Roman Emperors - Statistics

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  • The average score is 94 of 189
Answer Stats
Hint Answer % Correct
Julio-Claudian dynasty (27BC-AD68) First Emperor, ruling 27BC to AD14 Augustus
100%
37-41. A darling of the people who later suffered severe mental health issues, eventually ending in his assassination. Caligula
92%
54-68. Forced to commit suicide after being named an enemy of the people. Enjoyed performing on the stage. Nero
92%
14-37. Son-in-law to the previous emperor. Tiberius
92%
41-54. Uncle to the previous emperor. Invaded Britannia and introduced elephants to those inhabitants. Claudius
84%
180-192. This emperor preferred Gladiatorial games to ruling a vast empire. Commodus
80%
407-411. Usurper who ruled in the west, with his son. Constantine
80%
117-138. Discontinued Roman expansionism. Known for a certain wall in the north of Britannia. Hadrian
80%
161-180. The first time that emperors shared power. This emperor was known for his meditations. The end of Pax Ramana. Marcus Aurelius
80%
Nerva-Antonine dynasty (96-192) 96-98. Pax Roman at the start of its golden age. Nerva
80%
138-161. This Emperor had a very peaceful reign. Antoninus Pius
76%
98-117. Thought to have been the second best emperor. The Empire reached its greatest territorial extent during his reign. Trajan
76%
Flavian dynasty (69-96) 69-79. First of the Flavians. Started the construction of the Colosseum. Vespasian
76%
211-217. Joint succession of two brothers. This brother murdered his younger brother. Caracalla
72%
211. Murdered by his older brother. Geta
72%
238 was known as the Year of the Six Emperors. Gordian dynasty (238-244)
This elderly senator succeeded with his son, in opposition to the previous giant Emperor. He committed suicide on receiving the news of his son's death.
Gordian I
72%
238. The son of the previous emperor. He died in battle and ruled for just 22 days. Gordian II
72%
161-169. The second emperor, sharing power with the previous emperor. Lucius Verus
72%
Severan dynasty (193-235) 193-211. Founded a more military leaning dynasty. Born in Africa, in Leptis Magna in modern day Libya. Septimius Severus
72%
193. This senator had the most money to buy being emperor, when auctioned by the praetorian guards. Didius Julianus
68%
81-96. The last of the Flavians. A palace conspiracy led to his demise Domitian
68%
218-222. Worshipped an Egyptian sun god. Elagabalus
68%
69 was the Year of the Four Emperors 68-69. First of the emperors in the Year of the Four Emperors. Galba
68%
238-244. The third of this short lived dynasty. Gordian III
68%
69. Committed suicide rather than take his armies into battle. Otho
68%
193 was known as the Year of the Five Emperors 193. Did not have a chance to prove himself before being murdered by soldiers from the Praetorian Guard. The first emperor of the Year of the Six Emperors. Pertinax
68%
79-81. Mount Vesuvius erupted during his rein. The Colosseum was completed. Titus
68%
From this point we concentrate on the eastern empire from 364 to its fall in 1453. 364-378. The younger brother of the western emperor. Valens
68%
308-310. His armies quickly abandoned him in Africa. | 912-913. This emperor has been depicted as lazy, lecherous, drunk, and malignant! Alexander
64%
Justinian dynasty (518-602) 518-527. This emperor started life as a peasant. He was elected as emperor (by paying his 'supporters') Justin I
64%
Valerian dynasty (253-268) 253-260. A new dynasty brought some stability to the turbulent third century. He was captured live by the Persian emperor Shapur I, which sent shockwaves across the Roman Empire. Valerian
64%
69. This emperor was known for his gluttony. Vitellius
64%
270-275. A successful soldier emperor defeating the Alamanni, Goths, Vandals, Juthlingi, Sarmatians and Carpi. He also reunited the Roman Empire by defeating the Palmyrene Empire in 273 and the Gallic Empire in 274. Despite this, he was assassinated by some of his own men. Aurelian
60%
238. The second of the senators to jointly rule. Also murdered by the Preatorian guard, Balbinus
60%
Macedonian dynasty (867-1056) This dynasty would produce 17 emperors. 867-886. This emperor was nicknamed "the Macedonian". He died in a hunting accident in 886, and was succeeded by his son. Basil I
60%
337-350. Quarrelled with his brother, and from 340 controlled the western half of the empire. Constans I
60%
