A Quick-Fire List of Roman Emperors

The list of all emperors of Rome reads like a who’s who of some of history’s best, and worst, rulers. 

One notable absentee is perhaps the most famous Roman of all, Julius Caesar. In fact he was a dictator of Rome until his assassination, but never an emperor. Take a look at this list of emperors of ancient Rome in chronological order. How many do you recognise?

This list of Roman emperors is made up of men from two families, the Julii Caesares and the Claudii Nerones.

Caesar Augustus | Born: 63 BC | Died: 14 AD | Reign: 27 BC – 14 AD
Augustus was the first Roman emperor. He is considered one of history’s great leaders.

Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus | Born: 42 BC | Died: 37 AD | Reign: AD 14 – AD 37
Tiberius’s victories in Europe were vital in establishing the empire’s northern frontier.

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus | Born: 12 | Died: 41 | Reign: 37 – 41
Perhaps more complex than is often considered, Caligula is known to history as an insane tyrant and a cruel, brutal and sadistic leader.

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus | Born: 10 BC | Died: 54 AD | Reign: 41 AD – 54 AD
During the reign of Claudius, the Romans began their conquest of Britain.

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus | Born: 37 | Died: 68 | Reign: 54 – 68
Popular when he originally took power, Nero’s rule was increasingly frenetic and he is widely seen as a murderous and increasingly unhinged emperor who committed suicide aged 30.

69 AD was a tumultuous year in the history of Rome, beset by civil war, rebellion, murder and suicide. Here is the list of Roman rulers who presided over this dark period.

Servius Galba Caesar Augustus | Born: 3 BC | Died: 69 AD | Reign: AD 68 – AD 69
Galba failed to win over the people of Rome and was murdered by his successor.

Marcus Otho Caesar Augustus | Born: 32 | Died: 69 | Reign: 69
Seized power through a coup. Otho committed suicide after the Battle of Bedriacum.

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus | Born: 15 AD | Died: 69 | Reign: 69
Vitellius lasted eight months as emperor before being killed by Vespasian’s troops.

This list of Roman emperors is unique. Twenty-seven years ruled by one man and his two sons and it left the world with the Colosseum.

Caesar Vespasianus Augustus | Born: 9 | Died: 79 | Reign: 69 – 79
Vespasian restored political stability. He died naturally and was succeeded by his son.

Titus Caesar Vespasianus Augustus | Born: 39 | Died: 81 | Reign: 79 – 81
Titus was best known for completing the Colosseum.

Caesar Domitianus Augustus | Born: 51 | Died: 96 | Reign: 81 – 96
Domitian was a ruthless authoritarian who rebuilt Rome and strengthened the economy.

Of the seven rulers of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, the first five in this list of emperors of ancient Rome in chronological order are known as the Five Good Emperors. At its peak, during the reign of Trajan in 117, the Roman Empire covered five million square kilometres and included 50 – 90 million people.

Nerva Caesar Augustus | Born: 30 | Died: 98 | Reign: 96 – 98
A wise and just emperor, Nerva reformed the tax system and improved public services.

Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus | Born: 53 | Died: 117 | Reign: 98 – 117
Trajan oversaw one of the empire’s greatest periods of military expansion.

Caesar Traianus Hadrianus Augustus | Born: 76 | Died: 138 | Reign: 117 – 138
Hadrian was famous for building the Pantheon in Rome and Hadrian’s Wall in Britain.

Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius | Born: 86 | Died: 161 | Reign: 138 – 161
Popular and effective, Antoninus Pius reigned over a peaceful and popular period in Rome.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus | Born: 121 | Died: 180 | Reign: 161 – 180
A philosophical emperor, the teachings of Marcus Aurelius are still studied today.

Lucius Aurelius Verus | Born: 130 | Died: 169 | Reign: 161 – 169
Lucius Verus ruled jointly with Marcus Aurelius. The first time two had ruled together.

Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus | Born: 161 | Died: 192 | Reign: 180 – 192
A tyrant, Commodus’s reign took Rome ‘from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust’.

