emperors
Name | Reign | Short description |
January – March 193 CE | Pertinax ruled from January to March 193 CE. He was assassinated by the praetorians who had earlier proclaimed him emperor. During his life he was an eques. He came famous in the Aurelius’ campaign. | |
March – June 193 CE | Usurper in Rome. As an influential and wealthy senator, after the assassination of Pertinax he became an emperor, proclaimed by the praetorians. His ruled even shorter than Pertinax. Abandoned by everybody he was assassinated. | |
193 – 194 CE | Usurper in the East, proclaimed emperor by the legions there. Almost simultaneously (13th of April 193 CE) Danubian soldiers proclaimed Septimus Severus an emperor. In the same time Severus gained the support of almost all Danubian and Rhenish legions. Being uncertain about the situation in Italy and in the east he formed an alliance with the intendant of Britain – Clodius Albinus, pretending to the throne. He was appointed Severus’ successor with the exclusion of his sons. Severus managed to deal with the creators by disbanding their troops and forming new ones from the veterans. He marched to the east agains Pescennius whom he eventually defeated and killed in 195 CE. | |
196 – 197 CE | Usurper in Britain and Gaul. Proclaimed emperor by the soldiers in Britain and land owners in Gaul and Hispania. He formed a strategic alliance with Severus and became his legal successor. After Niger’s death, a new civil war began between the past allies. ehe final confrontation between him and Severus took place on on 19 February 197 CE at Lugdunum – Severus won whereas Clods committed suicide. |
Severan dynasty
Name | Reign | Short description |
193 – 211 CE | Founder of Severan dynasty. On 13 April 193 Danubian army proclaimed him an emperor. Between 197 and 199 CE he defeated the king of Parthians in the Parthian War and created a new province on the conquered lands – Mesopotamia. He created three new legions, called the Syrian. During his reign, against the 200 hundred old tradition a legion stationed outside Rome. (the second legion of Syria). He proclaimed Caracalla his co-emperor. | |
211 – 212 CE | Co-emperor with his brother and father from 209 to 212 (from 211 with Caracalla). Assassinated on the orders of Caracalla, died in his mother’s arms. | |
211 – 217 CE | Co-emperor with his father and then with his brother, Geta. After assassinating Geta he became an only emperor. In 212 CE he granted Roman citizenship to all inhabitants of the Empire. Despotic and cruel. He wanted to unite the kingdom of Parthia with Rome. | |
217 – 218 CE | He was a Berber by descent and never had a seat in the Senate. Short duration of his reign do not allow to determine what kind of en emperor he was. He died in the battle with the rebels. | |
218 CE | Macrinus’ son, he was a co-emperor from 218 CE. He was killed along with his father in the same year. | |
218 – 222 CE | Proclaimed emperor by the soldiers. He killed his mother Julia in 222. He was supposed to be illegitimate son of Caracalla. Famous for his homosexual and orgiastic interests. | |
222 – 235 CE | Adopted by Elagabalus. He was trying to change the country’s internal politics by sharing his power with the Senate. He was supported by a well-known lawyer, Ulpian. After entering into agreement with the Germans he was assassinated by his own soldiers. After his death the country began to suffer a long-lasting crisis. |
Crisis
Name | Reign | Short description |
235 – 238 CE | He came into power with the support of praetorians despite the fact that the soldier chose Verus in Germania. His reign faced with opposition of the inhabitants in the North Africa and, as a result and it set off a revolt supported by the Senate. The uprising moved to Italia. Thorax was killed in Roe by his own soldiers. The period of the beginning of Maximinus (235 CE) reign to the beginnings of Diocletian reign (284 CE) are being called dark decades. | |
Verus Maximus | 236 – 238 CE | Emperor from 236 CE. Son of Maximinus Thrax, killed with his father in 238 CE. |
Quartinus | 235 CE | Usurper in the East. |