641-668. Was 11 when proclaimed emperor. Under his stewardship the eastern Romans withdrew from Egypt. Constans II
60%
337-340. Ruled the western part of the empire. Fell out with his brother who held the central portion of the empire. Constantine II
60%
Doukas dynasty (1059-1078) 1059-1067. Founder of the Doukan dynasty, he lost most of the remaining Italian territories. Constantine X
60%
Tetrarchy 284-324 284-305. One of two that retired in 305. Diocletion
60%
253-268. Initially co-emperor with his father, he would rule for 15 years before coming to a grizzly end. The Gallic Empire broke away from the Roman Empire during his reign. Gallienus
60%
361-363. The last non-Christian emperor. Julian
60%
527-565. The Eastern Roman Empire reached its greatest extent under this emperor, with the reconquest of Italy, North Africa and much of Iberia. He built many Christian churches including the Hagia Sophia. He also streamlined Roman law into the 'Corpus Juris Civilis'. Justinian I
60%
685-695. More vindictive that his famous same named predecessor. Although deposed by a coup, he would serve a second term from 705. | 705-711. Second term. More infamous than his namesake. He made his son co-emperor. He was only one at the time. Justinian II
60%
565-578. Nephew of the previous emperor. Justin II
60%
244-249.Born in modern day Syria. He celebrated Rome's first millennium. He was killed in battle against the next emperor. Philip the Arab
60%
238. One of two senators that tried to fill the power vacuum following the deaths of the two emperors above. Neither senator trusted the other, and both were murdered by the Praetorian guard. Pupienus
60%
222-235. The last of the Severan dynasty, murdered alongside his mother. Severus Alexander
60%
268-270. The second emperor to bear this name. He died from the plague, to be succeeded by his half-brother. Claudius II
56%
668-685. Defeated the first Arab siege of Constantinople. Constantine IV
56%
741-775. Was the fifth emperor too bear this name. Constantine V
56%
780-797. Was blinded by his mother and later died of his injuries. His mother would be empress following this unfortunate man. Constantine VI
56%
1449-1453. This emperor died the day Constantinople fell. There were no known surviving eyewitnesses to the death of the emperor and none of his entourage survived to offer any credible account of his death. Later Greek historians accepted Critobulus's account, never doubting that emperor died as a hero and martyr. The last of the emperors, and the eleventh to hold that name. The end of 1500 years of the Roman Empire. Constantine XI
56%
249-251. Initially an usurper, killing the previous emperor. Died in battle with his son against the goths. Decius
56%
797-802. The first of the Empresses. 'of Athens.' Irene
56%
Leonid dynasty (457-518) 457-474. This emperor sent a fleet to destroy the Vandals which ended in disaster, almost bankrupting the empire. Leo I
56%
474. Son of the next emperor, and grandson of the previous emperor. Was sole emperor for 11 days, at the age of 6! Leo II
56%
217-218. Murdered the sitting emperor in fear of his own life. The first emperor to not hail from the senatorial class, instead hailing from the Equestrian order, the second highest social class after the senators. Promoted his son Diadumenian to co-emperor in his second year. Macrinus
56%
235 would be the year that would see the start of the Crises of the Third Century (235-285) 235-238. This emperor was the first commoner to become emperor. Rumoured to have been 8 feet 6 inches tall. As said, 235 marked the start of the Crises of the Third Century which saw many soldier (or barracks) emperors. Many of these emperors were murdered by soldiers from other legions. The crises would eventually end in 284. Maximinus Thrax
56%
811-813. This emperor was the last to be overthrown by the military. Michael I
56%
475-476. Considered by many historians to be the last emperor. Was only 16 when he was deposed. Romulus Augustulus
56%
Theodosian dynasty (379–457) 379-395. His two children each ruled half the empire on his death. Theodosius I
56%
408-450. Dominated by his mother and governmental officials. Theodosius II
56%
578-582. This emperor was known for his generosity. Tiberius II
56%
395-408. The oldest son of the previous emperor. Arcadius
52%
