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List of Roman Emperors

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  List of Roman Emperors

List of Roman Emperors

Births, Marriages, Deaths

For a simplified list see: Concise list of Roman Emperors. For more information, see History of the Roman Empire.

Emperor of the Roman Empire
Coat of Arms of the Roman Empire
Augustus of Prima Porta
First emperor	Augustus Caesar
Last emperor	Romulus Augustus
Emperorship started	27 BC
Emperorship ended	476 AD

The Roman Empire is a phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean. The Roman Empire is considered to have begun with the creation of the Principate in 27 BC when Augustus began skillfully centralizing power, bringing an end to the Republic of Rome in fact but not appearance. Roman citizens would go on considering themselves under a republic for another 300 years.

The Latin term Imperium Romanum (Roman Empire), the best-known Latin expression was the word imperium denotes a territory known as homoland, indicates the part of the world under Roman rule. Roman expansion began in the days of the Republic with their war with Carthage, but reached its zenith under Emperor Trajan. At this territorial peak, the Roman Empire controlled approximately 5,900,000 km² (2,300,000 sq mi) of the earth's surface.^[1]

The Five Good Emperors is a term that refers to five consecutive emperors of the Roman Empire— Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. The term is first coined by the political philosopher, Niccolò Machiavelli, in 1503:

From the study this history we may also learn how a good government is to be established; for while all the emperors who succeeded to the throne by birth, except Titus, were bad, all were good who succeeded by adoption; as in the case of the five from Nerva to Marcus. But so soon as the empire fell once more to the heirs by birth, its ruin recommenced.^[2]

In the late 3rd century AD, after the Crisis of the Third Century, Diocletian established the practice of dividing authority between two emperors, one in the western part of the empire and one in the east, in order to better administer the vast territory. For the next century this practice continued, with occasional periods in which one emperor assumed complete control. However, after the death of Theodosius I in 395, the two halves were permanently divided between his two sons, Honorius ruled in the west while Arcadius ruled in the east.^[3] While the Eastern Empire flourished after the empire was divided the western had internal problems from the begin which lead to a civil war which would lead to the Western Roman Empires downfall in 476 AD when Odovacar took power.^[4] The Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire lasted until 1453 with the capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks.^[5] When the Eastern Empire collapsed it gave birth to the successor state Empire of Trebizond. The Empire of Trebizond was conquered by Ottoman Turks in 1461.

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Principate

Main article: Principate

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Julio-Claudian dynasty

Main article: Julio-Claudian dynasty

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 16 January 27 BC - 19 August AD 14 Common name: Augustus Birthplace: Rome Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR DIVI FILIVS AVGVSTVS		Possibly assassinated by poisoning, otherwise old age
Reign: 19 August 14 AD - 16 March 37 AD Common name: Tiberius Birthplace: Rome Imperial name: TIBERIVS CAESAR AVGVSTVS		Possibly assassinated by suffocation, otherwise old age
Reign: 18 March 37 AD - 24 January 41 AD Common name: Caligula Birthplace: Antium, Italia Imperial name: GAIVS CAESAR AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS		Assassinated by his bodyguards
Reign: 24 January 41 AD - 13 October 54 AD Common name: Claudius Birthplace: Lugdunum, Gallia Lugdunensis Imperial name: TIBERIVS CLAVDIVS CAESAR AUGUSTUS GERMANICVS PONTIFEX MAXIMVS		Poisoned by his wife
Reign October 54 AD - 11 June 68 AD Common name: Nero Birthplace: Antium, Italia Imperial name: NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS		Committed suicide under duress

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Year of the Four Emperors

Main article: Year of the Four Emperors

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 8 June 68 AD - 15 January 69 AD Common name: Galba Birthplace: Near Terracina, Italia Imperial name: SERVIVS GALBA IMPERATOR CAESAR AVGVSTVS		Murdered by Otho
Reign: 15 January 69 AD - 16 April 69 AD Common name: Otho Birthplace: Ferentinum, Etruria, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR MARCVS OTHO CAESAR AVGVSTVS		Committed suicide
Reign: 17 April 69 AD - 20 December 69 AD Common name: Vitellius Birthplace: Rome Imperial name: AVLVS VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMPERATOR AVGVSTVS		Murdered in the Forum
Reign: 1 July 69 AD - 24 June 79 AD Common name: Vespasian Birthplace: Falacrine, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR VESPASIANVS CAESAR AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death

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Flavian dynasty

Main article: Flavian dynasty

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 1 July 69 AD - 24 June 79 AD Common name: Vespasian Birthplace: Falacrine, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR VESPASIANVS CAESAR AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death
Reign: 24 June 79 AD - 13 September 81 AD Common name: Titus Birthplace: Rome Imperial name: IMPERATOR TITVS CS AVGVSTVS
Reign: 14 September 81 AD - 18 September 96 AD Common name: Domitian Birthplace: Rome Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVGVSTVS, PONTIFEX MAXIMVS PATER PATRIAE		Assassinated

