| Emperor | Born - Died | Reign as Emperor | Succession | Cause of Death |
| Augustus | 63 BC - 14 AD | 27 BC - 14 AD | Became de facto emperor as a result of the 'first settlement' between himself and the Roman Senate. | Natural causes. |
| Tiberius | 42 BC - 37AD | 14 AD - 37 AD | Son of Augustus's wife Liia by a previous marriage; adopted son of Augustus. | Probably old age, possibly assassinated |
| Caligula | 12 AD - 41 AD | 37 AD - 41 AD | Son of Tiberius's nephew Germanicus. | Assassinated in a conspiracy involving senators and Praetorian Guards. |
| Claudius | 10 BC - 54 AD | 41 AD - 54 AD | Nephew of Tiberius, brother of Germanicus and uncle of Caligula; proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard. | Probably poisoned by his wife Agrippina the Younger, in favour of her son Nero. |
| Nero | 37 AD - 68 AD | 54 AD - 68 AD | Grandson of Germanicus, step and adopted son of Claudius. | Committed suicide after being declared a public enemy by the Senate. |
| Galba | 3 BC - 69 AD | 68 AD - 69 AD | Seized power after Nero's suicide, with support of the Spanish legions | Murdered by Praetorian Guard |
| Otho | 32 AD - 69 AD | 69 AD - 69 AD | Appointed by Praetorian Guard | Committed suicide after losing Battle of Bedriacum to Vitellius |
| Vitellius | 15 AD - 69 AD | 69 AD - 69 AD | Seized power with support of German Legions (in opposition to Galba/Otho) | Murdered by Vespasian's troops |
| Vespasian | 9 AD - 79 AD | 69 AD - 79 AD | Seized power with the support of the eastern Legions (in opposition to Vitellius) | Natural causes |
| Titus | 39 AD - 81 AD | 79 AD - 81 AD | Son of Vespasian | Natural causes (Plague) |
| Domitian | 51 AD - 96 AD | 81 AD - 96 AD | Son of Vespasian | Assassinated by court officials |
| Nerva | 30 AD | 96 AD - 98 AD | Appointed by the Senate | Natural causes |
| Trajan | 53 AD - 117 AD | 98 AD - 117 AD | Adopted son and heir of Nerva | Natural causes |
| Hadrian | 76 AD - 138 AD | 117 AD - 138 AD | Adopted son and heir of Trajan | Natural causes |
| Antoninus Pius | 86 AD - 161 AD | 138 AD - 161 AD | Adopted son and heir of Hadrian | Natural causes |
| Lucius Verus | 130 AD - 169 AD | 161 AD - 169 AD | Adopted son and heir of Antoninus Pius; Co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius until death | Natural causes (Plague) |
| Marcus Aurelius | 121 AD - 180 AD | 161 AD - 180 AD | Adopted son and heir of Antoninus Pius; Co-emperor with Lcius Verus until 169 AD | Natural causes |
| Commodus | 161 AD - 192 AD | 177 AD - 192 AD | Natural son of Marcus Aurelius; joint emperor from 177 AD | Assassinated in palace, strangled to death |
| Pertinax |
126 AD - 193 AD | 193 AD - 193 AD | Proclaimed emperor by Praetorian Guard | Murdered by Praetorian Guard |
| Didius Julianus |
133 or 137 AD - 193 AD | 193 AD - 193 AD | Won auction held by the Praetorian Guard for the position of emperor | Executed on orders of the Senate |
| Septimius Severus |
145 AD - 211 AD | 193 AD - 211 AD | Seized power with support of Pannonian legionsa | Natural causes |
| Caracalla |
188 AD - 217 AD | 198 AD - 217 AD | Son of Septimius Severus; co-emperor with Severus from 198 AD; with Severus and Geta from 209 AD until February 211 AD; co-emperor with Geta until December 211 AD | Murdered by a soldier; probably as part of a conspiracy involving Macrinus |
| Geta |
189 AD - 211 AD | 209 AD - 211 AD | Son of Septimius Severus; co-emperor with Severus and Caracalla from 209 AD until February 211 AD; co-emperor with Caracalla until December 211 AD | Murdered on the orders of Caracalla |
| Macrinus with Diadumenian |