976-1025. Psellos describes him as a stocky man of shorter-than-average stature who nevertheless was an impressive figure on horseback. He had light-blue eyes, strongly arched eyebrows, luxuriant side whiskers—which he had a habit of rolling between his fingers when deep in thought or angry—and in later life a scant beard. His reign of 49 years and 11 months was the longest of any Roman emperor. Basil II
52%
913-959. Most of his reign was dominated by co-regents: from 913 until 919 he was under the regency of his mother, while from 920 until 945 he shared the throne with a self-styled 'senior' emperor. Constantine VII
52%
1025-1028. This emperor displayed a lifelong lack of interest in politics, statecraft and the military, and during his brief sole reign the government of the Byzantine Empire suffered from mismanagement and neglect. Constantine VIII
52%
Constantinian dynasty (306-363) 305-306. Father of one of the 'Greats'. Died in present day York. Constantius I
52%
337-361. Started with the eastern provinces, but from 353 ruled the whole empire. Constantius II
52%
395-423.Weak. Ineffective. Chaotic. Just some of the adjectives describing the twenty-eight year reign of this emperor. Politically incompetent, militarily inept, timid and passive, he faced constant bombardment from barbarian marauders, and during his reign Rome was sacked for the first time in eight hundred years. Honorius
52%
969-976. Described as one of the eastern empire's most successful generals. He died suddenly and intrigue suggests he was poisoned. John I
52%
1118-1143.This emperor has been described as ''a pious and dedicated monarch who was determined to undo the damage his empire had suffered following the Battle of Manzikert, half a century earlier''. John II
52%
1341-1391. This emperor was eight when came to the throne. He ruled from 1341 to 1391, with interruptions. His long reign was marked by constant civil war, the spread of the Black Death and several military defeats to the Ottoman Turks, who rose as the dominant power of the region. Lost most of the territories outside Constantinople. John V
52%
1347-1354. During this reign the eastern empire was impoverished, and was assailed by many enemies on all its borders. John VI
52%
1385-1390. Held the throne for 5 months in 1390. Also governor of Selymbria before his stint on the throne, and emperor of Thessalonica between 1403-1408. John VII
52%
1425-1448. This emperor was the eighth to bear this name and died at Constantinople in 1448, becoming the last reigning Byzantine emperor to die of natural causes. John VIII
52%
363-364. The last emperor to rule the empire for the entirety of his reign. May have suffocated on poisonous fumes. Jovian
52%
Isaurian (Syrian) dynasty (717-802) 717-741. This emperor stabilised the empire after 22 years of odd emperors belonging to no dynasty. Leo III
52%
1143-1180. This emperor was the last Eastern Roman emperor to attempt reconquests in the western Mediterranean. Manuel I
52%
1391-1425. This emperor continued his father's practice of soliciting Western European aid against the Ottomans, and personally visited several foreign courts to plead his cause. Manuel II
52%
Amorian dynasty (820-867) 820-829. General sentenced to execution by the previous emperor; instead he was proclaimed emperor by the assassins sent by that emperor. Michael II
52%
842-867. This emperor was crowned co-emperor by his father when he was just five months old. His father died when he was only two years whence he became sole emperor! During his minority, the empire was governed by a regency headed by his mother Theodora, her uncle Sergios, and the eunuch Theoktistos. Michael III
52%
1034-1041. When this emperor ascended the throne, he was suffering from epilepsy, a condition that continually worsened throughout his reign. Michael IV
52%
1041-1042. Banishing his adoptive mother led to the fall of this emperor. Michael V
52%
1056-1057. The previous empress proclaimed this man to be her successor on her deathbed. Michael VI
52%
1071-1078. Military defeats and underfunding led to revolts. He resigned and retired to a monastery. Michael VII
52%
Palaiologos dynasty (1259-1453)
The Palaiologos dynasty was the last of the Roman Empire. It would last 194 years, the longest of any. 1259-1282. Joint rule with the previous emperor until 1261, when he regained Constantinople from the Latin Empire. His reign saw considerable recovery of Byzantine power, including the enlargement of the Byzantine army and navy. It also included the reconstruction of the city of Constantinople, and the increase of its population.
