Most of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire had never seen their emperor. They only knew the appearance of the emperor through images on coins and Roman statues, busts and reliefs.
It is clear that the profession of emperor in the Roman Empire was very dangerous. 35% of all Roman emperors were murdered and 47.6% met a violent end. Yet the leading Roman families were only too willing to make a bid for the emperorship. Often at the expense of other emperors or other family members.
Of course, most Roman emperors often had their "loyal" bodyguards in the form of the Praetorian Guard. In practice, this turned out to be less safe than expected. Six emperors were single-handedly murdered by the praetorian guard. So 7.32%.
Here is an overview of all 82 Roman emperors
Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD): The first emperor of Rome, also known as Octavian, consolidated his power after the fall of the Roman Republic and established the principate.
Tiberius (AD 14 – AD 37): Stepson of Augustus. His reign was marked by political intrigue and repression.
Caligula (AD 37 – AD 41): Known for his excesses and cruelty. Led a reign of terror and even appointed his horse consul.
Claudius (41 AD – 54 AD): Physically limited emperor, known for his administrative reforms and the conquest of Britain.
Nero (AD 54 - AD 68): Notorious for his cruelty and megalomania. Associated with the Great Fire of Rome (which he probably did not do) and the persecution of Christians.
Galba (AD 68 – AD 69): Short-lived ruler after Nero's death. Was killed during an uprising.
Otho (AD 69): Brief reign after Galba's death. Committed suicide after his defeat in the struggle for the throne.
Vitellius (AD 69): Reign marked by cruelty and excess. Was deposed and executed after an uprising.
Vespasian (69 AD - 79 AD): Ran to power after the Year of the Four Emperors. Consolidated the empire, restored finances and began construction of the Colosseum.
Titus (79 AD – 81 AD): Son of Vespasian. Conquered Jerusalem, completed the Colosseum, acted as an aid to natural disasters.
Domitian (81 AD - 96 AD): Autocratic ruler known for his draconian measures and strengthening of imperial power.
Nerva (96 AD - 98 AD): The first of the Five Good Emperors. Introduced reforms to restore the position of the Senate.
Trajan (98 AD - 117 AD): Military emperor who expanded the empire to its greatest extent. Known for its public works, such as Trajan's Forum.
Hadrian (117 AD - 138 AD): Emperor with a broad cultural interest. Traveled the empire and built the famous Hadrian's Wall in Britain.
Antoninus Pius (138 AD - 161 AD): Peaceful and just emperor. Known for its philanthropy and promotion of arts and literature.
Marcus Aurelius (161 AD - 180 AD): Stoic emperor and philosopher. Known for his meditations and his leadership during wars.
Lucius Verus (AD 161 – AD 169): Co-Emperor with Marcus Aurelius. Waged wars against the Parthians and was involved in the Antonine Plague.
Commodus (AD 180 - AD 192): Notorious for his cruelty and extravagance. Called himself Hercules and acted as a gladiator.
Pertinax (193 AD): Short reign after Commodus' assassination. Was killed by the Praetorian Guard.
Didius Julianus (193 AD): Short-lived ruler after gaining the throne through bribery. Was deposed and executed after an uprising.
Septimius Severus (193 AD – 211 AD): Strengthened military power and reformed provincial administration. Waged wars against Parthia and Scotland.
Caracalla (AD 211 – AD 217): Known for extending Roman citizenship to all free men in the Empire. Waged war against the Parthians.
Macrinus (217 AD – 218 AD): First emperor of non-noble descent. He was killed after defeat in battle against Elagabalus.
Elagabalus (218 AD - 222 AD): Controversial and extravagant emperor. He was deposed and killed by the Praetorian Guard.
Severus Alexander (222 AD - 235 AD): Young emperor known for his philosophical interests and attempts at reform. He was killed during a military uprising.
Maximinus Thrax (AD 235 – AD 238): First emperor of Thracian descent. Ruled with an iron fist and was killed in a rebellion.
Gordian I (AD 238): Together with his son Gordian II, he was proclaimed emperor, but their reign lasted only a few weeks.
Gordian II (238 AD): Together with his father, he was proclaimed emperor, but was soon killed in battle.
Maximus Thrax (AD 238): Returned to power after the death of the Gordiani, but was actually murdered.
Gordianus III (AD 238 – AD 244): Young emperor who was under guardianship during his reign. Was killed during a military uprising.
Philip the Arab (244 AD – 249 AD): First emperor of Arab descent. Ruled during a period of economic downturn and was assassinated.
Decius (249 AD - 251 AD): Reigned during a period of great military and political turmoil. Died in battle against the Goths.
Gallus (251 AD - 253 AD): Ruled with his son Volusianus. Was killed during an uprising.
Aemilianus (253 AD): Short reign after the assassination of Gallus. Was killed by his own troops.
Valerian (AD 253 – AD 260): Captured by the Persians and died in captivity. The first emperor to be captured.
Gallienus (253 AD - 268 AD): Ruled during a period of great chaos and invasions. Was killed in a conspiracy.
Claudius Gothicus (AD 268 – AD 270): Reversed the Gothic invasion and restored the borders. Died of the plague.
Quintillus (270 AD): Short reign after the death of Claudius Gothicus. Committed suicide after defeat in the struggle for the throne.
Aurelian (270 AD – 275 AD): Restored the Empire after the Crisis of the Third Century. Known for its military successes and reforms.