238 CE | He was chosen by the insurgent aristocracy inhabiting the provinces of Africa who were against Maximinus Thrax. As he was very old, his son, Gordian II, was his co-emperor. He ruled for 21 days. | |
Gordian II | 238 CE | Co-emperor with his father Gordian I. He killed trying to defend Carthage in a hopeless fight between militia and the best Roman legions commanded by Capellianus. |
238 CE | Proclaimed emperor in 238 CE as a result of a rebellion alongside with Pupienus. They were assassinated after 3 months, they ruled together for 99 days. | |
238 CE | Proclaimed emperor in 238 CE as a result of a rebellion alongside with Balbinus. They were assassinated after 3 months, they ruled together for 99 days. | |
238 – 244 CE | In the years 242-243 he regained Syria and Mesopotamia from the Persians. Killed by Philip the Arab, the prefect of praetors. | |
Sabinian | 240 CE | Usurper. |
Philip the Arab | 244 – 249 CE | Killed Gordian to be the emperor. He did not become famous for anything in particular. |
Philip II | 247 – 249 CE | He got the “Caesar” title in 244 CE (this year his father took the power), the “Augustus” title in 247 CE (he was then 10 years old). |
Silbannacus | 244 – 249 CE | Usurper. |
Pacatianus | 248 CE (?) | Usurper in Moesia. |
Jotapian | 248 CE | Usurper in Cappadocia. |
Trajan Decius | 249 – 251 CE | Killed Philip I and his son, Philip II to become an emperor. Died in the battle of Abrittus. |
Gaius Julius Priscus | 249 – 250 CE | Usurper in Philippopolis. Brother of Philip the Arab. |
Licinianus | 250 CE | Usurper in Rome. |
Herennius Decius | 251 CE | The elder son of Decius, the emperor, brother of Hostillian. In 250 CE he, along with his brother, became emperor and soon after that, before the 9th of June, got the “Augustus” title. He died with his father in the battle of Abrittus in Moesia. |
Hostillian Gallus | 251 CE | The younger son of Decius, brother of Herennius Decius. in 250 CE he was proclaimed “Caesar” along with his brother. Herennius became “Augustus” the same year. Hostillian, probably because he was relatively young, remained “Caesar”. Died due to plague. |
251 – 253 CE | He reign from 251 to 253 CE. He was proclaimed emperor, as many of his predecessor, by the soldiers. He had to face many invasions on Roman territory and in-fighting in the Empire. He ended up like plenty of emperors at that time. | |
251 – 253 CE | Son of Trebonianus Gallus, co-emperor with his father. | |
253 CE | Proclaimed emperor by four subservient legions in 253 CE. In order to legitimate the emperor’s power he attacked rightful emperors in Italia, Trebonianus and Volusianus. Senate granted him all the titles. | |
Mereades | 253 – 260 CE | Usurper. |
Uranius Antoninus | 249 – 254 CE | Usurper in Syria. |
253 – 260 CE | He was fighting with the Persians and was captured in battle of Edessa, died in captivity (the only emperor who lived in captivity). | |
253 – 268 CE | In his reign the chaos ruled in the Empire. The country suffered from many invasions – Persians, Franks, Goths, Alemanni and many others. Many armies proclaimed different emperors at that time. | |
Valerian II | 253 – 257 CE | Co-emperor with his father, Gallienus, |
Celsus | 253 – 268 CE | Usurper. |
Ingenuus | 258 – 260 CE | Usurper in Panonia. |
Saloninus | 259 – 260 CE | In 258 CE he was proclaimed emperor after the death of his brother, Valerian II who had died nearly two years earlier. Assassinated on orders of Postumus. |
Sponsian | c. 260 CE | Usurper. The proof of its existence is to be a gold coin discovered in Romania. The latest research results confirm the authenticity of the object. The emperor also referred to as Sponsianus really existed and commanded the Roman army in Dacia around 260 CE. Dacia at that time was strongly isolated from the rest of the Empire, and in order to maintain power, Sponsian could usurp power and try to prevent invasions. As a result of constant barbarian attacks across the Danube in 271 CE, Emperor Aurelian finally gave up the lands of Dacia and based the border on the Danube. |
Macrianus | 260 – 261 CE | Usurper in the East. |
Quietus | 260 – 261 CE | Usurper in the East. |
Regalianus | 260 CE | Usurper in Panonia. |