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Nervan-Antonian dynasty

Main article: Nervan-Antonian dynasty

Main article: Five Good Emperors

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 18 September 96 AD - 27 January 98 AD Common name: Nerva Birthplace: Narni, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR NERVA CAESAR AVGVSTVS, PATER PATRIAE		Peaceful death
Reign: 28 January 98 AD - 7 August 117 AD Common name: Trajan Birthplace: Italica, Hispania Baetica Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR DIVI NERVAE FILIVS NERVA TRAIANVS GERMANICVS AVGVSTVS
Reign: 11 August 117 AD - 10 July 138 AD Common name: Hadrian Birthplace: Italica, Hispania Baetica ? / Rome ? Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS PONTIFEX MAXIMVS
Reign: 10 July 138 AD - 7 March 161 AD Common name: Antoninus Pius Birthplace: Near Lanuvium, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR TITVS AELIVS HADRIANVS ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS , PONTIFEX MAXIMVS
Reign: 7 March 161 AD - 17 March 180 AD Common name: Marcus Aurelius Birthplace: Rome ? / Ucubi, Hispania Baetica ? Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS AVRELIVS ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS , PONTIFEX MAXIMVS
Reign: 7 March 161 AD - March 169 AD Common name: Lucius Verus Birthplace: Rome Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR LVCIVS AVRELIVS VERVS AVGVSTVS
Reign: 177 AD - 31 December 192 AD Common name: Commodus Birthplace: Lanuvium, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR LVCIVS AVRELIVS COMMODVS AVGVSTVS PATER PATRIAE		Assassinated: strangled by a wrestler

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Severan dynasty

Main article: Severan dynasty family tree

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 1 January 193 AD - 28 March 193 AD Common name: Pertinax Birthplace: Alba, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR PVBLIVS HELVIVS PERTINAX AVGVSTVS		Murdered by soldiers on the Palatine
Reign: 28 March 193 AD - 1 June 193 AD Common name: Didius Julianus Birthplace: Milan, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS DIDIVS SEVERVS IVLIANVS AVGVSTVS		Sentenced to death by the Senate; murdered on the Palatine
Reign: 9 April 193 AD - 4 February 211 AD Common name: Septimius Severus Birthplace: Leptis Magna, Africa Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR LVCIVS SEPTIMVS SEVERVS PERTINAX AVGVSTVS PROCONSVL		Peaceful death
Reign: 198 AD - 4 April 217 AD Common name: Caracalla Birthplace: Lugdunum, Gallia Lugdunensis Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS AVRELIVS SEVERVS ANTONINVS PIVS AVGVSTVS		Assassinated
Reign: 209 AD - 4 February 211 AD Common name: Geta Birthplace: Rome		Murdered by Caracalla
Reign: 11 April 217 AD - June 218 AD Common name: Macrinus Birthplace: Iol Caesarea, Mauretania Imperial name: IMPERATOR MARCVS OPELLIVS SEVERVS MACRINVS AVGVSTVS PIVS FELIX PROCONSVL		Executed
Reign: May 217 AD - June 218 AD Common name: Diadumenian Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR MARCVS OPELLIVS ANTONINVS DIADVMENIANVS CAESAR SEVERVS
Reign: June 218 AD - 222 AD Common name: Elagabalus Birthplace: Emesa, Syria Imperial name: IMPERATOR MARCVS AVRELIVS ANTONINVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS PROCONSVL		Assassinated
Reign: 13 March 222 AD - March 235 AD Common name: Alexander Severus Birthplace: Arca Caesarea, Iudaea Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS AVRELIVS SEVERVS ALEXANDER PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS

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Crisis of the Third Century

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Emperors during the height of the Crisis

Main article: Crisis of the Third Century

Main article: Roman Emperor (Crisis of the Third Century)