Although it is called the Year of Five Emperors, this list of Roman emperors only includes three emperors. The other two claimants, Gaius Pescennius Niger and Decimus Clodius Albius, were known as usurpers, men who tried to seize power by force and without any legal authority.

Publius Helvius Pertinax | Born: 126 | Died: 193 | Reign: 193
Despite a very short reign, Pertinax was popular and ruled with intelligence and integrity.

Marcus Didius Severus Julianus | Born: 133 | Died: 193 | Reign: 193
An unpopular emperor, Didius Julianus reigned for nine weeks before being overthrown.

The forty-two years of the Severan dynasty was beset by constant political upheaval and incredibly unstable familial relationships. This list of Roman rulers almost brought down the empire with the dynasty immediately preceding the Crisis of the Third Century.

Lucius Septimius Severus Pertinax | Born: 145 | Died: 211 | Reign: 193 – 211
Septimius Severus was an effective leader who greatly expanded the empire.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus | Born: 188 | Died: 217 | Reign: 211 – 217
Caracalla was known as a tyrant who was murdered by an incensed centurion.

Publius Septimius Geta | Born: 189 | Died: 211 | Reign: 211
Geta reiged briefly with his brother Caracalla with the latter ordering his assassination.

Marcus Opellius Severus Macrinus | Born: 165 | Died: 218 | Reign: 217 – 218
Macrinus was the first emperor from the equestrian class and never visited Rome.

Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus | Born: 208 | Died: 218 | Reign: 218
Diadumenian was only nine when he became emperor and lasted just a few days.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus | Born: 204 | Died: 222 | Reign: 218 – 222
Elagabalus was a teenage emperor renowned for decadence and promiscuity.

Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander | Born: 208 | Died: 235 | Reign: 222 – 235
The death of Severus Alexander almost brought about the fall of Rome.

Also known as the Imperial Crisis, this period of fifty years almost put paid to the Roman Empire. This section of the list of emperors of ancient Rome in chronological order saw the Empire beset by plague, civil war, infighting, invasions, social and political instability, economic collapse and dozens of claimants to the throne, including six in the year 238.

Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus | Born: Approx. 173 | Died: 238 | Reign: 235 – 238
Maximinus Thrax was from a Romanised Thracian family, and was assassinated by his own soldiers during his siege of Rome.

Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus | Born: 158 | Died: 238 | Reign: 238
Gordian I reigned for just 22 days and committed suicide upon the death of his son.

Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus | Born: 192 | Died: 238 | Reign: 238
Gordian II also reigned for just 22 days and was killed in battle outside Carthage.

Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus | Born: c. 164 | Died: 238 | Reign: 238
Pupienus had a reputation for severity and was murdered by the Praetorian Guard.

Decimus Caelius Calvinus Balbinus | Born: c.178 | Died: 238 | Reign: 238
Balbinus was a gifted orator and a rich and well-connected emperor.

Marcus Antonius Gordianus | Born: 225 | Died: 244 | Reign: 238 – 244
Gordian III was the youngest sole emperor of the united Roman Empire.

Marcus Julius Philippus | Born: c. 204 | Died: 249 | Reign: 244 – 249
Philip the Arab’s reign was oddly stable in a period of mass instability.

Marcus Julius Severus Philippus | Born: c. 237 | Died: 249 | Reign: 247 – 249
During Philip the Younger’s reign, Rome celebrated its thousandth anniversary.

Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius | Born: c.190/200 | Died: 251 | Reign: 249 – 251
Decius was a religious and moral emperor who was killed at the Battle of Abritus.

Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius | Born: ? | Died: 251 | Reign: 251
Herennius Etruscus ruled alongside his father Decius and they were killed together.

Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus | Born: c. 206 | Died: 253 | Reign: 251 – 253
Trebonianus Gallus ruled for two years alongside his son Volusanius.

Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus | Born: ? | Died: 251 | Reign: 251
Hostilian was the son of Decius who died either of plague or by Trebonianus Gallus.