Michael VIII
52%
193-194. Strictly an usurper, but as this was Year of the Six Emperors so he is included here. Pescennius Niger
52%
1055-1056. Despite fierce opposition ruled in her own right for 16 months. Was the final emperor of the Macedonian dynasty. Theodora
52%
Laskaris dynasty (1205-1261) 1205-1221. The first emperor to rule outside Constantinople, when the Latins captured the city. He ruled as Emperor of Nicaea. Theodore I
52%
1254-1258. Died in 1258 to be succeeded by his son. Theodore II
52%
715-717. A tax collector before becoming emperor. Theodosius III
52%
251-253. Made peace with the goths before claiming the emperor's chair. Trebonianus Gallus
52%
474-475. Two periods of rule. Father of the previous emperor. | 476-491. Regained the throne. His reign was plagued by internal revolts. Zeno
52%
467-472. The last western emperor that held any real power. Was killed by the 'kingmaker' Ricimer. Anthemius
48%
Carinian dynasty (282-285) 282-283. Another short lived dynasty. This emperor may have been struck by lightning. Carus
48%
193-197. Helped the following Emperor to defeat the previous emperor. Clodius Albinus
48%
1042-1055. He was described by Michael Psellos as "a marvel of beauty that Nature brought into being in the person of this man, so justly proportioned, so harmoniously fashioned, that there was no one in our time to compare to him". Constantine IX
48%
Heraclian dynasty (610-695) 610-641. Overthrew the previous unpopular emperor. Heraclius
48%
251. The second son of the emperor that ruled from 249-251. Probably died of the plague. Hostilian
48%
1221-1254. The second emperor of Nicaea, successor state to the eastern Roman empire. John III
48%
1258-1261. The last emperor of Nicaea before the recapture of Constantinople by the eastern Romans. He was deposed and blinded by his successor. John IV
48%
775-780. Died from tuberculosis leaving his nine year son as the next emperor. Leo IV
48%
813-820. Ended the decade old war with the Bulgars. Leo V
48%
886-912. This emperor was a prolific writer, and he produced works on many different topics and in many styles, including political orations, liturgical poems, and theological treatises. On many occasions he would personally deliver highly wrought and convoluted sermons in the churches of Constantinople. Leo VI
48%
456-461.Considered to be the last great emperor. Majorian
48%
582-602. This emperor was also seen as able and tolerant at the start of his reign. Fiscal policies turned the populace against him. From 590 his son Theodosius was co-emperor. Maurice
48%
306-312. Mainly had control of Italy and some of Africa. Maxentius
48%
602-610. Was a centurion in the army and not part of the Justinian dynasty. Initially a spokesmen for dissatisfied soldiers he led the revolt against the sitting emperor. Phocas
48%
275-276. The last emperor to be chosen by the senate. He ruled for six months. Tacitus
48%
From here we will concentrate on the western half of the empire until its fall, before returning to the eastern half. Valentinianic dynasty (364–392) 364-375. Ruled over both halves of the empire before making his brother eastern emperor. Valentinian I
48%
388-392. The second emperor to bare this name. Valentinian II
48%
1042. A brief reign before her husband acceded to the throne. Zoe
48%
Komnenos dynasty (1081-1185) 1081-1118. This emperor appealed to Western Europe for help against the Seljuk Turks. This was the catalyst that sparked the First Crusade. Alexios I
44%
1180-1183. Regents held the real power. This poor emperor was strangled at the age of 14. Alexios II
44%
1183-1185. This emperor was brutally murdered. His son John was also murdered. Andronikos I
44%
1282-1328. Last years of his reign were fighting his grandson, who would ultimately depose this emperor. Start of the decline and fall of the roman empire. Andronikos II
44%
475-476. Usurper. His son ruled with him. Basiliscus
44%
283-285. Son of the above. Carinus
44%
421. Was a successful general of the politically weak emperor (395-423), was co-emperor during 421 before he died. Constantius III
44%
305-311. This emperor was notorious for persecuting Christians. Galerius
44%
