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Roman Emperors

Written by: Kate Zusmann

Roman Emperors

Roman Emperors were rulers of the Roman Empire during the imperial period from 27 BC. As a result, they had different titles throughout history. For instance, except “emperor,” early Emperors used the title “princess,” which means “first citizen.”

Moreover, they used republican titles as princeps senatus, consul, and pontifex Maximus. Ancient Roman Emperors controlled the army and were recognized by the Senate. Also, they were usually proclaimed by their troops or invested with imperial titles by the Senate, sometimes both.

The first Roman leaders reigned alone, while later emperors sometimes ruled with co-emperors and divided the administration of the Roman Empire between them. The first Roman Emperor in the history of Roman civilization was Octavian Augustus, while the last Emperor was Romulus Augustulus.

Here’s the list of the most important ancient Roman Emperors:

Contents

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  • Augustus
  • Tiberius
  • Caligula
  • Claudius
  • Nero
  • Vespasian
  • Titus
  • Domitian
  • Nerva
  • Trajan
  • Hadrian
  • Marcus Aurelius
  • Commodus
  • Septimius Severus
  • Caracalla
  • Diocletian
  • Constantine The Great
  • Romulus Augustulus
  • Things to Know about Roman Emperors

Augustus

Augustus - List of Roman Emperors

Augustus (23 September 63 BC – 19 August 14 AD) was the first ruler of the Roman Empire, who ruled from 27 BC until he died in 14 AD. The original name of the Roman leader was Octavian. Moreover, he was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. After the Second Triumvirate, Octavian came into power. Among representatives of the triumvirate were Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian. Following the death of Caesar, the triumvirate defeated Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC and decided to split the rule over the republic in three ways.

Antony ruled the east part, Lepidus took Spain and part of North Africa, and Octavian took Italy. The triumvirate broke up in 33 BC, leading to civil war in 31 BC. In the same year, Octavian became an Emperor and took the name “Augustus” (exalted). In 14 AD, Augustus’s stepson Tiberius became Emperor in his place.

Tiberius

Tiberius - List of Roman Emperors

Tiberius (16 November 42 BC – 16 March 37 AD) ruled from 14 to 37 AD. He was one of the greatest generals of the Empire, whose campaigns defended the northern frontier. He was considered an excellent ruler during the first half of his reign, but later, he turned into a dark and gloomy ruler. Most probably, the reason for his behavior was the death of his son Drusus at 23, after which the Emperor ended in terror. In 26, Tiberius decided to move to the Isle of Capri and leave an administration in the hands of Praetorian Prefect Sejanus, who became the competent leader of Rome. However, Sejanus also became a conspirator against Tiberius and murdered people who opposed him. When Tiberius recognized it, he removed Sejanus from his position and executed him.

Caligula

Caligula - List of Roman Emperors

Caligula (31 August 12 AD – 24 January 41 AD) ruled from 37 AD. However, after four years of his reign, he was assassinated by members of his bodyguard and the Roman Senate. He became a famous Emperor since, during his reign, many innocent people were killed, but still, he was approved by the Roman citizens of his time. According to the historical facts, Caligula suffered from cruelty and insanity.

He was killing people for his amusement and committed incest with his sisters. Moreover, he was accused of turning the palace into a brothel.

Read about Roman Emperors who were Assassinated.

Claudius

Claudius - List of Roman Emperors

Claudius (1 August 10 BC – 13 October 54 AD) ruled from 41 AD until he died in 54 AD. He was a relative of emperors Augustus and Tiberius. Also, Caligula was his nephew, and Mark Antony, his maternal grandfather. People remembered Claudius as a person with disabilities in speech and walking. Moreover, his family kept him away from the public until he was 38 so that enemies did not consider him a serious threat. Claudius was proclaimed Emperor because Caligula’s family was the last adult male. However, he showed excellent administrator and builder of public works skills. The Empire was expanded under his reign. The Emperor was married four times, but none of the marriages ended well. He was succeeded by his adopted son Nero.

Nero

Nero - List of Roman Emperors

Nero (15 December 37 AD – 9 June 68 AD) ruled from 54 AD. Most probably, Nero’s previous Emperor and step-father was assassinated by Nero’s mother, Agrippina the Younger, to make her son the ruler since Claudius’ natural son could gain power. The Emperor improved diplomacy and trade, commissioned the building of theaters, and promoted athletic games. However, in 64 AD, most of Rome was destroyed because of the Great Fire of Rome. The Emperor accused Christians of the fire and started to persecute them. Thus, the Circus of Nero is also known as the place of most early Christians’ burial, where today, the Basilica of Saint Peter is located.