Mussius Aemilianus | 261 – 262 CE | Usurper in Egypt. |
Gallic Empire
(formally usurpers)
Name | Reign | Short description |
Postumus | 260 – 269 CE | Represented himself as the restorer of Gaul. His power was limited only to Gaul, Britain and Hispania. He was murdered by the insurgent soldiers. |
Aureolus | 268 – 269 CE | Usurper in Raetia. |
Laelianus | 268 CE | Usurper. |
Marius | 268 CE | Usurper. |
Domitian II | 268 CE | Usurper. Known only for two accidentally discovered coins issued by him. Until recently it was discussed whether he had really existed, question the authenticity of one of the coins. Dimities could have participated in the dethronement of Victorinus and then became a rival for Tetricus with whom he apparently lost the struggle for power over Imperium Galliarum. Proclaiming him emperor could have been a result of danger, as there was a possibility of barbarian invasion in the beginning of Aurelianus reign. |
Victorinus | 268 – 270 CE | Usurper. |
Tetricus I | 270 – 273 CE | Usurper. |
Tetricus II | 270 – 273 CE | Usurper. |
Illyrian emperors
Name | Reign | Short description |
268 – 270 CE | One of Gallienus’ graters commanders. He gained many victories over the Goths. The most significant one was the victory in the battle of Naissus in Moesia. He became famous for fighting with the Gots and thus got the surname Gothicus. He was a victim of the plague. | |
Quintillus Gothicus | 270 CE | Proclaimed emperor by the army in 270 CE (decision approved by the Senate). Brother of Clodius II Gothicus). |
Aurelian | 270 – 275 CE | One of the graters emperors in the second half of the 3rd century. He started to overcome the crisis heavy-handedly. In 271 CE he ordered to erect fortified walls which main aim was to protect Rome from the barbarian invasions. He also destroyed the country of Zenobia and Voballathus in the Palmyrene Empire and incorporated their lands to the Roman Empire. He died assassinated in conspiracy during the Persian campaign. |
Urbanus | 270 – 271 CE | Usurper. |
Septimus | 271 CE | Usurper in Dalmatia. |
Voballathus | 271 – 272 CE | King of the Palmyrene Empire, usurper. |
Antiochus | 272 CE | Usurper in the Palmyrene Empire. |
Tacitus | 275 – 276 CE | He had no authority among the soldiers and thus he died being murdered. |
Florianus | 276 CE | He was trying to oppose his rival, the commander of eastern legions – Marcus Aurelius Probus. He ruled for 88 days, from July to September 276 CE. |
Probus | 276 – 282 CE | After murdering emperor Florins in 276 CE he was proclaimed new emperor. In his reign there were more barbarian attacks in he northern part of the Empire. He was a great commander and he eventually managed to pacify the northern line. |
Bonosus | 280 CE | Usurper in Cologne (Colonia). |
Saturnin | 280 CE | Usurper in Syria. |
Proculus | 280 – 281 CE | Usurper in Lugdunum. |
Carus | 282 – 283 CE | Proclaimed emperor after a rebellion and murdering his predecessor, Probus. He fought with the Sarmatians and the Persians. He died during one of military campaigns, presumably struck by lightning. |
Numerian | 283 – 284 CE | Co-emperor with his brother Carinus, younger son of Carus |
Carinus | 283 – 285 CE | Hated in the Empire because of his admiration of cruelty, luxury and orgy. |
J Julian of Pannonia | 284 – 285 CE | Usurper in the Veneti country, Istria and Pannonia. |
Dominate
(Tetrarchy / Constantinian dynasty)
Name | Reign | Short description |
284 – 305 CE | His reign opens the era of late Roman Empire, the era of dominate. Diocletian transformed the country into absolute monarchy, establishing despotic government system called the dominate, depriving Senate of all its influence. The emperor received divine traits and was being worshipped, also eastern ceremonial was introduced. He established the system of tetrarchy to improve the governance: there were two emperors with the title “Augustus” (in the East – Diocletian, in the West – Maximian) and their two helpers with the the title “Caesar” (in the East – Galerius, in the West – Chlorus). | |