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: February/March 235 AD - March/April 238 AD Common name: Maximinus Thrax Birthplace: Thrace or Moesia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS JVLIVS VERVS MAXIMINVS		Assassinated
Reign: Early January/March 238 AD - late January/April 238 AD Common name: Gordian I Birthplace: Phrygia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS ANTONIVS GORDIANVS SEMPRONIANVS AFRICANVS		Committed suicide
Reign: Early January March 238 AD - late January/April 238 AD Common name: Gordian II Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS ANTONIVS GORDIANVS SEMPRONIANVS AFRICANVS		Killed in battle
Reign: Early February 238 AD - early May 238 AD Common name: Pupienus Maximus Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS CLODIVS PVPIENVS MAXIMVS AVGVSTVS		Murdered by the Praetorians
Reign: Early February 238 AD - early May 238 AD Common name: Balbinus Birthplace: Unknown
Reign: May 238 AD - February 244 AD Common name: Gordian III Birthplace: Rome Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS ANTONIVS GORDIANVS , PIVS FELIX , AVGVSTVS		Unknown; possibly murdered
Reign: February 244 AD - September/October 249 AD Common name: Philip the Arab Birthplace: Shahba, Syria Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS IVLIVS PHILLIPVS , PIVS FELIX, INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Killed in battle
Reign: 249 AD - June 251 AD Common name: Decius Birthplace: Budalia, Lower Pannonia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS MESSIVS QVINTVS TRAIANVS DECIVS , PIVS FELIX, INVICTVS AVGVSTVS
Reign: early 251 AD - 1 July 251 Common name: Herennius Etruscus Birthplace: Pannonia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR QVINTVS HERENNIVS ETRVSCVS MESSIVS DECIVS AVGVSTVS
Reign: 251 AD Common name: Hostilian Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR CAIVS VALENS HOSTILIANVS MESSIVS QVINTVS AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death
Reign: June 251 AD - August 253 AD Common name: Trebonianus Gallus Birthplace: Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Murdered by his own soldiers
Reign: July 251 AD - August 253 AD Common name: Volusianus Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS VIBIVS AFINIVS GALLVS VELDVMNIANVS VOLVSIANVS AVGVSTVS
Reign: August 253 AD - October 253 AD Common name: Aemilianus Birthplace: Africa Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS AEMILIVS AEMILIANVS , PIVS FELIX, INVICTVS AVGVSTVS
Reign: 253 AD - June 260 AD Common name: Valerian Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR PVBLIVS LICINIVS VALERIANVS, PIVS FELIX, INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Captured by Persians: died in captivity
Reign: 253 AD - September 268 AD Common name: Gallienus Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR PVBLIVS LICINIVS EGNATIVS GALLIENVS, PIVS FELIX, INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Assassinated
Reign: 260 AD Common name: Saloninus Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name:IMPERATOR CAESAR CORNELIVS LICINIVS SALONINVS VALERIANVS, PIVS FELIX, INVICTVS AVGVSTVS

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Dominate

Main article: Dominate

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Tetrarchy and Constantinian dynasty

Main article: Tetrarchy

Main article: Constantinian dynasty

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 20 November 284 AD - 1 May 305 AD Common name: Diocletian Birthplace: Dioclea, Dalmatia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS AVRELIVS VALERIVS DIOCLETIANVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS PONTIFEX MAXIMVS PATER PATRIAE PROCONSVL		Peaceful death
Reign: 1 April 286 AD - 1 May 305 AD Common name: Maximian Birthplace: near Sirmium, Pannonia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS AVRELIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Abdicated.
Reign: 1 May 305 AD - 25 July 306 AD Common name: Constantius I Chlorus Birthplace: Dardania, Moesia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS FLAVIVS VALERIVS CONSTANTIVS AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death
Reign: 1 May 305 AD - May 311 AD Common name: Galerius Birthplace: near Serdica, Dacia Aureliana Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GALERIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS
Reign: August 306 AD - 16 September 307 AD Common name: Severus II Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR SEVERVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS		Murdered or forced to commit suicide in captivity
Reign: 28 October 306 AD - 28 October 312 AD Common name: Maxentius Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: MARCVS AVRELIVS VALERIVS MAXENTIVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Died in a battle by drowning in the Tiber
Reign: 307 AD - 308 AD Common name: Maximian Birthplace: near Sirmium, Pannonia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS AVRELIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Forced to commit suicide
Reign: 307 AD - 22 May 337 AD Common name: Constantine I Birthplace: Naissus, Moesia Superior Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS CONSTANTINVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS PONTIFEX MAXIMVS PATER PATRIAE PROCONSVL		Peaceful death
Reign: 11 November 308 AD - 18 September 324 AD Common name: Licinius Birthplace: Felix Romuliana, Moesia Superior Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GAIVS VALERIVS LICINIVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Executed
Reign: 1 May 310 AD - July/August 313 AD Common name: Maximinus Daia Birthplace: Dacia Aureliana Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR GALERIVS VALERIVS MAXIMINVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS		Committed suicide
Reign: December 316 AD - 1 March 317 AD Common name: Valerius Valens Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR AVRELIVS VALERIVS VALENS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS		Executed
Reign: July - 18 September 324 AD Common name: Martinianus Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR SEXTVS MARCIVS MARTINIANVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS
Reign: 337 AD - 340 AD Common name: Constantine II Birthplace: Arles, Gaul Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS VALERIVS CONSTANTINVS AVGVSTVS		Killed in battle
Reign: 337 AD - 361 AD Common name: Constantius II Birthplace: Sirmium, Pannonia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS IVLIVS CONSTANTIVS AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death
Reign: 337 AD - 350 AD Common name: Constans Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: Constans|IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS IVLIVS CONSTANS AVGVSTVS		Killed by Magnentius
Reign: 350 AD Common name: Vetranio Birthplace: Unknown		Committed suicide
Reign: November 361 AD - June 363 AD Common name: Julian Birthplace: Constantinople, Thracia Imperial name: Julian the Apostate|IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS CLAVDIVS IVLIANVS AVGVSTVS		Unknown
Reign: 363 AD - 17 February 364 AD Common name: Jovian Birthplace: Singidunum, Moesia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS IOVIANVS AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death

