Roman Emperors

31 BC-14 AD

N/A

First emperor of the Roman Empire

14-37 AD

N/A

Conquered Pannonia, Dalmatia, and Raetia. Forced to divorce first wife by order of 1st emperor

37-41 AD

N/A

Assassinated in an attempt to restore the republic

41-54 AD

N/A

Began the conquest of Britain

54-68 AD

N/A

Driven out of Rome due to unpopularity, killed himself

68-69 AD

N/A

Took power by aid of Praetorian Guard

69 AD

N/A

Murdered successor, committed suicide after losing battles in Germania

69 AD

N/A

As his support crumbled, this emperor was prepared to peacefully abdicate but was not allowed to by his supporters, resulting in a bloody battle in Rome and this emperor's execution

69-79 AD

N/A

Led invasion of Britain, quelled Jewish revolt, built the Roman Amphitheatre

79-81 AD

N/A

Captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple

81-96 AD

N/A

Focused on rebuilding the economy and the city of Rome, tyrannical rule made him highly unpopular amongst Senate, leading to his eventual murder

96-98 AD

N/A

Could not gain support of Roman army, leading him to adopt a popular general as his eventual heir

98-117 AD

N/A

Conquered Dacia, fought successful war against Parthia

117-138 AD

N/A

Ancient fortification named after him in England

138-161 AD

N/A

Successful emperor who campaigned in Scotland, where a limes was named after him

161-169 AD

N/A

Led Roman forces in campaign against Parthia

161-180 AD

N/A

His writings about Stoic philosophy are still critically acclaimed

177-192 AD

N/A

Dictatorial emperor who indulged in gladiatorial combat

192-193 AD

N/A

Tried to bring about many reforms, one of which targeted the Praetorian Guard, who later assassinated him

193 AD

N/A

Purchased the position of emperor from the Praetorian Guard

193-211 AD

N/A

First Emperor born in Africa, fought numerous wars to consolidate his power, died in Britannia campaigning against the Caledonians

198-217 AD

N/A

Created an edict that granted Roman citizenship to all free men in the empire

209-211 AD

N/A

Killed by order of his brother in the arms of his mother by centurions

217-218 AD

N/A

First emperor who did not come from the senatorial class and never was in Rome during his reign

218-222 AD

N/A

Replaced Jupiter as the primary god of Rome with the Arab god he was named after

222-235 AD

N/A

Last emperor of the Severan dynasty, known for his open mind in religious and military matters, which eventually led to his assassination

235-238 AD

N/A

Known as "the Thracian" (Thrax), his rule began the Crisis of the Third Century

238 AD

N/A

Ruled the empire for 22 days before killing himself upon the death of his son

238 AD

N/A

Shortest reign of any emperor at 22 days (died prior to his father)

238 AD

N/A

Left Rome in the hands of his co-emperor to deal with the de jure emperor at the time, upon returning to Rome he found it in disorder and he and his co-emperor were seized and killed by the Praetorian Guard

238 AD

N/A

Left to oversee Rome and did a poor job, later refused his co-emperor pleas to utilize mercenary German bodyguards, thinking it was a plot to have him assassinated. His failure to call for aid led to his brutal death at the hands of the Praetorian Guard

238-244 AD

N/A

Youngest sole emperor of Rome at the age of 13, fought the Sassanid Empire and died under unclear circumstances in modern day Iraq

244-249 AD

N/A

Born in Arabia, negotiated an unfavorable peace with the Sassanids in order to claim Roman rule as quick as possible. Some believe him to be the first Christian emperor due to his tolerance for Christianity

249-251 AD

N/A

Killed predecessor, infamous persecutor of Christians, killed by Goths

251-253 AD

N/A

Declared emperor by legions, made peace with Goths

251 AD

N/A

Brief co-emperor of the above, before dying of the plague or having been murdered by the above

253 AD

N/A

Defeated predecessor, ruled a whole month before being killed by his own men

253-260 AD

N/A

Raised to power by legions, campaigned in Syria before being captured by the Sassanids where he met an unknown fate

253-268 AD

N/A

His 15 year rule helped bring some stability to the Empire during the 3rd century crisis, was assassinated while fighting usurpers

268-270 AD

N/A

Decisively defeats the Goths at Naissus, dies from a plague

270 AD

N/A

Takes charge of Rome for six months before his successor swept him aside

270-275 AD

N/A

Reunited the Empire by defeating the Gallic Empire, abandoned Dacia, worked to restore Roman currency

275-276 AD

N/A

Campaigned against the Goths, died of fever

276 AD

N/A

Campaigned against the man who would succeed him, was killed by his own demoralized army

276-282 AD

N/A

Successful and popular emperor who fought wars on all fronts and aimed to bring back prosperity to the inner provinces

282-283 AD

N/A

Died campaigning against the Sassanid Empire, reportedly killed by lightning

283-285 AD

N/A

Co-ruled the empire with his older brother (see below) before mysteriously dying

283-285 AD

N/A

Competed with his eventual successor from 284 to his murder in 285

284-305 AD

East

Divided the Empire into East and West, instituted the Tetrarchy in a bid to solve the succession crisis, brought about sweeping reforms, then topped it all off by voluntarily retiring his position and living out his days enjoying the Dalmatian coast