Maximian | 285 – 310 CE | Adopted by Diocletian, co-emperor to 285 CE. He assumed the title “Augustus” in 286 CE. He ruled over the western part of the Empire. |
Amandus | 285 – 286 CE | Usurper. |
Carausius | 287 – 293 CE | Usurper in Britain. |
Allectus | 293 – 296 CE | Usurper in Britain. |
Domitius Domitianus | 296 – 297 CE | Usurper in Egypt. |
Constantius Chlorus | 305 – 306 CE | He became famous for being the father of Constantine the Great. |
Galerius | 305 – 311 CE | He assumed the title “Caesar” on 1 March 293 CE from Diocletian, to whose daughter, Galeria, Valeria, he was married. |
| Valerius Severus | 306 – 307 CE | He was proclaimed an emperor on 1 May 305 CE, co-emperor during the reign of Constantius Chlorus. After Chlorus’ death on 25 July 306 CE, along with Galerius, he was trying (unsuccessfully) to dethrone Maxentius. |
Maxentius | 307 – 312 CE | After the death of Constantius Chlorus in 306 CE, legions in Britain proclaimed his son, Constantine the Great, emperor. Whereas the plebeians and praetors proclaimed Maxentius. |
Lucius Domitius Alexander | 308 – 309/311 CE | Usurper in Africa. |
306 – 337 CE | He became famous mostly for being the first emperor to be christened. In 313 during the meeting in Milan he proclaimed the Edict of Milan which declared religious tolerance for the Christians. His main aim was to continue Diocletian’s work. He was christened a day before he died, by an Arianizing bishop. He left 3 sons as his successors: Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans. Each of them had their own provinces. | |
Licinius I | 308 – 324 CE | Roman emperor born in Moesia, close friend of Galerius, he took part in his Persian campaign in 297 CE. |
Maximinus Daia | 309 – 313 CE | He assumed the title “Caesar” in 305 CE (he administrated Syria and Egypt). After proclaiming Licinius emperor in 308 CE he demanded to assume the title “Augustus” which he did. After the death of Galerius in 311 CE he took over the command over the provinces in Asia. |
Valerius Valens | 316 – 317 CE | ? |
Licinius II | 317 – 324 CE | Roman emperor, son of Licinius I. |
Martinian | 324 CE | After the lost battle of Adrianople on 3 June 324 CE he was appointed co-emperor (Augustus) by Licinius and sent to Lampsacus to delay Constantine’s army coming from Thrace. |
Crispus | 317 – 326 CE | “Caesar”, executed on the order of Constantine I in 326 CE. |
Dalmatius | 335 – 337 CE | “Caesar”. Assassinated in 337 CE in the massacre of Constantius Chlorus’ sons, born from his second wife, Theodora. |
Hannibalianus | 335 – 337 CE | “Caesar”. Grandson of Constantinus Chorus and his second wife, Flavia Maximiana Theodora. Dalmatians was his brother. |
Constantine II | 337 – 340 CE | The eldest son of Constantine the Great. In 340 Constantine invaded Italy ruled by Constans but he died in the battle of Aquileia. |
337 – 350 CE | He had an enormous talent in commanding. In 338 CE he crossed Danubius and defeated the Sarmatians. To 340 he was a co-emperor with his brother Constantine II, then he defeated him in a battle. Killed by the usurper Magnentius in 350 CE. | |
337 – 361 CE | He was fighting battles with the usurper – Magnentius. In 351 the caught battle of Mursa – Constantinus won, however, Magnentius managed to escape. The next campaign in 353 CE in which Magnentius was defeated, forced him to commit a suicide. | |
Magnentius | 350 – 353 CE | Usurper. |
Decentius | 351 – 353 CE | Usurper, brother of Magnentius. |
Vetranio | 350 CE | Usurper on the Balkan Peninsula. |
Nepotianus | 350 CE | Usurper in Rome. |
Constantius Gallus | 351 – 354 CE | “Caesar”. |
361 – 363 CE | Colloquially called Julian. He pursued the restore of paganism as state religion as he wanted to carry out some reforms at the same time. He harassed Christians: ordered them to return the temples and forbade teaching at schools. He died in 363 in one of the battles with the Persians. | |
363 – 364 CE | Reigned from 363 to 364 CE. He was proclaimed emperor after the death of Julian the Apostate when gathered the military council. Their first choice was Salutius Secundus, prefect of praetors, but he rejected this offer. The second choice was Jovian. He established peace with the Persians, but on bad terms, he recognized independence of Armenia. Moreover, he reestablished Christianity as a state religion. |