Tacitus (AD 275 – AD 276): Brief reign after Aurelian's death. Was killed by the troops.
Florian (276 AD): Brief reign after Tacitus' death. Was killed during an uprising.
Probus (AD 276 – AD 282): Known for his military successes and promoting agrarian reform. Was killed by his own troops.
Carus (282 AD - 283 AD): Ruled jointly with his sons Carinus and Numerian. Was probably killed by lightning.
Carinus (283 AD - 285 AD): Co-Emperor with his brother Numerian. Was killed during an uprising.
Numerian (283 AD - 284 AD): Co-Emperor with his brother Carinus. Was killed by his own troops.
Diocletian (AD 284 - AD 305): Reformed the empire by introducing the Tetrarchic system. Known for its economic and military reforms.
Maximian (AD 286 – AD 305): Co-Emperor with Diocletian. Ruled the western part of the empire.
Constantius I (305 AD - 306 AD): Father of Constantine the Great. Reigned as co-emperor with Diocletian and Maximian.
Galerius (305 AD - 311 AD): Reigned as co-emperor with Diocletian and Maximian. Carried out persecutions of Christians.
Severus II (306 AD – 307 AD): Brief reign after the death of Constantius I. Was defeated and executed by Maxentius.
Maxentius (AD 306 – AD 312): Rival of Constantine the Great. Was defeated at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and killed.
Constantine the Great (306 AD - 337 AD): Known for his conversion to Christianity and the relocation of the capital to Constantinople.
Constantine II (337 AD - 340 AD): Co-Emperor with his brothers Constantius II and Constans. Waged war against his brothers and was killed.
Constans (337 AD - 350 AD): Co-Emperor with his brothers Constantine II and Constantius II. Was killed during an uprising.
Constantius II (337 AD - 361 AD): Reigned as co-emperor with his brothers Constantine II and Constans. Fight paganism and promote Christianity.
Julian the Apostate (361 AD – 363 AD): Tried to restore paganism after decades of Christian rule. Was killed during a campaign against the Persians.
Jovian (363 AD – 364 AD): Short reign after Julian's death. Was poisoned during his retreat from Persia.
Valentinian I (364 AD - 375 AD): Reigned as co-emperor with his brother Valens. Turned his attention mainly to military matters.
Valens (AD 364 – AD 378): Co-Emperor with his brother Valentinian I. Was killed at the Battle of Adrianople against the Goths.
Gratian (367 AD – 383 AD): Reigned as co-emperor with his father Valentinian I and later with his half-brother Valentinian II.
Valentinian II (375 AD - 392 AD): Co-Emperor with his brother Gratian. Was presumed murdered.
Theodosius I (379 AD – 395 AD): Temporarily restored the unity of the empire. Known for ending paganism and promoting Christianity.
Arcadius (AD 395 – AD 408): Ruled the eastern part of the empire after the death of Theodosius I.
Honorius (395 AD - 423 AD): Ruled the western part of the empire after the death of Theodosius I. Known for his inability to hold back the barbarian invasions.
Theodosius II (408 AD – 450 AD): Ruled the eastern part of the empire. Known for his codification of Roman law.
Johannes (423 AD – 425 AD): Short-lived Counter-Emperor in the Western part of the empire. Was defeated and executed by Valentinian III.
Valentinian III (425 AD – 455 AD): Ruled the western part of the empire. Was killed in a conspiracy.
Maximus (455 AD): Counter-emperor in the western part of the empire. Was defeated and executed by the Visigoths.
Avitus (455 AD – 456 AD): Short-lived counter-emperor in the western part of the empire. Was deposed and imprisoned.
Majorian (457 AD - 461 AD): Ruled the western part of the empire. Was deposed and executed.
Libius Severus (461 AD - 465 AD): Ruled the western part of the empire. Was deposed and lived in exile for the rest of his life.
Anthemius (467 AD - 472 AD): Ruled the western part of the empire. He was killed during an uprising.
Olybrius (472 AD): Short-lived counter-emperor in the western part of the empire. He was recognized by the Eastern Roman Emperor, but soon died.
Glycerius (473 AD - 474 AD): Ruled the western part of the empire. He was deposed and became a bishop.
Julius Nepos (474 AD - 475 AD): Ruled the western part of the empire. He was deposed and lived in exile for the rest of his life.
Romulus Augustulus (31 October 475 AD – 4 September 476 AD): Last emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Was deposed by Odoacer, king of the Germanic tribe of the Herulen.
Zeno (474 AD – 491 AD): Eastern Roman emperor who recognized the deposition of Romulus Augustulus and accepted Germanic rule over Italy.
Anastasius I (491 AD - 518 AD): Ruled the Eastern Roman Empire. Known for its financial and administrative reforms.
Justin I (518 AD - 527 AD): Ruled the Eastern Roman Empire. Known for his legal reforms and his conflict with Arianism.
Justinian I (527 AD - 565 AD): Known for his reconquest of large parts of the former Western Roman Empire and his codification of Roman law.
Justin II (565 AD - 578 AD): Ruled the Eastern Roman Empire. Suffered from mental health issues and made controversial decisions.
Tiberius II Constantine (578 AD - 582 AD): Ruled the Eastern Roman Empire. Waged war against the Persians and consolidated the borders of the empire.
What did all those different Romans look like?
See our lookbook for examples of different Romans. Including compositions how you can make your Roman in an instant.
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