The Roman Empire was one of the most influential civilizations in world history. Beginning with Augustus in 27 BCE and ending in the West with Romulus Augustulus in 476 CE, Roman emperors ruled vast territories spanning Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
This complete list of Roman emperors presents every emperor of the Roman Empire in chronological order. From the Julio-Claudian dynasty through the Crisis of the Third Century and the final rulers of the Western Roman Empire, these emperors shaped the course of ancient history.
Explore each emperor’s biography, reign, achievements, and historical significance through the NoteRef People Timeline.
Principate (27 BC – AD 284)
Julio-Claudian Dynasty (27 BC – AD 68)
1. Augustus (27 BCE–14 CE)
2. Tiberius (14–37)
3. Caligula (37–41)
4. Claudius (41–54)
5. Nero (54–68)
Year of the Four Emperors (68–69)
6. Galba (68–69)
7. Otho (69)
8. Vitellius (69)
Flavian Dynasty (69–96)
9. Vespasian (69–79)
10. Titus (79–81)
11. Domitian (81–96)
Nerva–Antonine Dynasty (96–192)
12. Nerva (96–98)
13. Trajan (98–117)
14. Hadrian (117–138)
15. Antoninus Pius (138–161)
16. Marcus Aurelius (161–180)
17. Lucius Verus (161–169)
18. Commodus (180–192)
Year of the Five Emperors & Severan Dynasty (193–235)
19. Pertinax (193)
20. Didius Julianus (193)
21. Septimius Severus (193–211)
22. Caracalla (198–217)
23. Geta (209–211)
24. Macrinus (217–218)
25. Elagabalus (218–222)
26. Severus Alexander (222–235)
Crisis of the Third Century (235–284)
27. Maximinus Thrax (235–238)
28. Gordian I (238)
29. Gordian II (238)
30. Pupienus (238)
31. Balbinus (238)
32. Gordian III (238–244)
33. Philip the Arab (244–249)
34. Philip II (247–249)
35. Decius (249–251)
36. Herennius Etruscus (251)
37. Hostilian (251)
38. Trebonianus Gallus (251–253)
39. Volusianus (251–253)
40. Aemilian (253)
41. Valerian (253–260)
42. Gallienus (253–268)
43. Claudius Gothicus (268–270)
44. Quintillus (270)
45. Aurelian (270–275)
46. Tacitus (275–276)
47. Florianus (276)
48. Probus (276–282)
49. Carus (282–283)
50. Carinus (283–285)
51. Numerian (283–284)
Dominate (284–476)
Tetrarchy and Constantinian Dynasty
52. Diocletian (284–305)
53. Maximian (286–305)
54. Constantius I Chlorus (305–306)
55. Galerius (305–311)
56. Constantine the Great (306–337)
57. Constantine II (337–340)
58. Constans (337–350)
59. Constantius II (337–361)
60. Julian (361–363)
61. Jovian (363–364)
Valentinian and Theodosian Dynasties
62. Valentinian I (364–375)
63. Valens (364–378)
64. Gratian (367–383)
65. Valentinian II (375–392)
66. Theodosius I (379–395)
67. Arcadius (395–408)
68. Honorius (395–423)
69. Theodosius II (402–450)
70. Valentinian III (425–455)
Final Western Emperors (455–476)
71. Petronius Maximus (455)
72. Avitus (455–456)
73. Majorian (457–461)
74. Libius Severus (461–465)
75. Anthemius (467–472)
76. Olybrius (472)
77. Glycerius (473–474)
78. Julius Nepos (474–475; claimant until 480)
79. Romulus Augustulus (475–476)
Explore Roman Emperors on the NoteRef People Timeline
The NoteRef People Timeline allows you to explore Roman emperors alongside philosophers, generals, scientists, writers, kings, and major historical events. Discover which emperors ruled during the lifetimes of figures such as Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Jesus, Plotinus, Augustine, and many others.
Photo by Maria Dolores Vazquez on Unsplash