c. 165 AD - 218 AD | 217 AD - 218 AD | Praetorian Prefect to Caracalla, probably conspired to have Caracalla murdered and proclaimed himself emperor after Caracalla's death; appointed his son Diadumenian junior emperor in May 217 | Both executed in favour of Elagabalus |
| Elagabalus |
c. 203 AD - 222 AD | 218 AD - 222 AD | Grandson of Septimius Severus's sister-in-law, alleged illegitimate son of Caracalla; proclaimed emperor by Syrian legions | Murdered by Praetorian Guard |
| Alexander Severus |
08 AD - 235 AD | 222 AD - 235 AD | Grandson of Septimius Severus's sister-in-law, cousin and adoptive heir of Elagabalus | Murdered by the army |
| Maximinus Thrax |
c.173 AD - 238 AD | 235 AD - 238 AD | Proclaimed emperor by German legions after the murder of Alexander Severus | Assassinated by Praetorian Guard |
| Gordian I |
c.159 AD - 238 AD | 238 AD - 238 AD | Proclaimed emperor, whilst Pro-consul in Africa, during a revolt against Maximinus. Ruled jointly with his son Gordian II, and in opposition to Maximinus. Technically a usurper, but retrospectively legitimised by the accession of Gordian III | Committed suicide upon hearing of the death of Gordian II. |
| Gordian II |
c.192 AD, ? - 238 AD | 238 AD - 238 AD | Proclaimed emperor, alongside father Gordian I, in opposition to Maximinus. Technically a usurper, but retrospectively legitimised by the accession of Gordian III | Killed during the Battle of Carthage, fighting a pro-Maximinus army |
| Pupienus Maximus |
c. 178 AD, ? | 238 AD - 238 AD | Proclaimed joint emperor with Balbinus by the Senate in opposition to Maximinus; later co-emperor with Balbinus and Gordian III | Assassinated by the Praetorian Guard |
| Balbinus |
? - 238 AD | 238 AD - 238 AD | Proclaimed joint emperor with Pupienus by the Senate after death of Gordian I & II, in opposition to Maximinus; later co-emperor with Pupienus and Gordian III | Assassinated by Praetorian Guard |
| Gordian III |
225 AD - 244 AD | 238 AD - 244 AD | Proclaimed emperor by supporters of Gordian I & II, then by the Senate; joint-emperor with Pupienus and Balbinus until July 238 AD. | Unknown; possibly murdered on orders of Philip the Arab |
| Philip the Arab |
c. 204 AD - 249 AD | 244 AD - 249 AD | Praetorian Prefect to Gordian III, took power after his death | Killed in battle against Decius, near Verona |
| Decius with Herennius Etruscus |
c. 201 AD - 251 AD | 249 AD - 251 AD | Governor under Philip the Arab; proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions and defeated Philip in battle; made his son Herennius Etruscus co-emperor in early 251 AD | Both killed in the Battle of Abrittus fighting against the Goths |
| Hostilian |
unknown - 251 AD | 251 AD - late 251 AD | Son of Decius, accepted as heir by the Senate | Natural causes (Plague) |
| Trebonianus Gallus with Volusianus |
206 AD - 253 AD | 251 AD - 253 AD | Governor of Moesia Superior, proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions after Decius's death (and in opposition to Hostilian); made his son Volusianus co-emperor in late 251 AD. | Assassinated by their own troops, in favour of Aemilianus |
| Aemilianus |
c. 207 AD - 253 AD | 253 AD - 253 AD | Governor of Moesia Superior, proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions after defeating the Goths; accepted as emperor after death of Gallus | Assassinated by his own troops, in favour of Valerian |
| Valerian |
c. 200 AD - 260 AD | 253 AD - 260 AD | Governor of Noricum and Raetia, proclaimed emperor by Rhine legions after death of Gallus; accepted as emperor after death of Aemilianus | Captured in Battle of Edessa against Persians, died in captivity |