474-475. The first of two spells as emperor. | 476-480. The eastern emperor conceded that the western empire was finished after the death of this man. Fled after his first spell as emperor to Split in modern day Croatia. He lived there for 5 years and was recognised as the legitimate western roman emperor. He was murdered in 480, when the eastern emperor formally dissolved the western half. Julius Nepos
44%
450-457. This emperor and his wife are recognised as a saints by the orthodox church. Marcian
44%
Nikephorian dynasty (802-811) 802-811. A short lived dynasty. This emperor died in an ambush by Bulgars led by Khum. Nikephoros I
44%
963-969. This unfortunate emperor was described as ''...a monstrosity of a man, a pygmy, fat-headed and like a mole as to the smallness of his eyes; disgusting with his short, broad, thick, and half hoary beard; disgraced by a neck an inch long; very bristly through the length and thickness of his hair; in colour an Ethiopian; one whom it would not be pleasant to meet in the middle of the night; with extensive belly, lean of loin, very long of hip considering his short stature, small of shank, proportionate as to his heels and feet; clad in a garment costly but too old, and foul-smelling and faded through age; shod with Sicyonian shoes; bold of tongue, a fox by nature, in perjury, and lying a Ulysses'' Nikephoros II
44%
283-284. Died by possibly inhaling toxic fumes. Numerian
44%
920-944. Was the 'senior' emperor over previous emperor. This emperor was deposed by his two sons, Stephen and Constantine, who in turn were side-lined by the previous emperor. Romanos I
44%
959-963. In November 959 this emperor succeeded his father on the throne. Romanos II
44%
1068-1071. Was captured by the Seljuk Empire and later released, by which time he had been deposed. Romanos IV
44%
698-705. Evidence suggests this emperor was a 'conscientious and effective ruler' and may have become one of the greats had he ruled longer. He was executed with the previous emperor who had been deposed in 695. Tiberius III
44%
253. Ruled for a month - his troops proclaimed him emperor, only to switch sides a month later. Aemilian
40%
1195-1203. A member of the extended imperial family, this emperor came to the throne after deposing, blinding and imprisoning his younger brother. The most significant event of his reign was the attack of the Fourth Crusade on Constantinople in 1203, on behalf of the next emperor. Alexios III
40%
1203-1204. This emperor is widely regarded as one of the worst Byzantine emperors for calling upon the Fourth Crusade to help him gain power, which ultimately led to the sack of Constantinople. Alexios IV
40%
491-518. Oldest emperor at the time of his death (88). Left the empire's finances in a good state, which would help later in regaining Italy, north Africa and Iberia. Anastasius I
40%
307-308. First spell as Augustus. | 310-337. One of the Greats. reunified the whole empire only to split it up between three of his children on his death. Thought to have converted to Christianity on his death-bed! Constantine the Great
40%
375-383. The last emperor to try and invade Germanic tribes across Danube Gratian
40%
641. Another deposed emperor. Tiberius-David was his brother and junior emperor. Heraclonas
40%
Twenty Years Anarchy (actually 22 years) in which no dynasty took hold, which destabilised the empire. 695-698. Was imprisoned in 692 and on release led a rebellion against the emperor who had imprisoned him. Leontius
40%
286-305. Second of two that retired in 305. | 306-308. The father of the previous emperor, who originally retired in 305. | 310. His third spell, having ruled from 286-305 and 306-308. Maximian
40%
1078-1081. This emperor spent large amounts of money on donatives for his army and supporters, which severely sapped the imperial treasury, and distributed many titles to them; he also donated generously to charities. Nikephoros III
40%
472. Was not recognised by the eastern emperor. He died after a few months after ascending the throne. Olybrius
40%
276-282. A popular emperor who was assassinated by his own men. Probus
40%
270. The half-brother of the previous emperor would only rule for a few weeks before being overthrown. Quintillus
40%
1028-1034. A well meaning but ineffective emperor! Romanos III
40%
425-455. Dominated by Aetius for much of his rein. Valentinian III
40%
