List of Roman emperors
Name Birth Succession Reign Time in office Death
Pertinax IMPERATOR CAESAR PVBLIVS HELVIVS PERTINAX AVGVSTVS August 1 , 126 , Alba , Italia Proclaimed emperor by Praetorian Guard January 1 , 193 - March 28 , 193 2 months and 27 days ( 86 days ) March 28 , 193 ( aged 66 ) Murdered by Praetorian Guard
Didius Julianus IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS DIDIVS SEVERVS IVLIANVS AVGVSTVS 133 or 137 , Milan , Italia Won auction held by the Praetorian Guard for the position of emperor March 28 , 193 - June 1 , 193 2 months and 4 days ( 65 days ) June 1 , 193 ( aged 56 or 60 ) Executed on orders of the Senate
Septimius Severus IMPERATOR CAESAR LVCIVS SEPTIMIVS SEVERVS EVSEBES PERTINAX AVGVSTVS April 11 , 145 , Leptis Magna , Libya Seized power with support of Pannonian legions April 9 , 193 - February 4 , 211 17 years , 9 months and 26 days February 4 , 211 ( aged 65 ) Natural causes
Caracalla IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS AVRELIVS ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS April 4 , 188 , Lugdunum , Gallia Lugdunensis Son of Septimius Severus ; co-emperor with Severus from 198 ; with Severus and Geta from 209 until February 211 ; co-emperor with Geta until December 211 February 4 , 211 - April 8 , 217 13 years as joint emperor 10 months with Geta 6 years as sole emperor April 8 , 217 ( aged 29 ) Murdered by a soldier as part of a conspiracy involving Macrinus
Geta IMPERATOR CAESAR PVBLIVS SEPTIMIVS CETA AVGVSTUS March 7 , 189 , Rome Son of Septimius Severus ; co-emperor with Severus and Caracalla from 209 until February 211 ; co-emperor with Caracalla until December 211 February 4 , 211 - December 26 , 211 2 years as joint emperor 10 months with Caracalla December 19 , 211 ( aged 22 ) Murdered on the orders of Caracalla
Macrinus IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS OPELLIVS SEVERVS MACRINVS AVGVSTVS with Diadumenian IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS OPELLIVS ANTONINVS DIADVMENIANVS AVGVSTVS c. 165 , Caesarea , Mauretania Praetorian Prefect to Caracalla , probably conspired to have Caracalla murdered and proclaimed himself emperor after Caracalla 's death ; made his son Diadumenian ( born on 14 September 208 ) co-emperor in May 218 April 11 , 217 - June 8 , 218 1 year , 1 month and 28 days June 8 , 218 ( aged 53 ) Both executed in favour of Elagabalus
Elagabalus IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS AVRELIVS ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS c. 204 , Emesa , Syria Grandnephew of Septimius Severus , first cousin once removed and alleged illegitimate son of Caracalla ; proclaimed emperor by Syrian legions June 8 , 218 - March 11 , 222 3 years , 9 months and 3 days March 11 , 222 ( aged 18 ) Murdered by Praetorian Guard
Severus Alexander IMPERATOR CAESAR MARCVS AVRELIVS SEVERVS ALEXANDER AVGVSTVS c. 208 , Arca Caesarea , Syria Grandnephew of Septimius Severus , cousin and adoptive heir of Elagabalus March 13 , 222 - March 18 , 235 13 years and 5 days March 18 , 235 ( aged 27 ) Murdered by the army
The Principate -- 193–235 : Year of the Five Emperors and Severan dynasty
Main articles : Year of the Five Emperors and Severan dynasty
The Roman emperors were the rulers of the Roman Empire dating from the granting of the title of to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus by the Roman Senate in 27 BC, after major roles played by the populist dictator and military leader Julius Caesar. Augustus maintained a facade of Republican rule, rejecting monarchical titles but calling himself (first man of the council) and (first citizen of the state). The title of Augustus was conferred on his successors to the imperial position. The style of government instituted by Augustus is called the Principate and continued until reforms by Diocletian. The modern word 'emperor' derives from the title , which was granted by an army to a successful general; during the initial phase of the empire, the title was generally used only by the . For example, Augustus' official name was Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus. The territory under command of the emperor had developed under the period of the Roman Republic as it invaded and occupied most of Europe and portions of northern Africa and western Asia. Under the republic, regions of the empire were ruled by provincial governors answerable to and authorised by the Senate and People of Rome. During the republic, the chief magistrates of Rome were two consuls elected each year; consuls continued to be elected in the imperial period, but their authority was subservient to that of the emperor, and the election was controlled by the emperor. In the mid 1st century, Tiberius led major northern military conquests and under his reign, Jesus of Nazareth's preaching commences. Nero began the Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In the late 3rd century, after the Crisis of the Third Century, Diocletian formalised and embellished the recent manner of imperial rule, establishing the so-called Dominate period of the Roman Empire.