| Gallienus |
? - 268 AD | 253 AD - 268 AD | Son of Valerian, made co-emperor in 253 AD | Murdered in unclear circumstances |
| Claudius Gothicus |
213 AD/214 AD - 270 AD | 268 AD - 270 AD | Victorious general at Battle of Naissus, seized power after Gallienus's death | Natural causes (Plague) |
| Quintilus |
? - 270 AD | 270 AD - 270 AD | Brother of Claudius Gothicus, seized power after his death | Unclear; possibly suicide or murder |
| Aurelian |
214 AD/215 AD - 275 AD | (?) 270 AD - 275 AD | Proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions after Claudius Gothicus's death, in opposition to Quintillus | Assassinated by Praetorian Guard |
| Tacitus |
? - 276 AD | 275 AD - 276 AD | Elected by the Senate to replace Aurelian, after a short interregnum | Natural causes (possibly assassinated) |
| Florianus |
? - 276 AD | AD - 276 AD | Possibly half-brother of Tacitus, elected by the army in the west to replace him | Assassinated by his own troops, in favour of Probus |
| Probus |
232 AD - 282 AD | 276 AD - r 282 AD | Governor of the eastern provinces, proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions in opposition to Florianus | Assassinated by his own troops, in favour of Carus |
| Carus |
c. 230 AD - 283 AD | 282 AD - 283 AD | Praetorian Prefect to Probus; seized power either before or after Probus was murdered | Natural causes? (Possibly killed by lightning) |
| Numerian |
? - 284 AD | 283 AD - 284 AD? | Son of Carus, succeeded him jointly with his brother Carinus | Unclear; possibly assassinated |
| Carinus |
? - 285 AD | 283 AD - 285 AD | Son of Carus, succeeded him jointly with his brother Numerian | Died in battle against Diocletian? |
| Diocletian |
244 AD - 311 AD | 284 AD - 305 AD | Proclaimed emperor by army after death of Numerian, and in opposition to Carinus; adopted Maximian as senior co-emperor in 286 AD | Abdicated; died of natural causes |
| Maximian |
c. 250 AD - 310 AD | 286 AD - 305 AD | Adopted as senior co-emperor ('Augustus') in the west by Diocletian in 286 AD | Abdicated with Diocletian; twice tried to regain throne with, and then from Maxentius; captured by Constantine I and committed suicide at his behest |
| Constantius I Chlorus |
c. 250 AD - 306 AD | 305 AD - 306 AD | Adopted as junior co-emperor ('Caesar') and heir by Maximian in 293 AD | Natural causes |
| Galerius |
c. 260 AD - 311 AD | 305 AD - 311 AD | Adopted as junior co-emperor ('Caesar') and heir by Diocletian in 293 AD | Natural causes |
| Severus S |
? - 307 AD | 306 AD - 307 AD | Adopted as junior co-emperor ('Caesar') and heir by Constantius Chlorus in 305 AD; succeeded as Augustus in 306; opposed by Maxentius and Constantine I | Captured by Maxentius and forced to commit suicide (or murdered) |
| Constantine I |
c. 272 AD - 337 AD | 306 AD - 337 AD | Son of Constantius Chlorus, proclaimed emperor by his father's troops; accepted as Caesar (west) by Galerius in 306 AD; promoted to Augustus (west) in 307 AD by Maximian after death of Severus; refused relegation to Caesar in 309 AD | Natural causes |
| Maxentius |
c. 278 AD | 306 AD - 312 AD | Son of Maximian, seized power in 306 after death of Constantius Chlorus, in opposition to Severus and Constantine I; made Caesar (west) by Maximian in 307 AD after the death of Severus | 312 AD Died at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, against Constantine I |
| Maximinus Daia |
. 270 AD | 311 AD - 313 AD | Nephew of Galerius, adopted as Caesar and his heir in 305 AD; succeeded as Augustus (shared with Licinius) in 311 AD | 313 AD Defeated in civil war against Licinius; probably committed suicide thereafter |