Vespasian

Vespasian - List of Roman Emperors

Vespasian (17 November 9 AD – 24 June 79 AD) ruled from 69 AD until 79 AD. He found the Flavian dynasty that ruled for 27 years. During the conqueror of Jerusalem and the Jewish rebellion where Vespasian took place, emperor Nero committed suicide, which led to the civil war in Rome known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Galba and Otho died right after coming to rule, and Vitellius became Emperor in 69 AD. However, the Roman legions of Roman Egypt and Judaea declared Vespasian as the Emperor 3 months after Vitellius’s beginning of reign. Vespasian is famous for the building of the Flavian Amphitheatre, known today as the Colosseum. Moreover, he was the Emperor who created a tax for the public baths, following it with the famous phrase: “Money does not stink” (Pecunia non olet)

Titus

Titus - List of Roman Emperors

Titus (30 December 39 AD – 13 September 81 AD) ruled from 79 to 81 AD. He was a representative of the Flavian dynasty, who succeeded his father, Vespasian. Titus was a successful military commander who ended the Jewish rebellion and besieged Jerusalem in 70 AD. Moreover, he destroyed the city and the Second Temple. For this, he received a triumph: the Arch of Titus, located today on the territory of the ancient Roman Forum. As a ruler, Titus is mainly known for completing the Colosseum.

Domitian

Domitian - List of Roman Emperors

Domitian (24 October 51 AD – 18 September 96 AD) ruled from 81 AD to 96 AD. He was the younger brother of Emperor Titus and the son of Emperor Vespasian. He was a leader of the Roman Empire for 15 years, which was the longest since that of Emperor Tiberius. Domitian was known for strengthening the economy by making the ancient Roman coins valuable. Also, the Emperor expanded the border defenses of the Roman Empire and commissioned the restoration of the damaged parts of Rome. Under his reign, essential wars took place in Britain and Dacia. Moreover, Domitian saw himself as a new Augustus who wanted to lead the Empire to a new era of brilliance by using solid authoritarian characteristics.

Nerva

Nerva - List of Roman Emperors

Nerva (8 November 30 AD – 27 January 98 AD) ruled from 96 AD to 98AD. His brief leadership was marred by financial instabilities and his inability to assert his authority over the Roman army. Lately, Nerva adopted Trajan, a young and famous general, and became his successor. However, Nerva was considered by historians a wise Emperor. He managed to ensure a peaceful transition of power after death to Trajan, thus creating the Nerva-Antonine dynasty.

Trajan

Trajan - List of Roman Emperors

Trajan (18 September 53 AD – 8 Augustus 117 AD) ruled from 98 AD to 117 AD. The Senate officially declared him as the optimus princeps or “the best ruler.” Historians claim that he was a successful soldier and Emperor who made impressive military expansion, created extensive public building programs, and implemented social welfare policies. Thus, he became known as the second of the Five Good Emperors. Nowadays, you can admire Trajan’s Forum, Trajan’s Market, and Trajan’s Column in Rome. The Emperor was succeeded by his adopted son Hadrian.

Hadrian

Hadrian - List of Roman Emperors

Hadrian (24 January AD 76 – 10 July 138 AD) ruled from 117 AD to 138 AD. The Emperor was unpopular among the elite because he abandoned Trajan’s expansionist policies and territorial gains in Mesopotamia, Assyria, Armenia, and parts of Dacia. Moreover, Hadrian chose to invest in the improvement of stable borders and the unification of the Empire’s citizens. Thus, Hadrian’s Wall was built during his reign and marked the northern limit of Britannia. In addition, Hadrian completed the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. Overall, his reign was peaceful, and he died from chronic illness.

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius - List of Roman Emperors

Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121 AD – 17 March 180 AD) ruled from 161 AD to 180 AD with his adoptive brother Lucius Verus, until Lucius died in 169 AD and with his son by Faustina, Commodus, from 177 AD. Marcus Aurelius was known as the last one of the Five Good Emperors. Moreover, the Emperor was the practitioner of Stoicism: his writings became known as Mediations and are considered one of the greatest works of philosophy. You can find the column and Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome erected to celebrate his military achievements.

Commodus

Commodus - List of Roman Emperors

Commodus (31 August 161 – 31 December 192 CE) ruled with his father, Marcus Aurelius, from 177 AD to his father’s death in 180 AD and by himself until 192 AD. He was the youngest consul in the history of the Roman Empire and, lately, the youngest co-emperor with his father. When he was the only Emperor, the Empire was in a period of reduced military conflict compared to the reign of Marcus Aurelius. However, many intrigues and conspiracies still led Commodus to the dictatorial style of reign. The Emperor was assassinated in 192 AD.