Valentinian dynasty
Name | Reign | Short description |
364 – 375 CE | He was emperor from 364 to 375 CE. He ruled over both eastern and western part of the Empire, but with time he passed the eastern part to his brother, Valens. After few years he appointed Gratian his co-emperor. He died as a result of being to nervous. | |
364 – 378 CE | He interfered in the churches internal conflicts in the Arianism advantage as he was a believer. He began a war with the Goths (367-368 and 370-378 CE). He fought with Persian king Shapur II. Died in the battle of Adrianople on 9 August 378 CE. | |
Procopius | 365 – 366 CE | Usurper Constantinople, Thrace and Bithynia. |
367 – 383 CE | Christian emperor fighting with paganism. He refused taking the title Pontifex Maximus. Gratian, after Valens’ death he appointed Theodosius (future Theodosius the Great) to be his successor. He was killed by his own troops. | |
Valentinian II | 375 – 392 CE | He lived in Milan as both Roman and Byzantine emperor – Valentinian the Great. Assassinated in Gaul. |
Theodosian dynasty
Name | Reign | Short description |
379 – 395 CE | In 392 CE he forbade professing other religions than Christianity and he declared it to be the only legitimate imperial religion. In 393 he banned organizing the Olympic games as he considered it to be the relic of paganism. He divided the Empire into two parts: western and eastern – this division turned out to be permanent. | |
Magnus Maximus | 383 – 388 CE | Usurper in Britain and Gaul. |
Flavius Victor | 387 – 388 CE | Usurper in Britain and Gaul. |
Eugenius | 392 – 394 CE | Usurper in the West. |
Emperors of the Western Empire
Name | Reign | Short description |
395 – 423 CE | T Theodosius divided rulership between his two sons. Honorius received the western half and Arcadius eastern. In 410 CE Rome was invaded by the barbarians with Alaric in command. He also fought many wars with numerous usurpers. | |
Marcus | 406 – 407 CE | Usurper in Britain. |
Constantine III | 407 – 411 CE | Usurper in Britain, Gaul and Hispania. |
Constans II | 408 – 411 CE | Usurper in Britain, Gaul and Hispania. “Caesar” (?). |
Maximus | 409 – 411 CE | Usurper in Hispania. |
Priscus Attalus | 409 – 415 CE | Usurper. |
Jovinus | 411 – 413 CE | Usurper in Gaul. |
Sebastianus | 412 – 413 CE | Usurper in Gaul. |
Constantius III | 421 CE | In return for defeating usurpers, Honorius proclaimed him co-emperor. |
Joannes | 423 – 425 CE | Usurper controlling the whole territory of the Western Empire. |
Valentinian III | 425 – 455 CE | He came into power when he was 6. However, for almost the entire time he did not have any actual power. An attempt to autonomize led to his death. |
Petronius Maximus | 455 CE | In the reign of Honorius he was a treasury administrator. He ruled only for two months and died killed by the mob. |
Avitus | 455 – 456 CE | Deposed after the lost battle of Placentia. |
457 – 461 CE | Emperor of the Western Empire from 457 to 461 CE. He is considered to be last not puppet monarch. He managed to restore power over Iberia and Gaul. One of only a few Roman emperors who made firm moves which could really rescue Rome from the fall. | |
461 – 465 CE | Totally dependent on Ricimer, Germanic commender. Libels based his reign on Ricimer. | |
Anthemius | 467 – 472 CE | Along with the Eastern Empire he organized a campaign against the Vandals inhabiting the northern territory but it turned out to be a failure. |
Olybrius | 472 CE | In his reign Rome was invaded by the Germans for the third time. |
Glycerius | 473 – 474 CE | Deprived of power by Leo – the emperor of East who passed the imperial insignia to Julius Nepos. |
Julius Nepos | 474 – 475 CE | Proclaimed emperor of the Western Empire by Leo, emperor of the Eastern Empire. |
475 – 476 CE | The last emperor of the Western Empire. Deposed by Odoacer. Sending away the insignia to Constantinople is considered to be the end of the Western Empire and antiquity. | |
Profile presenting the age of emperors when they came to power and died | ||