| Licinius with Valerius Valens Martinianus |
c. 250 AD - 325 AD | 308 AD - 324 AD | Appointed Augustus in the west by Galerius in 308 BC, in opposition to Maxentius; became Augustus in the east in 311 AD after the death of Galerius (shared with Maximinus); defeated Maximinus in civil war to become sole eastern Augustus in 313 BC; appointed Valerius Valens in 317 AD, and Martinianus in 324 AD as western Augustus, in opposition to Constantine, both nominally ruled for a few months before being executed | Defeated in civil war against Constantine I in 324 AD and captured; executed on the orders of Constantine the next year |
| Constantine II |
316 AD | 337 AD - 340 AD | Son of Constantine I; appointed Caesar in 317 AD, succeeded as joint Augustus with his brothers Constantius II and Constans | 340 AD Died in battle against Constans |
| Constantius II |
317 AD | 337 AD - 361 AD | Son of Constantine I; succeeded as joint Augustus with his brothers Constantine II and Constans; sole emperor from 350 AD | 361 AD Natural causes |
| Constans |
320 AD - 350 AD | 337 AD - 350 AD | Son of Constantine I; succeeded as joint Augustus with his brothers Constantine II and Constantius II | Assassinated on the orders of the usurper Magnentius |
| Julian |
331 AD/332 AD | 360 AD - 363 AD | Cousin of Constantius II; made Caesar of the west in 355 AD; proclaimed Augustus by his troops in 360; sole emperor after the death of Constantius | June 26, 363 AD Mortally wounded in battle |
| Jovian |
331 AD | 363 AD - 364 AD | General of Julian's army; proclaimed emperor by the troops on Julian's death | February 17, 364 AD Natural causes (Suffocated on fumes) |
| Valentinian I |
321 AD | 364 AD - 375 AD | Elected to replace Jovian by the army | November 17, 375 AD Natural causes |
| Valens |
328 AD | 364 AD - 378 AD | Brother of Valentinian I, appointed co-augustus (for the east) by him | August 9, 378 AD Killed in Battle of Adrianople against the Goths |
| Gratian |
359 AD | 367 AD - 383 AD | Son of Valentinian I, appointed 'junior' Augustus by him in 367, became 'senior' augustus (for the west) after Valentinian's death. | August 25, 383 AD Murdered by rebellious army faction |
| Valentinian II |
371 AD | 375 AD - 392 AD | Son of Valentinian I, proclaimed emperor by Pannonian army after Valentinian's death; accepted as co-Augustus for the west by Gratian | May 15, 392 AD Unclear; possibly murdered or committed suicide |
| Theodosius I |
347 AD | 379 AD - 395 AD | Appointed as Augustus for the east by Gratian after the death of Valens; became sole 'senior' Augustus after death of Valentinian II | January 17, 395 AD Natural causes |
| Arcadius |
c. 377 AD - 408 AD | 383 AD - 408 AD | Son of Theodosius I; appointed as 'junior' Augustus for the east by Theodosius in 383 (after the death of Gratian); became 'senior' Augustus for the east after his father's death | Natural causes |
| Honorius |
384 AD - 423 AD | 393 AD - 423 AD | Son of Theodosius I; appointed as 'junior' Augustus for the west by Theodosius in 393 (after the death of Valentinian II); became 'senior' Augustus for the west after his father's death | Natural causes |
| Theodosius II |
401 AD - 450 AD | 408 AD - 450 AD | Son of Arcadius, succeeded to the throne after his father's death | Natural causes |
| Consantius III |
? - 421 AD | 421 AD - , 421 AD | Married to Theodosius I's daughter Galla Placidia, elevated to co-Augustus for the west by Honorius | Natural causes |
| Joannes |