1204. The last emperor to rule Constantinople until 1261. Alexios V
36%
713-715. This emperor dedicated his efforts to fortifying the Empire and fostering a period of stability. Anastasius II
36%
1376-1379. Civil war with his father, an earlier emperor, continued to weaken the empire. The Ottomans invaded the Balkans during his reign. Andronikos IV
36%
455-456. Was forced to abdicate by Ricimer. Avitus
36%
276. Half-brother of the previous emperor. Florianus
36%
473-474. Appointed by Gondobad. The eastern emperor did not recognise this man and sent his own nominee to depose him. Surrendered and became a monk. Glycerius
36%
423-425. The eastern emperor disliked this 'usurper'. Joannes
36%
461-465. Not liked by many factions, including the eastern empire. Libius Severus
36%
308-324. Started with three years in the west, and then 13 years in the east. Licinius
36%
455. Tried to flee the sack of Rome by the Vandals. Was captured by the mob and killed. Petronius maximus
36%
711-713. He took power in a coup against the unpopular emperor before him, and was deposed in a similarly violent manner nineteen months later. Philippicus
36%
829-842. This emperor was the second emperor of the Amorian dynasty and the last emperor to support iconoclasm. Theophilos
36%
350. Actually retired and survived to die of natural causes. Vetranio
36%
1067. This female ruler is disputed by historians but she married the next emperor. Eudokia
32%
1294-1320. It is thought that this co-emperor died of grief at the accidental murder of his second son. Michael IX
32%
316-317. Lined up by the eastern emperor to be the western emperor only to be executed in a peace deal. Valerius Valens
32%
251-253. The son of the emperor who ruled from 251-253. Murdered alongside his father by the next emperor. Volusianus
32%
310-313. Fought a civil war in the east and lost. Maximinus Daza
28%
260. Son of the previous emperor, ruling for approximately a month. Saloninus
28%
306-307. Lost a civil war to the middle emperor. Severus II
28%
253. It is not known for sure if this man was emperor as only two coins have been found with his name on. May have ruled for a short while. Silbannacus
28%
811. This emperor survived the ambush above but was severely wounded. He would only rule for two months before being replaced. Staurakios
28%
641. Was crowned co-emperor at the age of 8 months! By the time he became sole emperor he was critically ill. Heraclius Constantine
24%
251. Son of the previous emperor. Died in battle alongside his father against the goths. Herennius Etruscus
24%
350-353. Usurper who ruled for three years in the western half. Magnentius.
24%
365-366. Captured and executed by the legitimate emperor. Procopius
24%
741-743. Rival to the previous emperor. Artabasdos
20%
383-388. Usurper who deposed the previous emperor. Magnus maximus
20%
324. Another candidate lined up by the eastern emperor to be the western emperor only to be executed in a peace deal. Martinian
16%
392-394. Another usurper who ruled the west for two years. Eugenius
12%
350. Ruled Rome for a short while. Nepotianus
12%
409-410. Alaric promoted his senator to emperor for a few months. Priscus Attalus
12%
1057-1059. This emperor was a passionate hunter with both the horse and the falcon, spending much time at a hunting lodge outside Constantinople. On a hunt he fell ill. As the fever lasted for several days, he feared he would die soon, and named named the following emperor as his successor on 22 November 1059. He agreed to resign and retire to a monastery, but then was to recover but by this time he had been side-lined. Issac I
8%
1203-1204. Co-ruled with his son. This was this emperor's second reign. | Angelos dynasty (1185-1204) 1185-1195. Heavily influenced by supporters, this emperor would have two reigns, the second as co-emperor with his son. The once powerful east roman navy had declined to just 30 galleys during his first reign. Issac II
8%
1328-1341.Under this emperor, the empire came closest to regaining a position of power in the Balkans and the Greek peninsula after the Fourth Crusade. The loss of a few imperial territories in Anatolia, however, left the Ottoman Turks poised to expand into Europe. Andonikos III
0%
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