Gaius Vibius Volusianus | Born: c.230 | Died: 253 | Reign: 251 – 253
Volusanius ruled with Trebonianus Gallus. Both were killed by their own soldiers.

Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus | Born: c. 207 | Died: 253 | Reign: 253
Aemilianus secured a great victory against the Goths but was killed by his own men.

Silbannacus | Born: ? Died: ? | Reign: 253
An obscure ruler about which virtually nothing is known.

Publius Licinius Valerianus | Born: Bc. 200 | Died: c. 264 | Reign: 253 – 260
Valerian has the distinction of being the first emperor captured as a prisoner of war.

Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus | Born: 218 | Died: c. 268 | Reign: 253 – 268
Gallienus was a fine military leader whose time as emperor was the longest in 50 years.

Publius Licinius Cornelius Saloninus Valerianus | Born: ? | Died: 260 | Reign: 260
Ruling from Cologne as Caesar in Gaul, Saloninus was the grandson of Valerian.

Marcus Aurelius Claudius | Born: 214 | Died: 270 | Reign: 268 – 270
Known as Gothicus, he won the Battle of Naissus and died in modern-day Serbia.

Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus | Born: ? | Died: 270 | Reign: 270
Quintillus was the brother of Gothicus who reigned for between 17 and 77 days.

Lucius Domitius Aurelianus | Born: 214 | Died: 275 | Reign: 270 – 275
Aurelian was an outstanding military leader who built Rome’s Aurelian Walls.

Marcus Claudius Tacitus | Born: c.200 | Died: 276 | Reign: 275 – 276
One of the oldest emperors to take office, Tacitus died in modern-day Turkey.

Marcus Annius Florianus | Born: ? | Died: 276 | Reign: 276
After a reign of around 80 days, Florianus was murdered by his own soldiers.

Marcus Aurelius Probus | Born: 232 | Died: 282 | Reign: 276 – 282
Probius was an efficient administrator as well as a lenient and moderate ruler.

Marcus Aurelius Carus | Born: c. 224 | Died: 283 | Reign: 282 – 283
Carus was a successful soldier who was believed to have been killed by lightning.

Marcus Aurelius Carinus | Born: c. 250 | Died: 285 | Reign: 283 – 285
Carinus was a largely incapable leader, allegedly marrying and divorcing nine times.

Marcus Aurelius Numerianus | Born: c.253 | Died: 284 | Reign: 283 – 284
A fine orator, Numerian was said to be an excellent poet and a friendly leader.

The Tetrarchy was a system of government used in ancient Rome that divided the empire into regions with co-emperors ruling alongside each other. After the Crisis of the Third Century, the tetrarchy helped to restore stability to Rome and to deal with the constant threat of barbarian invasion. This list of Roman emperors in order lasts for the forty years of the Tetrarchy.

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus | Born: c.243 | Died: c.311 | Reign: 284 – 305
Due to illness, Diocletian was the first Roman emperor to voluntarily abdicate.

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus | Born: c.250 | Died: c.310 | Reign: 286 – 308
Maximian ruled both the West and Italy. He was a powerful military leader.

Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus | Born: c.258 | Died: 311 | Reign: 305 – 311
An emperor in the East, the Galerius Peak glacier in Antarctica is named after him.

Marcus Flavius Valerius Constantius | Born: c.250 | Died: 306 | Reign: 305 – 306
Constantius Chlorus was described as ‘an able general and a generous ruler.’

Flavius Valerius Severus | Born: ? | Died: 307 | Reign: 306 – 307
Severus II ruled the West for eight months before being killed, probably in Ravenna.

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius | Born: c.283 | Died: 312 | Reign: 306 – 312
Despite recognition from the Senate, Maxentius was not recognised by his co-emperors.

Valerius Licinianus Licinius | Born: c.265 | Died: 325 | Reign: 308 – 324
Licinius co-wrote the Edict of Milan, granting tolerance to Christians in the empire.

Galerius Valerius Maximinus | Born: c.270 | Died: 313 | Reign: 310 – 313
A ruler in the East, Maximinus Daza was the last ever person titled Pharaoh.

