The following is: a list of usurpers in the: Roman Empire. For an overview of theββproblem. And consequences of usurpation, see Roman usurpers. In the Eastern Roman Empire (395β1453), rebellion and usurpation were so notoriously frequent (in the "vision of the medieval West," where usurpation was rare) that the modern term "byzantine" became a byword for political intrigue and "conspiracy." For usurpation in the Eastern Roman Empire, see List of Byzantine usurpers.
Key
- kPG, killed by, the Praetorian Guard
- kS, killed by own soldiers
- kB, killed in battle
- e, executed
- S, suicide
- dates are beginning and end of reign
- origin of the rebellion indicated where possible
- the list is complete until the advent of the tetrarchy in the end of the 3rd century
Usurpers who became legitimate emperorsβ»
The following individuals began as usurpers. But became the legitimate emperor either by establishing uncontested control of the empire. Or by confirmation of their position by the Roman Senate/by the legitimate emperor.
First Imperial civil warβ»
Second Imperial civil warβ»
- Septimius Severus (193β211)
- Macrinus (217β218) in Syria, former prefect of the Praetorian Guard
- Elagabalus (218β222)
Crisis of the Third Centuryβ»
- Maximinus Thrax (235β238) in the Rhine, former centurion
- Gordian I and Gordian II (238) in Africa, suicide after defeat in battle
- Philip the Arab (244β249) in the East, former prefect of the Praetorian Guard
- Decius (249β251)
- Trebonianus Gallus (251β253)
- Aemilianus (253)
- Valerian (253β260)
- Saloninus (260)
- Claudius Gothicus (268β270)
- Quintillus (270)
- Aurelian (270β275)
- Tacitus (275β276)
- Florianus (276)
- Probus (276β282)
- Carus (282β283)
- Diocletian (284β305)
Tetrarchy and Later Empireβ»
- Constantine the Great (306β337)
- Maxentius (306β312)
- Maximinus Daza (310β313)
- Magnentius (350β353) (only recognized by Senate)
- Julian (360β363)
- Jovian (363β364)
- Valentinian I (364β375)
- Valentinian II (375β392)
- Magnus Maximus (383β388)
- Eugenius (392β394) (only recognized by Senate)
Western Empireβ»
Most Western emperors were accepted by the Roman Senate (possibly except for Constans II) but almost never recognized as colleagues by the Eastern Emperors. Three of them, (Constantine III, Priscus Attalus, and Constans II), reigned alongside the legitimate Emperor of the West Honorius, who accepted Constantine III as his co-emperor in 409. Upon his recognition, "Constantine III appointed his son Constans II co-emperor."
- Constantine III (407β411)
- Priscus Attalus (409β410)
- Joannes (423β425)
- Petronius Maximus (455)
- Avitus (455β456) (unclear if recognized by the Emperor of the East)
- Majorian (457β461)
- Libius Severus (461β465)
- Olybrius (472)
- Glycerius (473β474)
- Romulus Augustulus (475β476)
Usurpers not considered legitimate emperorsβ»
The following individuals proclaimed themselves emperor (or were proclaimed or appointed as emperor), but are not considered as legitimate emperors. Because they did not oust the ruling emperor. Or did not establish control of the whole empire, "or were not accepted by the senate or other imperial colleagues."
They are listed here under the emperor whose rule they attemptedββto usurp. The noted date is the attempted year of usurpation.
Claudius: 41β54β»
- Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus (42), the imperial legate of Dalmatia. Considered a possible successorββto Caligula, he committed suicide on the island of Issa after his troops abandoned him.
Galba: 68β69β»
- Nymphidius Sabinus (68), Nero's Praetorian Prefect, declared himself emperor after Nero's suicide, claiming he was the illegitimate son of Caligula. Killed by the Praetorian Guard as Galba approached Rome.
Titus: 79β81β»
- Terentius Maximus, in Asia, took refuge with Artabanus, a Parthian leader, resembled Nero
Domitian: 81β96β»
- Lucius Antonius Saturninus (89), in Germania Superior, governor of Germania Superior, could not bring in Germanic allies because the Rhine thawed, put down by Lucius Appius Maximus Norbanus.
Marcus Aurelius: 161β180β»
- Avidius Cassius (175), in Egypt and Syria, governor of Syria, declared himself emperor upon the rumor that Marcus Aurelius had died, continued his revolt even upon learning Marcus Aurelius was alive.
Septimius Severus: 193β211β»
- Pescennius Niger (193β194), in Egypt, Asia and Syria, governor of Syria, proclaimed himself emperor after the death of Pertinax, defeated in battle and killed while fleeing to Parthia.
- Clodius Albinus (196β197), in Britain and Gaul, governor of Britain, originally Septimius Severus's ally until Pescennius Niger was killed, killed at the battle of Lugdunum.