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Valentinian dynasty

Main article: Valentinian dynasty

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 26 February 364 AD - 17 November 375 AD Common name: Valentinian I Birthplace: Cibalae, Pannonia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS VALENTINIANVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death
Reign: 28 March 364 AD - 9 August 378 AD Common name: Valens Birthplace: Cibalae, Pannonia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS IVLIVS VALENS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS		Killed in battle
Reign: 24 August 367 AD - 383 AD Common name: Gratian Birthplace: Sirmium, Pannonia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS GRATIANVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS		Assassinated
Reign: 375 AD - 392 AD Common name: Valentinian II Birthplace: Milan, Italia Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS VALENTINIANVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS		Deposed; died in suspicious circumstances

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Theodosian dynasty

Main article: Theodosian dynasty

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 379 AD - 17 January 395 AD Common name: Theodosius I Birthplace: Cauca, Hispania Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS THEODOSIVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death
Reign: 383 AD - January 395 AD Common name: Arcadius Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS ARCADIVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS
Reign: 23 January 393 AD - 395 AD Common name: Honorius Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS HONORIVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS

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Western Empire

Main article: Western Roman Empire

Details	Portrait	Death
Reign: 395 AD - 15 August 423 AD Common name: Honorius Birthplace: Unknown Imperial name: IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS HONORIVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS		Peaceful death
Reign: 421 AD Common name: Constantius III Birthplace: Naissus, Moesia Superior
Reign: 425 AD - 16 March 455 AD Common name: Valentinian III Birthplace: Ravenna, Italia		Assassinated
Reign: 17 March 455 AD - 31 May 455 AD Common name: Petronius Maximus Birthplace: Unknown		Stoned to death
Reign: June 455 AD - 17 October 456 AD Common name: Avitus Birthplace: Unknown		Execution
Reign: 457 AD - 2 August 461 AD Common name: Majorian Birthplace: Unknown		Unknown: killed or died of dysentery
Reign: 461 AD - 465 AD Common name: Libius Severus Birthplace: Lucania, Italia		Unknown: poisoned by Ricimer or died of natural causes
Reign: 12 April 467 AD - 11 July 472 AD Common name: Anthemius Birthplace: Unknown		Executed
Reign: July 472 AD - 2 November 472 AD Common name: Olybrius Birthplace: Unknown		Peaceful death
Reign: 5 March 473 AD - June 474 AD Common name: Glycerius Birthplace: Unknown
Reign: June 474 AD - 28 August 475 AD ( emperor-in-exile until 480 AD) Common name: Julius Nepos Birthplace: Unknown		Assassinated
Reign: 31 October 475 AD - 4 September 476 AD Common name: Romulus Augustus or Romulus Augustulus Birthplace: Unknown		Fate unknown

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Eastern Empire

Main articles: Eastern Roman Empire and List of Byzantine Emperors

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References

• Chris Scarre, Chronicle of the Roman Emperors, Thames & Hudson, 1995, Reprinted 2001, ISBN 0-500-05077-5
• Tacitus, The Annals of Imperial Rome, Penguin Classics, Michael Grant Publications Ltd, 1971, Reprinted 1985, ISBN 0-14-044060-7
• Martha Ross, Rulers and Governments of the World, Vol.1 Earliest Times to 1491, Bowker, 1978, ISBN 0-85935-021-5
• Clive Carpenter, The Guinness Book of Kings Rulers & Statesmen, Guinness Superlatives Ltd, 1978, ISBN 0-900424-46-X
• R.F.Tapsell, Monarchs Rulers Dynasties and Kingdoms of The World, Thames & Hudson, 1981, Reprinted 1987, ISBN 0-500-27337-5

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See also

• List of Roman dictators (501 - 44 BC)
• List of Roman usurpers
• Roman usurper
• Second Triumvirate (43 - 33 BC)

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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Roman Emperors

• Biographies of Roman Emperors.
• List of the Roman Emperors 27 BC - 395 AD
• Portraits and fact files
• The Roman Law Library by Yves Lassard and Alexandr Koptev.