Rulers of the Roman Empire
(including dates of reign)
| Augustus, grandnephew of Julius Caesar, 27 B.C.–A.D. 14 |
| Tiberius, stepson of Augustus, A.D. 14–A.D. 37 |
| Caligula, grandnephew of Tiberius, 37–41 |
| Claudius, uncle of Caligula, 41–54 |
| Nero, stepson of Claudius, 54–68 |
| Galba, proclaimed emperor by his soldiers, 68–69 |
| Otho, military commander, 69 |
| Vespasian, military commander, 69–79 |
| Vitellius, military commander, 69 |
| Titus, son of Vespasian, 79–81 |
| Domitian, son of Vespasian, 81–96 |
| Nerva, elected interim ruler, 96–98 |
| Trajan, adopted son of Nerva, 98–117 |
| Hadrian, ward of Trajan, 117–38 |
| Antoninus Pius, adopted by Hadrian, 138–61 |
| Marcus Aurelius, adopted by Antoninus Pius, 161–80 |
| Lucius Verus, adopted by Antoninus Pius; ruled jointly Marcus Aurelius, 161–69 |
| Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius, 180–92 |
| Pertinax, proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard, 193 |
| Didius Julianus, bought office from the Praetorian Guard, 193 |
| Severus, proclaimed emperor, 193–211 |
| Caracalla, son of Severus, 211–17 |
| Geta, son of Severus, ruled jointly with Caracalla, 211–12 |
| Macrinus, proclaimed emperor by his soldiers, 217–18 |
| Heliogabalus, cousin of Caracalla, 218–22 |
| Alexander Severus, cousin of Heliogabalus, 222–35 |
| Maximin, proclaimed emperor by soldiers, 235–38 |
| Gordian I, made emperor by the senate, 238 |
| Gordian II, son of Gordian I, ruled jointly with his father, 238 |
| Balbinus, elected joint emperor by the senate, 238 |
| Pupienus Maximus, elected joint emperor with Balbinus by the senate, 238 |
| Gordian III, son of Gordian II, 238–44 |
| Philip (the Arabian), assassin of Gordian III, 244–49 |
| Decius, proclaimed emperor by the soldiers, 249–51 |
| Hostilianus, son of Decius, colleague of Gallus, 251 |
| Gallus, military commander, 251–53 |
| Aemilianus, military commander, 253 |
| Valerian, military commander, 253–60 |
| Gallienus, son of Valerian, coemperor with his father and later sole emperor, 253–68 |
| Claudius II, military commander, 268–70 |
| Aurelian, chosen by Claudius II as successor, 270–75 |
| Tacitus, chosen by the senate, 275–76 |
| Florianus, half brother of Tacitus, 276 |
| Probus, military commander, 276–82 |
| Carus, proclaimed by the Praetorian Guard, 282–83 |
| Carinus, son of Carus, 283–85 |
| Numerianus, son of Carus, joint emperor with Carinus, 283–84 |
| Diocletian, military commander, divided the empire; ruled jointly with Maximian and Constantius I, 284–305 |
| Maximian, appointed joint emperor by Diocletian, 286–305 |
| Constantius I, joint emperor and successor of Diocletian, 305–6 |
| Galerius, joint emperor with Constantius I, 305–10 |
| Maximin, nephew of Galerius, 308–13 |
| Licinius, appointed emperor in the West by Galerius; later emperor in the East, 308–24 |
| Maxentius, son of Maximian, 306–12 |
| Constantine I (the Great), son of Constantius I, 306–37 |
| Constantine II, son of Constantine I, 337–40 |
| Constans, son of Constantine I, 337–50 |
| Constantius II, son of Constantine I, 337–61 |
| Magnentius, usurped Constans' throne, 350–53 |
| Julian (the Apostate), nephew of Constantine I, 361–63 |
| Jovian, elected by the army, 363–64 |
| Valentinian I, proclaimed by the army; ruled in the West, 364–75 |
| Valens, brother of Valentinian I; ruled in the East, 364–78 |
| Gratian, son of Valentinian I; coruler in the West with Valentinian II, 375–83 |
| Maximus, usurper in the West, 383–88 |
| Valentinian II, son of Valentinian I, ruler of the West, 375–92 |
| Eugenius, usurper in the West, 393–94 |
| Theodosius I (the Great), appointed ruler of the East, 379–95, by Gratian; last ruler of united empire, 394–95 |
Emperors in the East
(until the fall of Rome; see table entitled Rulers of the Byzantine Empire Rulers of the Byzantine Empire
Emperor (or Empress)
Dates of Reign
Constantine I (the Great)
330–37
Constantius
337–61
Julian (the Apostate)
361–63
Jovian
363–64
Valens
364–78
..... Click the link for more information. for later emperors) |
| Arcadius, son of Theodosius I, 395–408 |
| Theodosius II, son of Arcadius, 408–50 |
| Marcian, brother-in-law of Theodosius II, 450–57 |
| Leo I, chosen by the senate, 457–74 |
| Leo II, grandson of Leo I, 474 |
| Zeno, 474–75 |
| Basilicus, 475–76 |
Emperors in the West |
| Honorius, son of Theodosius I, 395–423 |
| Maximus, usurper in Spain, 409–11 |
| Constantius III, named joint emperor by Honorius, 421 |
| Valentinian III, nephew of Honorius and son of Constantius III, 425–55 |
| Petronius Maximus, bought office by bribery, 455 |
| Avitus, placed in office by Goths, 455–56 |
| Majorian, puppet emperor of Ricimer, 457–61 |
| Libius Severus, puppet emperor of Ricimer, 461–65 |
| Anthemius, appointed by Ricimer and Leo I, 467–72 |
| Olybrius, appointed by Ricimer, 472–73 |
| Glycerius, appointed by Leo I, 473–74 |
| Julius Nepos, appointed by Leo I, 474–75 |
| Romulus Augustulus, put in office by Orestes, his father, 474–76 |