List of Roman usurpers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The following is a list of usurpers in the

Eastern Roman Empire (395–1453), 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 emperors

Further information: List of Roman emperors

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 or by the legitimate emperor.

First Imperial civil war

Main article: Year of the Four Emperors

Second Imperial civil war

Main articles: Year of the Five Emperors and Severan dynasty

Crisis of the Third Century

Main articles: Year of the Six Emperors and Crisis of the Third Century

Tetrarchy and Later Empire

Main article: Tetrarchy

Western Empire

Most Western emperors were accepted by the Roman Senate (possibly except for

Constans II) but almost never recognized as colleagues by the Eastern Emperors.[1] 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.

Usurpers not considered legitimate emperors

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 attempted to usurp. The noted date is the attempted year of usurpation.

Claudius: 41–54

Galba: 68–69

Titus: 79–81

Domitian: 81–96

Marcus Aurelius: 161–180

Septimius Severus: 193–211

Elagabalus: 218–222

Alexander Severus
: 222–235

Maximinus Thrax: 235–238

  • 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: 238–244

  • Sabinianus (240), in Africa, governor of the province

Philip the Arab: 244–249

  • Iotapianus
    (kS.248), in the East
  • Pacatian (kS.248), in the Danube frontier, killed by soldiers
  • Silbannacus in the Rhine, uncertain date

Decius: 249–251

  • Licinianus
    (250) in Rome, executed
  • Priscus (251–k?252) in Thrace
  • Valens Senior in Illyria, great-uncle of Valens Thessalonicus

Gallienus: 253–268

Main article: Gallienus usurpers
  • Ingenuus (260) in Pannonia, committed suicide, former governor
  • Macrianus Major, Macrianus Minor and Quietus (September 260 – 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 – Spring e.262) in Egypt
  • The emperors of the Gallic Empire
  • The emperors of the Palmyrene Empire
  • The fictitious usurpers:

Claudius II
: 268–270

Aurelian: 270–275

  • Sponsianus in Dacia, contested numismatic evidence only
  • 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
: 276–282

Carus, Carinus, Numerian: 282–284

  • Sabinus Julianus

Diocletian: 284–305

  • Amandus and Aelianus
    : (285)
  • Carausius: (286–293)
  • Allectus: (293–296)
  • Domitius Domitianus
    : (297)
  • Aurelius Achilleus
    : (297–298)
  • Eugenius: (303)

Galerius: 305–311

Constantine I
: 309–337

Constantius II: 337–361

Valens: 364–378

Valentinian I: 364–375

  • Firmus
    (372–375)

Honorius: 395–423

Valentinian III: 423–455

  • Bonifacius
    : (427)

Anthemius: 467–472

Unsuccessful regional usurpers after the fall of Rome (476)

  • Ebro valley
  • Peter (e.506), in the Ebro valley

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-521-26009-1
    .
  2. ^ "Avitus". The Imperial Index: The Rulers of the Roman Empire. From Augustus to Constantine XI Palaeologus. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
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