Roman Emperors
Color Key
Golden Years Silver Years Copper Years War or Bad Years

Common Name

Latin Name

Period of Reign

Important Events during Reign

Julio Claudian

Augustus

Gaius Octavius

14 BCE - 27 ADE

Establishment of permanent frontier. Building of highways.

Tiberius

Tiberius Claudius Nero

ADE 14-37

Revolt of Rhine legions. Purges of Sujanius.

Caligula

Gaius Julius Germanicus

ADE 37-41

Killed by Praetorian Guard.

Claudius

Tiberius Claudius Germanicus

ADE 41-54

Conquest of Britain.

Nero

Nero Claudius Germanicus

ADE 54-68

Jewish Revolt. Great fire in Rome. Queen Bodica's revolt.

Fight for Emperor: 69 AD

Galba

Servius Sulpicius Galba

ADE 69

Short Emperor

Otho

Marcus Salvius Otho

ADE 69

Short Emperor

Vitellius

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus

ADE 69

Short Emperor

Flavians

Vespasian

Titus Flavius Vespasianus

ADE 69-79

End of the Jewish revolt. Building of the Great Coliseum.

Titus

Titus Flavius Vespasianus

ADE 79-81

Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

Domitan

Titus Flavius Domitianus I

ADE 81-96

Agricola in Britain. Dacian Wars.

Antoinnes

Nerva

Marcus Cocceius Nerva

ADE 96-98

Veteran colonies established in Africa.

Trajan

Marcus Ulpius Traianus

ADE 98-117

Conquest of Dacia and Parthia. 40-day triumph held in Rome.

Hadrian

Publius Aelius Hadrianus

ADE 117-138

Hadrian's Wall built in Britain.

Antoninus Pius

Arrius Antoninus Pius

ADE 138-161

Antonine Wall built north of Hadrian's Wall.

Marcus Aurelius & Aurelius Verus

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Lucius Aurelius Verus

ADE 161-180

Parthian Wars. Wars defending the Danube frontier.

Commodus

Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus

ADE 180-192

Stages brutal gladiatorial fights with himself as the gladiator.

Not Part of an Imperial Family

Pertinax

Publius Helvius Pertinax

ADE 193-193

Bought the Principate in an auction by the Praetorian Guards.

Julianus

Marcus Didius Julianus

ADE 193-193

Assassinated in Italy, fighting Severus.

Severans

Severus

Lucius Septimius Severus

ADE 193 - 211

Defeated Niger and Albinus for the throne. First emperor born in Africa.

Caracalla

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

ADE 211 - 217

All free people in the empire made Roman citizens.

Macrinus

Marcus Opellius Macrinus

ADE 217 - 218

Buys peace with Parthians. Killed by forces loyal to the Severen dynasty.

Elagabalus

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus II

ADE 218 - 222

Worshiped the Syrian sun god, Elagabalus.

Alexander

Marcus Aurelius Alexander

ADE 222 - 235

The new Persian king Ardashir attacks the empire. Killed by own legions after negotiating with barbarian tribes.

Soldier Emperors

Maximin

Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus I

ADE 235 - 238

Fearsome soldier of Germanic birth. Killed by while putting down a rebellion.

Gordian

Marcus Antonius Gordianus III

ADE 238 - 244

Young, dependent on others. Killed by own soldiers while fighting the Persians.

Philip the Arab

Marcus Julius Philippus I

ADE 244 - 249

From the eastern provinces. 1000th anniversary of the founding of Rome took place

Decius

Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius

ADE 249 - 251

Devastating Gothic invasions. Dies fighting the Goths

Hostillius & Gallus

Gaius Vibius Afinius Trebonianus Gallus I / Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus

ADE 251-253

Hostillius dies during epidemic. Gallus forced to buy Goths off.

Aemillianus

Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus

ADE 253

Killed by own troops.

Valerian

Publius Licinius Valerianus

ADE 253 - 260

Attacks of Franks, Alemanni, Goths and Persians. Captured and held captive for the rest of his life by the latter.

Gallienus

Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus

ADE 260 - 268

Son of Valerian, dies while fighting Claudius.

Claudius

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Claudius II Gothicus Maximus

ADE 268 - 270

Defeats the Goths. Names successor before death.

Aurelian

Lucius Domitius Aurelianus

ADE 270 - 275

Defeats all barbarian tribes in the frontier. Subdues rebel emperors in Gaul and Palmyra. Dies while attacking the Persians

Tacitus

Marcus Claudius Tacitus Augustus

ADE 275 - 276

Defeats Alani. Implements new legal reforms.

Probus

Marcus Aurelius Equitius Probus

ADE 276 - 282

Invades Germany, forces tribes to sign alliance. Destroys last traces of rebels within the Empire. Assassinated by own troops in a fit of rage.

Carus

Marcus Aurelius Numerius Carus

ADE 282 - 283

Captures Persian capitol. Dies of natural causes.

Carinus & Numerianus

Marcus Aurelius Carinus

Marcus Aurelius Numerius Numerianus

ADE 283 - 285

Sons of Carus. Numerianus dies of disease. Carinus defeated by Dioclectian.

Diocletian

Aurelius Valerius Diocletlanus

ADE 284 - 305

Adopts eastern customs. Makes huge and lasting edicts on the empire.