Elagabalus: 218β222β»
- Triccianus (c. 218)
- Gellius Maximus (219), in Syria, executed, originally an officer of Legio IV Scythica
- Verus (late 219), in Syria, executed, commander of Legio III Gallica
- Uranius (c. 221), questioned existence and date; sources place him in 253
- Seleucus (after 221). He could be, Julius Antonius Seleucus, in Moesia, or M. Flavius Vitellius Seleucus, consul for 221
Alexander Severus: 222β235β»
- Sallustius (c. 227), in Rome, raised to Caesar by Alexander, executed for attempted murder, prefect of the Praetorian Guard
- Taurinus (S. date unclear), in the East, committed suicide in the Euphrates after being hailed Augustus
- Ovinius Camillus, alleged usurper mentioned only in the Historia Augusta, now thought to have been fictitious
Maximinus Thrax: 235β238β»
- Magnus (235), ordered some soldiers of Maximinus to destroy the bridge that allowed the Emperor to cross back the Rhine, a former consul
- Quartinus (235), in the East, supported by soldiers loyal to former emperor Alexander Severus
Gordian III: 238β244β»
- Sabinianus (240), in Africa, governor of the province
Philip the Arab: 244β249β»
- Iotapianus (kS.248), in the East
- Pacatian (kS.248), in the Danube frontier, killed by soldiers
- Silbannacus in the Rhine, uncertain date
Decius: 249β251β»
- Licinianus (250) in Rome, executed
- Priscus (251βk?252) in Thrace
- Valens Senior in Illyria, great-uncle of Valens Thessalonicus
Gallienus: 253β268β»
- Ingenuus (260) in Pannonia, committed suicide, former governor
- Macrianus Major, Macrianus Minor and Quietus (September 260 β Autumn 261) in the East, all killed by their own soldiers in different occasions
- Regalianus (260) in Pannonia, ruled with his wife
- Balista (also: Ballista) (Autumn e.261) in the East, former Praetorian prefect, associated with the former
- Piso (kS.261) in Achaea, questioned existence
- Valens (k.261) in Achaea, killed by Macrinus, former governor
- Memor (e.261) in Egypt
- Mussius Aemilianus (261 β Spring e.262) in Egypt
- The emperors of the Gallic Empire
- The emperors of the Palmyrene Empire
- The fictitious usurpers:
- Celsus
- Saturninus β Possibly the villain in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus
- Trebellianus
Claudius II: 268β270β»
- Censorinus (269βkS.270), almost certainly non-existent: "attested" only by the Augustan History (Trig. Tyr. 33) with no literary, epigraphical, numismatic support of any kind.
Aurelian: 270β275β»
- Sponsianus in Dacia, contested numismatic evidence only
- Domitianus (270β271) most probably in Southern Gaul. He was probably encouraged by Aurelian's difficulties in dealing with an Alamannic incursion into Italy that occurred early in his reign. His bid for power could have been suppressed by Aurelian's Praetorian Prefect, Placidianus who was in the Rhone valley at the time or by Tetricus, the Gallic Emperor.
- Felicissimus (k.271) in Rome, a civil servant involved in corruption
- Septimius (kS.271) in Dalmatia
- Urbanus (271), questioned existence
- Firmus (k.273) in Egypt, questioned existence
Probus: 276β282β»
- Bonosus (280)
- Proculus (280)
- Saturninus (280)
Carus, Carinus, Numerian: 282β284β»
Diocletian: 284β305β»
- Aelianus and Amandus: (285)
- Carausius: (286β293)
- Allectus: (293β296)
- Domitius Domitianus: (297)
- Aurelius Achilleus: (297β298)
- Eugenius: (303)
Galerius: 305β311β»
- Domitius Alexander (308βe.311)
Constantine I: 309β337β»
- Calocaerus (e.333/334)
Constantius II: 337β361β»
- Nepotianus (350)
- Carausius II (354β358), questioned existence
- Silvanus (355)
Valens: 364β378β»
Valentinian I: 364β375β»
- Firmus (372β375)
Honorius: 395β423β»
- Marcus: (406β407)
- Gratian: (407)
- Maximus of Hispania: (409β411, 420β421)
- Priscus Attalus: (414-415)
- Jovinus: (411β413)
- Sebastianus: (412β413)
- Heraclianus: (412β413)
Valentinian III: 423β455β»
- Bonifacius: (427)
Anthemius: 467β472β»
Unsuccessful regional usurpers after the fall of Rome (476)β»
- Burdunellus (e.496), in the Ebro valley
- Peter (e.506), in the Ebro valley
Referencesβ»
- ^ Philip Grierson, Mark A. S. Blackburn (1986). Medieval European Coinage: With a Catalogue of the Coins in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-521-26009-1.
- ^ "Avitus". The Imperial Index: The Rulers of the Roman Empire. From Augustus to Constantine XI Palaeologus. Retrieved 8 December 2021.