Roman Emperors

Herennius Etruscus

Full Name: Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius

  Crisis of the Third Century May/June – June 251 (less than a month)

Herennius Etruscus, son of Decius, was elevated to co-emperor during the Gothic war. His reign was extremely brief, and he died with his father at the Battle of Abritus.

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Trebonianus Gallus

Full Name: Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus

  Crisis of the Third Century June 251 – c. August 253 (c. 2 years and 2 months)

Trebonianus Gallus became emperor after the deaths of Decius and Herennius Etruscus. His troubled reign faced plague, frontier threats, and rebellion before his own soldiers killed him.

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Hostilian

Full Name: Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. June – c. July 251 (c. 1 month)

Hostilian, the younger son of Decius, briefly shared imperial power after his father's death. His reign lasted only about a month before he died during a devastating epidemic.

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Volusianus

Full Name: Gaius Vibius Afinius Gallus Veldumnianus Volusianus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. August 251 – c. August 253 (2 years)

Volusianus ruled alongside his father Trebonianus Gallus during a period of plague, invasion, and political instability. Both were killed by their own troops when Aemilianus advanced against them.

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Aemilianus

Full Name: Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. July – c. September 253 (88 days?)

Aemilianus was proclaimed emperor by his troops after military success on the Danube. His reign lasted only a few months before his soldiers killed him as Valerian approached.

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Silbannacus

Full Name: Marcius or Marius Silbannacus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. September/October 253 (?) (very briefly?)

Silbannacus is an exceptionally obscure third-century ruler or usurper known chiefly from coin evidence. His identity, territory, and the circumstances of his very brief claim remain uncertain.

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Valerian

Full Name: Publius Licinius Valerianus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. September 253 – c. June 260 (c. 6 years and 9 months)

Valerian became emperor during the Crisis of the Third Century and ruled jointly with his son Gallienus. He persecuted Christians and was later captured alive by the Persian king Shapur I.

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Gallienus

Full Name: Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. September 253 – c. September 268 (15 years)

Gallienus shared power with Valerian and then ruled alone during one of Rome's most dangerous periods. He fought invasions and usurpers while attempting important military reforms.

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Saloninus

Full Name: Publius Licinius Cornelius Saloninus Valerianus

  Crisis of the Third Century Autumn 260 (c. 1 month)

Saloninus, son of Gallienus, was briefly proclaimed emperor in Gaul during the revolt of Postumus. His rule lasted only weeks before Cologne fell and he was killed.

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Claudius II 'Gothicus'

Full Name: Marcus Aurelius Claudius

  Crisis of the Third Century c. September 268 – c. August 270 (c. 1 year and 11 months)

Claudius II Gothicus won important victories against Gothic invaders during the Crisis of the Third Century. His promising reign ended after roughly two years when he died during an epidemic.

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Quintillus

Full Name: Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. August – c. September 270 (c. 27 days)

Quintillus, brother of Claudius II, briefly claimed the imperial throne after Claudius's death. His reign lasted only weeks before the army shifted its support to Aurelian.

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Aurelian

Full Name: Lucius Domitius Aurelianus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. August 270 – c. November 275 (c. 5 years and 3 months)

Aurelian reunited much of the fractured Roman Empire by defeating major rival states in east and west. His energetic reign earned him the title Restorer of the World before his assassination.

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