Septimius Severus

Septimius Severus - List of Roman Emperors

Septimius Severus (11 April 145 AD – 4 February 211 AD) ruled from 193 to 211 AD. He was born in the Roman province of Africa. Moreover, Severus first visited Rome around 163 AD during Marcus Aurelius’s reign and Lucius Verus’s reign. In 193 AD, Petrinax, DidiusJulianus, Pescennius Nigger, and Clodius Albinus were murdered, and Septimius Severus has proclaimed Emperor. After his rule, the important buildings left in Rome were the Arch of Septimius Severus, Arch of the Bankers, Baths of Severus, and Septizodium.

Caracalla

Caracalla - List of Roman Emperors

Caracalla (4 April 188 AD – 8 April 217 AD) ruled from 198 to 217 AD. He was a representative of the Severan Dynasty and the elder son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. After 198 AD, Caracalla was a co-emperor with his father and continued to rule with his brother Geta, Emperor from 209 AD. However, Caracalla murdered Geta later that year and started to reign the  Empire as the sole ruler. His rule was marked by domestic instability and invasions from the Germanic population.

Diocletian

Diocletian - List of Roman Emperors

Diocletian (22 December 244 AD – 3 December 311 AD) ruled from 284 to 305 AD. He was born in a family of low status and raised in society because of his military achievements, where he became Roman cavalry commander to Emperor Carus. After the death of Carus and his son Numerian, Diocletian has proclaimed Emperor. His leadership stabilized the Empire and marked the end of the Crisis of the Third Century. Moreover, Diocletian expanded and developed the civil and military services of the Empire.

Constantine The Great

Constantine I - List of Roman Emperors

Constantine The Great (27 February 272 AD – 22 May 337 AD) ruled between 306 and 337 AD. He was also known as Constantine I. Moreover, he was the son of Flavius Valerius Constantius and Empress Helena. Constantine was a famous Emperor who developed administrative, financial, social, and military reforms and strengthened the Roman Empire. Moreover, under his reign, Christianity was declared official in 313 AD. One of the most notable constructions left after the Emperor is the Arch of Constantine, located right in front of the Colosseum.

Romulus Augustulus

Romulus Augustus - List of Roman Emperors

Flavius Romulus Augustulus (460 AD – 507 AD) ruled the Western Roman Empire from 475 to 476 AD. He is described as the last Western Roman Emperor. Moreover, his reign marks the end of Ancient Rome and the beginning of the Middle Ages in Western Europe. Under his rule, the capital of the Empire was Ravenna. However, he was a leader only for ten months. Lately, Odoacer (Germanic foederatus officer) forced him to abdicate.

Things to Know about Roman Emperors

How many Roman Emperors were there?

The Roman Empire was ruled by approximately 82 emperors, depending on how you define “emperor.” The first emperor, Augustus, took power in 27 BC, and the last, Romulus Augustus, was deposed in 476 AD. Some of the most famous emperors include Julius Caesar, who was never actually emperor but was assassinated before he could seize power; Nero, who famously fiddled while Rome burned; and Constantine, who converted to Christianity and made it the official religion of the empire. There were also some emperors who only ruled for a few months or years, such as Galba, who ruled for just seven months in 68-69 AD.

Which Roman emperor converted to Christianity?

The Roman Emperor Constantine is famously known for converting to Christianity in the early 4th century. In 312 AD, he was preparing for a battle against a rival claimant to the throne when he reportedly saw a vision of a cross in the sky with the words “in hoc signo vinces” (“in this sign, conquer”). He interpreted this as a sign from the Christian God and had his soldiers paint the symbol of the cross on their shields. Constantine went on to win the battle and credited his victory to the Christian God. He issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which granted religious toleration to all religions, including Christianity, and he played a key role in the development of the Nicene Creed, which established key doctrines of the Christian faith.

How long did the Roman Empire last?

The Roman Empire lasted approximately 500 years, from its establishment by Caesar Augustus in 27 BC to its collapse in 476 AD, a period commonly referred to as Ancient Rome. During this time, the empire underwent significant expansion in the territory and cultural influence, with its power and influence stretching across much of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The empire faced numerous challenges during its long history, including political instability, economic crises, and military conflicts with rival powers such as the Parthians and the Sassanids. The empire’s ultimate collapse is often attributed to a combination of factors, including overexpansion, military overreach, economic decline, and internal political strife. Despite its ultimate downfall, the Roman Empire had a lasting impact on world history, shaping the course of Western civilization and laying the foundations for many aspects of modern society.

Which Roman emperor was named Augustus?