Aurelius Valerius Valens | Born: ? | Died: 317 | Reign: 316 – 317
An unsuccessful four-month reign led to the execution of Valerius Valens.

Martinian | Born: ? | Died: 325 | Reign: 324
A largely forgettable eight-week reign as emperor in the West ended in execution.

Named for one of the greatest Roman rulers in history, Constantine the Great, the Constantinian Dynasty witnessed the rise of Christianity. Aside from those of ambiguous legitimacy, this list of Roman rulers were all named Flavius.

Flavius Valerius Constantinus | Born: 272/273 | Died: 337 | Reign: 306 – 337
Constantine the Great was the first Christian emperor and founder of Constantinople.

Flavius Claudius Constantinus | Born: c.316 | Died: 340 | Reign: 337 – 340
Constantine II ruled with his brothers and was made Caesar at the age of one.

Flavius Julius Constans | Born: 322/323 | Died: 350 | Reign: 337 – 350
Constans I was believed to be the last legitimate emperor to visit Roman Britain.

Flavius Julius Constantius | Born: 317 | Died: 361 | Reign: 337 – 361
Described as conscientious yet vain and stupid, Constantius II died of fever.

Magnus Magnentius | Born: c.303 | Died: 353 | Reign: 350 – 353
A disputed emperor, Magnentius committed suicide after the Battle of Mons Seleucus.

Julius Nepotianus | Born: ? | Died: 350 | Reign: 350
A usurper who reigned for 28 days before being killed by a general named Marcellinus.

Vetriano | Born: ? | Died: 350 | Reign: 350
Dismissed from his command after nine months, Vetriano died peacefully.

Flavius Claudius Julianus | Born: 331 | Died: 363 | Reign: 361 – 363
Julian was a military commander, philosopher, writer and social reformer.

Jovianus | Born: 330/331 | Died: 364 | Reign: 363 – 364
An eight-month rule ended in Jovian’s death by apparently breathing toxic paint fumes.

The Valentinian emperors laid the foundations for the Byzantine Empire and effectively paved the way for the fall of the Roman Empire. This list of Roman emperors in order are some of the last to rule the entirety of the Empire.

Valentinianus | Born: 321 | Died: 375 | Reign: 364 – 375
Valentinian the Great was a violent man who died of a stroke while apparently yelling at foreign envoys.

Valens | Born: c.328 | Died: 378 | Reign: 364 – 378
Valens died at the Battle of Adrianople, the worst defeat since Edessa a century before.

Procopius | Born: 326 | Died: 366 | Reign: 365 – 366
A usurper who proclaimed himself emperor. He lasted eight months before being killed.

Gratianus | Born: 359 | Died: 383 | Reign: 375 – 383
Gratian was declared emperor aged eight and eventually killed in France.

Magnus Maximus | Born: ? | Died: 388 | Reign: 383 – 388
A usurper whose ambition got the better of him, leading to his death during a civil war.

Valentinianus | Born: 371 | Died: 392 | Reign: 388 – 392
Valentinian II had little authority. He was ruled by generals, co-emperors and his mother.

Eugenius | Born: ? | Died: 394 | Reign: 392 – 394
Eugenius renovated the Temple of Venus & Roma, one of the world’s largest temples.

One of the final Roman imperial families who ruled during the Late Antiquity period. This list of emperors of ancient Rome in chronological order takes in the final years of the once great Roman Empire.

Theodosius I | Born: 346/347 | Died: 395 | Reign: 379 – 395
Theodosius was the last emperor to rule the entire empire before its final west – east split.

Arcadius | Born: 377 | Died: 408 | Reign: 395 – 408
An ineffective ruler whose reign was governed by his wife and powerful officials.

Honorius | Born: 384 | Died: 423 | Reign: 395 – 423
During the reign of Honorius, Rome was sacked for the first time in eight centuries.

Claudius Constantinus | Born: ? | Died: 411 | Reign: 407 – 411
Constantine III declared himself to be emperor. He abdicated after losing support.

