Roman Emperors

Tacitus

Full Name: Marcus Claudius Tacitus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. December 275 – c. June 276 (c. 7 months)

Tacitus was selected emperor after Aurelian's assassination and ruled for only several months. He campaigned against invading groups in Asia Minor before dying in AD 276.

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Florianus aka Florian

Full Name: Marcus Annius Florianus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. June – September 276 (80–88 days)

Florian, half-brother of Tacitus, claimed the throne after Tacitus's death. His short reign ended when his troops abandoned or killed him in the struggle against Probus.

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Probus

Full Name: Marcus Aurelius Probus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. June 276 – c. September 282 (c. 6 years and 3 months)

Probus restored security on several Roman frontiers and defeated numerous invaders and rival claimants. Despite his military success, soldiers murdered him in AD 282.

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Carus

Full Name: Marcus Aurelius Carus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. September 282 – c. July 283

Carus succeeded Probus and campaigned successfully against Persia, advancing deep into Mesopotamia. His reign lasted less than a year before his sudden death during the eastern campaign.

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Carinus

Full Name: Marcus Aurelius Carinus

  Crisis of the Third Century Spring 283 – August/September 285 (2 years)

Carinus, son of Carus, ruled the western empire while his father and brother campaigned in the east. His reign ended during the civil war that brought Diocletian to power.

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Numerian

Full Name: Numerian Marcus Aurelius Numerianus

  Crisis of the Third Century c. July/August 283 – November 284 (1 year and 3/4 months)

Numerian, son of Carus, became emperor in the east after his father's death. He died under mysterious circumstances while the army was returning from Persia, opening the way for Diocletian.

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Diocletian 'Jovius'

Full Name: Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus

  Tetrachy 20 November 284 – 1 May 305 (20 years, 5 months and 11 days) Whole; then East

Diocletian restored imperial stability after the third-century crisis and created the Tetrarchy. Late in his reign, the empire launched the most extensive official persecution of Christians to that time.

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Maximian 'Herculius'

Full Name: Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus

  Tetrachy 1 April 286 – 1 May 305 (19 years and 1 month; West) Late 306 – 11 November 308 (2 years; Italy)

Maximian served as Diocletian's western co-emperor and helped establish the Tetrarchic system. He later returned to imperial politics during the succession struggles that followed their abdication.

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Galerius

Full Name: Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus

  Tetrachy 1 May 305 – May 311 (6 years; East)

Galerius rose through Diocletian's Tetrarchy and became senior eastern emperor in AD 305. A leading figure in the Great Persecution, he later issued an edict tolerating Christianity shortly before his death.

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Constantius I 'Chlorus'

Full Name: Marcus Flavius Valerius Constantius

  Tetrachy 1 May 305 – 25 July 306 (1 year, 2 months and 24 days; West)

Constantius Chlorus served as western Caesar and later Augustus under the Tetrarchy. His death in Britain in AD 306 led his troops to proclaim his son Constantine emperor.

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Severus II

Full Name: Flavius Valerius Severus

  Tetrachy August 306 – March/April 307 (c. 8 months; West)

Severus II was elevated within the Tetrarchy after Diocletian's abdication. His brief western reign collapsed when Maxentius revolted in Rome and Severus was captured and later killed.

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Maxentius

Full Name: Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius

  Tetrachy 28 October 306 – 28 October 312 (6 years; Italy)

Maxentius controlled Rome and Italy during the civil wars that followed the Tetrarchy. His reign ended when Constantine defeated him at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312.

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