List of Roman usurpers

The following is an attempted list of usurpers in the Roman Empire. For an overview of the problem and consequences of usurpation see Roman usurpers. In the Eastern Roman Empire (476-1453), or Byzantine Empire, usurpation was so notoriously frequent that the term "Byzantine" became a byword for intrigue.

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

Emperor usurpers

This is a listing of Roman emperors that so became due to their own initiative with neither family ties to the previous nor senatorial appointement.

= First Roman Imperial civil war: the year of the four emperors (69 AD) =

* Otho – committed suicide
* Vitellius – killed
* Vespasian – secured the throne

From 193 to the tetrarchy (crisis of the third century)

* Septimius Severus (193-211) in the Rhine, secured the throne, founder of the Severan dynasty
* Macrinus (217-e.218) in Syria, former prefect of the Praetorian guard
* Maximinus Thrax (235-kS.238) in the Rhine, former centurion
* Gordian I and Gordian II (238) in Africa, suicide and death in battle
* Philip the Arab (244-kS.249) in the East, former prefect of the Praetorian guard
* Decius (249-kB.251) in Pannonia
* Aemilianus (kS.251) in Moesia
* Valerian (253-e.260) in the Rhine, executed by the Persians
* Aurelian (270-kPG275)
*…

Unsuccessful usurpers in the 1st century

List of to be emperors eventually defeated by the ruling sovereign, listed by reign. The noted date is the attempted usurpation.

Titus: 79-81

* Terentius Maximus, in Asia, took refuge with Artabanus, a Parthian leader, resembled Nero

Domitian: 91-96

* Lucius Antonius Saturninus (89), in Germania Superior, governor of Germania Superior, could not bring in Germanic allies because the Rhine thawed, put down by Domitian's general.

Unsuccessful usurpers in the 2nd century

Marcus Aurelius: 161-180

* Avidius Cassius (175), in Egypt and Syria, governor of Syria, declared himself emperor upon the rumor that Marcus Aurelius had died, continued his revolt even upon learning Marcus Aurelius was alive.

Septimius Severus: 193-211

* Pescennius Niger (193-194), in Egypt, Asia and Syria, governor of Syria, proclaimed himself emperor after the death of Pertinax, defeated in battle and killed while fleeing to Parthia.
* Clodius Albinus (196-197), in Britain and Gaul, governor of Britain, originally Septimius Severus's ally until Pescennius Niger was killed, killed at the battle of Lugdunum.

Unsuccessful usurpers in the 3rd century

Elagabalus: 218-222

* Gellius Maximus (219), in Syria, executed, originally an officer of Legio IV "Scythica"
* Verus (late 219), in Syria, executed, commander of Legio III "Gallica"
* Uranius (ca. 221), questioned existence and date; sources place him in 253
* Seleucus (after 221). He could be Julius Antonius Seleucus, in Moesia, or M. Flavius Vitellius Seleucus, consul for 221

Alexander Severus: 222-235

* Sallustius (ca. 227), in Rome, raised to Caesar by Alexander, executed for attempted murder, prefect of the Praetorian guard
* Taurinus (S. date unclear), in the East, committed suicide in the Euphrates after being hailed Augustus

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
* Pacatianus (kS.248), in the Danube frontier, killed by soldiers
* Silbannacus in the Rhine, questioned existence
* Sponsianus in Moesia, questioned existence

Decius: 249-251

* Priscus (249-k?252) in the East, Philip's brother
* Licinianus (250) in Rome, executed

Gallienus: 253-268

"See also 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 fictitious usurpers:
** Celsus
** Saturninus
** Trebellianus

Claudius II: 268-270

* Censorinus (269-kS.270), almost certainly non-existent: "attested" only by the Augustan History ( [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Tyranni_XXX*.html#33 Trig. Tyr. 33] ) with no literary, epigraphical, numismatic support of any kind.

Aurelian: 270-275

* Domitianus (270-271)
* 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

* Bonosus (280)
* Proculus (280)
* Saturninus (280)

Carus, Carinus, Numerian: 282-284

* Sabinus Iulianus

Diocletian: 284-305

* Amandus and Aelianus: 285
* Carausius: 286-293
* Allectus: 293-296
* Domitius Domitianus: 297
* Aurelius Achilleus: 297–298
* Eugenius: 303 [Barnes, "The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine" (Cambridge: Harvard University Press), 10–12.]

Unsuccessful usurpers in the 4th and 5th century

* Maximian (306–308, e.310) against Flavius Valerius Severus and Galerius, later against Constantine I
* Calocaerus (e.333/334) against Constantine I
* Domitius Alexander (308-e.311) against Maxentius
* Magnentius and Decentius (350–353) against Constantius II
* Vetranio (350) against Constantius II
* Nepotianus (350) against Constantius II
* Claudius Silvanus 355 against Constantius II
* Procopius (366) against Valentinian I
* Firmus (372-375) against Valentinian I
* Magnus Maximus (383-388) and Flavius Victor (384-388) against Gratian, Valentinian II and Theodosius I
* Eugenius (392-e.394) against Theodosius I

= Honorius: 395-423 =

* Priscus Attalus: 409, 414-415
* Maximus of Hispania: 409-411
* Marcus: 406-407
* Gratian: 407
* Constantine "III": 407-411
* Constans "II": 407-411

Valentinian III: 423-455

* Joannes: 423-425

Unsuccessful regional usurpers after the fall of Rome (476)

* Burdunellus (e.496), in the Ebro valley
* Peter (e.506), in the Ebro valley

References