Theodosius II | Born: 401 | Died: 450 | Reign: 408 – 450
He was made emperor aged nine and reigned for 42 years. He died falling off a horse.

Priscus Attalus | Born: ? | Died: ? | Reign: 409 – 410
Twice a usurper who lasted a few months. He died in exile on the Aeolian Islands.

Constantius III | Born: ? | Died: 421 | Reign: 421
Constantius was a military leader who won decisive battles against the Visigoths.

Joannes | Born: ? | Died: 425 | Reign: 423 – 425
Unrecognised in the East, Joannes’ ruled for just two years before his death at the hands of an Eastern imperial army.

Valentinian III | Born: 419 | Died: 455 | Reign: 425 – 455
Made emperor aged six, his reign signalled the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

Marcianus | Born: 391/392 | Died: 457 | Reign: 450 – 457
Marcian ruled the East through what was known as a golden age of political stability.

This list of Roman emperors signals the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The West lost political and military control while the East grew stronger, richer and more powerful.

Petronius Maximus | Born: ? | Died: 455 | Reign: 455
He secured the throne by bribing officials and died fleeing the Vandals.

Eparchius Avitus | Born: ? | Died: 456 | Reign: 455 – 456
Avitus was unrecognised in the East and deposed by the Senate.

Julius Valerius Maiorianus | Born: ? | Died: 461 | Reign: 457 – 461
Majorian made an effort to restore the ailing empire and was hailed as a hero before being betrayed and killed by his former friend Ricimer.

Libius Severus | Born: ? | Died: 465 | Reign: 461 – 465
The reign of Libius Severus was effectively governed by the general Ricimer.

Procopius Anthemius | Born: ? | Died: 472 | Reign: 467 – 472
Anthemius is generally regarded as the Western Roman Empire’s last effective ruler.

Anicius Olybrius | Born: ? | Died: 472 | Reign: 472
Olybrius was another puppet leader under the power of Ricimer.

Glycerius | Born: ? | Died: ? | Reign: 473 – 474
Little is known of the reign of Glycerius and it is believed he ruled from Italy.

Julius Nepos | Born: ? | Died: 480 | Reign: 474 – 475
Nepos tried unsuccessfully to reignite Rome’s authority. By his reign it was over.

Romulus Augustulus | Born: c.465 | Died: Approx. 511 | Reign: 475 – 476
The last emperor of the Western Roman Empire was deposed by Germanic general Odoacer.

Between 27 BC and 96 AD, the twelve Caesars transformed Rome from a republic to an empire. Among them dictators, psychopaths, murderers, despots, military geniuses and fiddlers. In 121 AD historian Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus wrote De vita Caesarum, ‘About the Life of the Caesars’, and it is considered the definitive work on twelve of the most important men in the history of ancient Rome. You’ve seen the list of emperors of ancient Rome in chronological order, now here’s the Roman Caesars list.

Gaius Julius Caesar | Born: 100 BC | Died: 44 BC | Reign: 49 BC – 44 BC

Augustus Caesar | Born: 63 BC | Died: 14 AD | Reign: 27 BC – 14 AD

Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus | Born: 42 BC | Died: 37 AD | Reign: 14 BC – 37 AD

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus | Born: 12 BC | Died: 41 AD | Reign: 14 – 37 AD

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus | Born: 10 BC | Died: 54 AD | Reign: 41 – 54 AD

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus | Born: 37 AD | Died: 68 AD | Reign: 54 – 68 AD

Servius Galba Caesar Augustus | Born: 3 BC | Died: 69 AD | Reign: 68 – 69 AD

Marcus Otho Caesar Augustus | Born: 32 AD | Died: 69 AD | Reign: 69 AD

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus | Born: 15 AD | Died: 69 AD | Reign: 69 AD

Caesar Vespasianus Augustus | Born: 9 AD | Died: 79 | Reign: 69 – 79 AD

Titus Caesar Vespasianus Augustus | Born: 39 AD | Died: 81 AD | Reign: 79 – 81 AD

Caesar Domitianus Augustus | Born: 51 AD | Died: 96 AD | Reign: 81 – 96 AD