286-305 AD

West

Worked alongside his counterpart in the East, he was later ousted and after a failed attempt to regain power he killed himself

305-306 AD

West

Was junior emperor (Caesar) for 12 years before becoming Augustus of the West in 205, campaigned in Gaul and Britannia with success

305-311 AD

East

Fought a major war against the Sassanids, ended the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians in the Empire

306-307 AD

West

Conducted a failed siege of Rome which led to his capture, despite being assured of his life by surrendering, he was executed by his captors

306-312 AD

West

Warred with his counterpart in the East, last Emperor to permanently reside in Rome and worked to improve the city

306-337 AD

N/A

Dissolved the Tetrarchy system, declared Christianity to be the official Roman religion, renamed Byzantium after himself, a city that would later serve as the capital of the East empire for a thousand years

310-313 AD

East

Defeated in a civil war that plagued the Roman empire following the above's death

308-324 AD

East

Following Tetrarchy civil war, was elevated to Augusti of the East under new system of two emperors

337-340 AD

West

Oldest of three brothers who all ruled the empire jointly, attempted to assert right of primogeniture and take Italy by force, an action that led to his death

337-361 AD

Both

Upon the death of his older brother, this emperor defeated the usurper Magnentius bringing the entire Empire under his control

337-350 AD

Italy and Africa

Ruled alongside his brothers, was killed by Magnentius

361-363 AD

Both

Multi-faceted ruler, last pagan emperor, believed a return to old Roman traditions was key to preserving the Empire

363-364 AD

Both

Upon death of his predecessor against the Sassanids, this emperor signed an embarrassing treaty with the Sassanids making him unpopular in the eastern part of the Empire

364-375 AD

West

Split the empire between himself and his brother, was successful in numerous conflicts against Germanic and Saxon tribes, was the last Emperor to fight beyond the Rhine/Danube border

364-378 AD

East

He was successful at the political nature of Emperor but his indecisive nature made him inept militarily, he and two-thirds of his military force was killed in the Battle of Adrianople

367-383 AD

West

Becomes senior Augustus upon death of his father, while marching to face down a usurper in Gaul he was deserted by his army and murdered

375-392 AD

West

Forced to flee Italy when a usurper invaded, sought aid of his counterpart in the East and was restored to Augustus of the West, found hanged in his room

379-395 AD

Both

Signed a treaty with the Sassanid empire, began allowing Goths to settle within the Empire's borders, his final defeat of the below temporarily united both East and West for the final time in 394

383-388 AD

West

Usurper who ruled Gaul and Britannia, set sights on Italy but was defeated by the above ruler, upon his death it is believed Roman imperial presence in Gaul and Britannia was almost none

383-388 AD

West

Elevated to co-Augustus by the above, executed shortly after the above by Arbogast

383-408 AD

East

Weak ruler under whom his wife Aelia and powerful ministers ran the show

393-423 AD

West

Stilicho, a famed and powerful general, was this emperor's guardian and later father-in-law and surprisingly did not seize power from the otherwise impotent ruler, Rome was sacked for the first time in 800 years in 410

402-450 AD

East

Ordered the construction of the famed defensive walls around Constantinople, presided over two major Christian theological controversies, executed his best friend and divorced his wife all because of an extremely large apple

421 AD

West

Suppressed the revolt of Constantine III, recovered much of Gaul and Hispania for the Western Empire

425-455 AD

West

Ruled during the raids of Attila the Hun, helped negotiate peace with the Huns and was later assassinated by the bodyguards of Aetius, a Roman official who this emperor personally killed

450-457 AD

East

His military efforts against the Huns allowed the Western Empire to negotiate a peace, did much to restore the economy of the East as upon his death the East Empire had 7 million gold coins in surplus

455 AD

West

Took the throne after helping orchestrate the murder of his predecessor, to secure his position he arranged marriages and cancelled Vandal King Genseric's marriage, an act which caused Genseric to invade Italy, drive out this emperor, and sack Rome

455-456 AD

West

Built an alliance with the Visigoths, ordered them to attack Hispania and then was unable to get their assistance in fending off the Roman generals who deposed him

457-461 AD

West

Last emperor to attempt to restore the Western Empire in its glory, had major military successes, brought about reforms that vexed the aristocracy, was killed by Ricimer, one of his generals

461-465 AD

West

Puppet emperor controlled by the general Ricimer, during his reign the Western Empire crumbled until only the Italian provinces were retained by Rome

467-472 AD

West

Attempted to subdue the Visigoths in Hispania and the Vandals in Africa, was killed by Ricimer

472 AD

West

Puppet of Ricimer, interested in religion and little else

473-474 AD

West

Puppet of Ricimer's nephew Gundobad, repelled an invasion of Italy by the Visigoths, forced to abdicate and became a Bishop

474-475 AD

West

Overthrew his predecessor, fled to Dalmatia but continued to assert his right to the throne until his death in 480

475-476 AD

West

Last Emperor of the Western Empire, deposed by Odoacer

457-474 AD

East

During his rule, he attempted to help the Western Empire, started to use Greek instead of Latin in official documents which was an important shift

473-474 AD

East

Was co-emperor with his grandfather and died shortly after him

474-491 AD

East

Worked to stabilize the East empire even as the West empire became no more during his rule