List of Roman emperors

The list of the Roman emperors of antiquity contains all the emperors of the Roman Empire of Augustus, BC the Principate founded in the 1st century, to Heraclius, whose reign 610-641 is the latest for the end of antiquity eligible age limit. Some researchers rely on earlier endpoints for the ancient imperial period, such as Romulus Augustulus, Justinian I or Maurikios.

The Roman Empire can be divided into Principate, the period of crisis and kingdom late antiquity divided (the term Dominate is now deprecated ). The list overlaps since the sole rule of Constantine I 324-337 for about three centuries with the list of Byzantine emperors. Constitutionally there is no difference between the Roman and the Byzantine Empire, called Byzantine because only the modern research, the converted in the Middle Ages to a Greek influenced superpower Roman Empire.

The German word Kaiser (as well as the word czar ) is derived from Gaius Julius Caesar, the most famous bearer of the Cognomens Caesar.

Notes

The following list outlines the Emperor with her ​​portrait (especially contemporary busts or coins), their name commonly used in the German language, their full names and titles were ( as far as known or deduced ), their reigns and send any comments peculiarities. In the Eastern Roman emperors of the Latin name version is given preference, even if it is originally Greek names (examples: Anastasius I take Anastasios, Zeno Zeno instead ). The Greek name is used only if the corresponding Latin version in German is quite uncommon (example: Maurikios instead Mauricius ).

White deposited, set VERSAL and greased are the legitimate ruling emperor (example: AUGUSTUS ), in small capitals nominal ( not de facto) equal co-regent ( Augusti, since Verus ).

Fatliquoring invalidated in the following cases:

• Not continuous or not rich -recognized emperors and their co-regent (examples: Maxentius, MAGNUS MAXIMUS and Victor )
• Emperor of the Gallic Empire
• Collected without the consent of the Eastern Roman senior Augustus in the West after the division of the kingdom 395 Kaiser (example: JOHN )
• Gegenkaiser that temporarily displaced the legitimate ruler, unless they were from the ruling dynasty and their rule was approved by the Senate (example: Basiliscus )

Are listed in the Full Name column and titulary:

• The name before adoption or accession to power of (in italics)
• Where applicable, the title of Caesar and heir apparent
• As Augustus ( last) run titulary ( nomen imperatoris )

Elements of the official " Kerntitulatur " are (bold only with main emperors and only the universally traditional titles components) in small caps. Elements of filiation, republican function title and Triumphaltitel are set in Kleinkapitälchen ( the Triumphaltitel were often not worn all at the same time, the order varies in the sources, in brackets: only unofficially or possibly developed). Listed are i.d.R. only terms of the self-designation of the Emperor in the most detailed known titulary. If no documented self-designation is handed down, the reproduced on the coins titulary is taken. In individual cases, numismatic or epigraphic occupied epithets are added in brackets ( example: perpetuus appears in Late Antiquity regularly Coin instead of the usual in documents sempervirens ). Not included is the form of address dominus noster, as it was not part of the official self-designation.

The reign applies to the term as Augustus or ( at main emperors ) for the period of autocratic rule, with usurpers and pretenders for the period of the claim to power.

In the remarks column under the Emperor and designated heir to the throne are ( Caesars ), if they have not ruled autonomy later, the respective emperors, stating its nominal government years, or the years of her Would sponsorship ( year italics: only nominally ) associated with (example: Maximus ). The oiling does not apply to presumptive heirs to the throne ( principes iuventutis, nobilissimi ), which were not officially proclaimed as a result of their own death or as a result of death or deprivation of the Emperor to Caesar or Augustus ( examples: Marcellus, Romulus ).

Out as ( co-) regent in the comment column are:

• Fat: Owner of tribunicia potestas ( Principate; Example: Agrippa )
• Acting as an imperial guardian or regent praetorian prefect (example: Timesitheus )
• In Late Antiquity, winner of the title Patricius in conjunction with the Captains office and Ansippung to the imperial house (example: Stilicho )

So-called " Emperor Makers " are marked with the preposition "with" (example: " by Ricimer ").

Empresses ( Augustae ) are named as regents if they were equal to the emperor nominally and exercised the power to have it (example: Agrippina ) or taken control after the death of the Emperor himself ( transitional ) have (example: Etruscilla ).

It does not include clientele princes who ruled in de jure located outside the borders of the Reich territories ( regna ) (Examples: Prasutagus, Abgar ) appointed by the Emperor and equipped with the Roman civil law, and late antique Foederatenkönige on imperial territory (example: Wallia ).

Italics are set in the comment column:

• Heir to the throne, whose co-emperor or Caesarism is not definite evidence (examples: Arcadius II, Candidianus )
• De facto regent ( Regent ), who were the Emperor concerned not dynastic connected (example: Arbogast under Valentinian II )
• Candidate for the throne, which indirectly to " Kaiser -makers " were own waiver ( recusatio imperii ) at throne vacancy (Example Emperor Macrinus " of waiver by Adventus " )

Highlighted in gray are rival emperors and usurpers. By " anti-emperor " usurpers and pretenders to be understood in the narrow sense, which have gained the title of emperor himself or been acclaimed by their troops or supporters are ( VERSAL or in small caps: Augustus title by coins or inscriptions occupied). This also applies to anti-emperor who temporarily held the throne as long as the legitimate rulers of imperial territory continued to produce their own government activity and the rival has refused to recognize (example: Romulus Augustulus against Julius Nepos ). Greased are also subsequently legitimized by the Senate rival emperor who could their claim during his lifetime not prevail (example: GORDIAN I and Gordian II ).

As a " usurper " figures are referred to in the list,

• For the formal act of Kaiser survey is not known certainly, but usurped de facto imperial powers or disloyal behavior and a not insignificant territorial power base or dynastic position have held,
• Or where the outrage geographically limited ( maximum of a province ) and as short -term ( maximum of a few days) was, that has de facto existed no threat to the legitimate emperor.

Set in small caps are usurpers and pretenders who only has a regional / local or peripheral power base or ruled only for a short time or have filed a claim to power.

Listed are also not Roman rulers who claimed in Late Antiquity on former German territory or in territory under nominal Roman imperial suzerainty a similar position ( imitatio imperii, for example: Theudebert ). If the Regent position was officially legitimized by obtaining Roman honorary title, the figures are listed next to the Emperor (example: Theodoric under Anastasius I ).

Italics are set:

• Rebels, conspirators or separatists, which is unlikely, or at least uncertain whether they have claimed the imperial dignity, which were stylized but in the tradition to usurpers ( tyrannical ) (Example: Clodius Macer )
• Late antique Jewish- Samaritan "kings" in Palestine, whose messianic claim the legitimacy of the (Christian) imperial rule called into question (example: Patricius )

Are written in lower case most probably unhistorical or fictional characters in the time of the kingdom crisis of the 3rd century (example: Trebellianus ).

With regard to the anti-emperor rises the list is not exhaustive, especially as some of nothing or almost nothing is known except their names.

List of Roman emperors

Early and High Empire ( Principate )

Reich crisis of the 3rd century

Late Antiquity

Successor states

The title of a Roman emperor claimed since the Middle Ages more rulers, for example,

• Franco- German ruler after the imperial coronation of Charlemagne 800-924 and 962-1806,
• Greek and Latin rulers 1204-1461 and
• Other ruler since the 15th century.

References to the Emperor respective lists can be found below or by the lemma emperor.