The first Roman emperor to be named Augustus was none other than the founder of the Roman Empire himself, Gaius Octavius Thurinus, better known as Caesar Augustus. Augustus ruled as emperor from 27 BC until he died in AD 14, during which time he oversaw a period of relative peace and stability in the Roman world known as the Pax Romana. Augustus was a shrewd politician and skilled military commander who cemented his power through a series of political and military reforms, including establishing the Principate system of government and creating a standing professional army. Under his leadership, Rome experienced a period of cultural and artistic flourishing known as the Golden Age of Latin literature, which produced works by writers such as Virgil, Horace, and Ovid. Augustus remains one of the most influential figures in Roman history and is widely regarded as one of the most extraordinary Roman emperors of all time.

How many Roman emperors were assassinated?

Around 20 to 25 Roman emperors were assassinated throughout the history of the Roman Empire due to political intrigue and power struggles among the ruling elite. Some of the most famous assassinated emperors include Julius Caesar, Caligula, and Commodus.

Where did Roman emperors live?

Roman emperors lived in a variety of different residences throughout the history of the Roman Empire, depending on the time period and the emperor in question. During the early days of the Empire, many emperors resided in the Palatine Hill complex in Rome, which was originally built by Augustus and served as the imperial residence for several centuries. Later emperors, such as Diocletian and Constantine, built new imperial residences in other parts of the empire, such as Trier and Nicomedia. Some emperors, such as Hadrian, also had a passion for travel and spent much of their reign touring the provinces and inspecting the state of the empire. Ultimately, the residence of the emperor was wherever the seat of power was located at the time, whether it was Rome or another imperial city.

Which Roman emperor invaded Britain?

The Roman emperor who famously invaded Britain was Julius Caesar, who launched two expeditions to the island in 55 BC and 54 BC, respectively. These campaigns were not intended to conquer Britain outright but rather to establish Roman influence and assert Caesar’s authority over the region. Caesar’s expeditions were largely successful, and he reported back to Rome with tales of strange new lands and exotic cultures, but he still needed to establish a permanent Roman presence in Britain. Nearly a century later, in AD 43, the Roman emperor Claudius launched a full-scale invasion of Britain and established Roman rule over the island.

Were Roman emperors elected?

The system for selecting Roman emperors changed over time, but the position was generally not an elected one in the modern sense of the word. Initially, the Roman Republic was governed by a system of elected officials, but as the power of individual generals grew, they began to vie for control of the state. As a result, the first emperor, Augustus, was not elected but rather took power after a period of civil war and political maneuvering. From this point on, the position of emperor was largely hereditary, with emperors typically choosing their own successors or being succeeded by their sons or other family members. In some cases, emperors were appointed by the Senate or the Praetorian Guard. However, the position was still ultimately decided by those in power rather than through a formal election process.

What Roman emperors looked like?

The appearance of Roman emperors varied widely depending on the time period and the individual in question, but there were some common themes that emerged over the centuries. Generally speaking, Roman emperors were depicted as powerful and imposing figures, often with exaggerated features and idealized physiques. They were typically shown with short, cropped hair and a full beard, which was a symbol of strength and masculinity in ancient Rome. Emperors were also often depicted wearing a toga or other elaborate garments, which symbolized their wealth and status. As the centuries went on, the style of imperial portraiture evolved, with some emperors being depicted in a more realistic and naturalistic style, while others were portrayed in a more idealized and stylized manner. Some of the most famous examples of Roman imperial portraiture include the marble busts of Augustus, which were created during his lifetime and show him with an idealized, youthful face, and the famous statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback, which depicts the emperor in a heroic, larger-than-life pose.

Were Roman emperors considered gods?

In the later years of the Roman Empire, it was not uncommon for emperors to be deified after their death, and some emperors were even worshipped as gods while they were still alive. However, this was not a universal practice throughout the history of the Roman Empire. During the early years of the Republic, Roman leaders were not considered divine, but rather were elected officials who held positions of power for a limited period of time. It wasn’t until the reign of Julius Caesar that the idea of a divinely-appointed ruler began to take hold in Rome, and even then, Caesar himself did not claim to be a god. Augustus, the first Roman emperor, was the first to be officially deified after his death, and from that point on, many emperors were worshipped as gods, particularly in the eastern parts of the empire. However, not all emperors were deified, and the practice varied widely depending on the individual emperor and the political climate of the time.

Which Roman emperors were born in Spain?

There were two Roman emperors who were born in Spain: Trajan and Hadrian. Trajan was born in the city of Italica, in the province of Hispania Baetica, in the year 53 AD. He became emperor in 98 AD and ruled until his death in 117 AD. Trajan was known for his military conquests, including the annexation of the province of Dacia and the successful campaign against the Parthian Empire.

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