? - 425 AD | 423 AD - 425 AD | A senior civil servant under Honorius, proclaimed emperor by Castinus; initially undisputed | Deafeated in battle by Theodosius II and Valentinian III, captured and executed |
| Valentinian III |
419 AD - 455 AD | 424 AD - 455 AD | Son of Constantius III, appointed Caesar for the west by Theodosius II after the death of Honorius, in opposition to the Joannes; became Augustus for the west after the defeat of Joannes | Assassinated, possibly at the behest of Petronius Maximus |
| Marcian |
396 AD - 457 AD | 450 AD - 457 AD | Nominated as successor (and husband) by Pulcheria, sister of Theodosius II | Natural causes |
| Petronius Maximus |
c. 396 AD - 455 AD | 455 AD - 455 AD | Proclaimed himself emperor with the support of the army, after the death of Valentinian III | Murdered, probably stoned to death by the Roman mob |
| Avitus |
c. 385 AD - 456 AD | 455 AD - 456 AD | Magister militum under Petronius Maximus, proclaimed emperor by the Visigoth king Theoderic II after Petronius's death | Deposed by his Magister militum, Ricimer; became bishop of Placentia; murdered at some point afterwards |
| Majorian |
420 AD, ? | 457 AD - 461 AD | Appointed emperor by Ricimer | 461 AD Deposed by his troops (probably at the behest of Ricimer); died shortly afterwards in unclear circumstances |
| Libius Severus |
? - 465 AD | 461 AD - 465 AD | Appointed emperor by Ricimer | Probably assassinated by Ricimer |
| Anthemius |
c. 420 AD - 472 AD | 467 AD -472 AD | Appointed emperor by Ricimer, with the backing of the eastern emperor Leo I | Executed by Ricimer |
| Olybrius |
c. 420 AD - 472 AD | 472 AD - 472 AD | Son-in-law of Valentinian III; appointed emperor by Ricimer | Natural causes |
| Glycerius | ? - 480 AD | 473 AD - 474 AD | Appointed emperor by Gundobad (Ricimer's successor) | Deposed by Julius Nepos, became Bishop of Salona, time and manner of death unknown |
| Julius Nepos | c. 430 AD - 480 AD | 474 AD - 475 AD (in Italy); - Spring 480 AD (in Gaul and Dalmatia) | Nephew-in-law of the eastern emperor Leo I, appointed emperor in opposition to Glycerius | Deposed in Italy by Flavius Orestes, ruled in exile until assassination in 480 |
| Romulus Augustus | ? - 480 AD | 475 AD - 476 AD | Appointed by his father, Flavius Orestes | Deposed by Odoacer, who then ruled in the name of Julius Nepos until the latter's death, which formally ended the western empire; most likely lived out his life on a private villa in obscurity |
| Leo I |
401 AD - 474 AD | 457 AD - 474 AD | Proclaimed emperor by the Magister militum Aspar after Marcian's death | Natural causes |
| Leo II |
467 AD - 474 AD | 474 AD - 474 AD | Grandson of Leo I by his daughter Ariadne (empress) | Unclear, possibly assassinated |
| Zeno |
425 AD - 491 AD | 474 AD - 475 AD & 476 AD - 491 AD |
Father of Leo II | Natural causes |
| Basiliscus |
? - 476 AD | 475 AD - 476 AD | Brother-in-law of Leo I, seized power during a plot against Zeno by Verina (Leo I's widow and Basiliscus's sister) | Defeated, captured and executed by Zeno |
| Anastasius I |
c. 430 AD - 518 AD | 491 AD - 518 AD | Selected by Ariadne as successor to Zeno (as both emperor and husband) | Natural causes |
| Justin I |
c. 450 AD - 527 AD | 518 AD - 527 AD | Commander of the palace guard under Anastasius I); elected as emperor with support of army | Natural causes |
| Justinian I |
c. 482 AD - 565 AD | 527 AD - 565 AD | Nephew and nominated heir of Justin I | Natural causes |
| Justin II |
c. 520 AD - 578 AD | 565 AD - 578 AD | Nephew of Justinian I | Became insane; Tiberius II Constantine ruled as regent from December 574 and became emperor on Justin's death in 578 |
