List of Roman usurpers

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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, rebellion and usurpation were so notoriously frequent (in the vision of the Medieval west, where usurpation was rarer) that the term "Byzantine" became a byword for political intrigue and conspiracy - see List of Byzantine usurpers.

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

1 Emperor usurpers
- 1.1 First Roman Imperial civil war: the year of the four emperors (69 AD)
- 1.2 From 193 to the tetrarchy (crisis of the third century)
2 Unsuccessful usurpers in the 1st century
3 Unsuccessful usurpers in the 2nd century
- 3.1 Marcus Aurelius: 161-180
- 3.2 Septimius Severus: 193-211
4 Unsuccessful usurpers in the 3rd century
5 Unsuccessful usurpers in the 4th and 5th century
6 Unsuccessful regional usurpers after the fall of Rome (476)

[edit] 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 appointment.

[edit] First Roman Imperial civil war: the year of the four emperors (69 AD)

Galba - killed January 15, 69
Otho – committed suicide April 16, 69
Vitellius – killed December 22, 69
Vespasian – secured the throne

[edit] From 193 to the tetrarchy (crisis of the third century)

Didius Julianus (193)
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
Trebonianus Gallus (251-253)
Aemilianus (kS.251) in Moesia
Valerian (253-e.260) in the Rhine, executed by the Persians
Claudius II Gothicus (268-270)
Aurelian (270-kPG275)

[edit] 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.

[edit] Claudius: 41-54

Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus (41), the imperial legate of Dalmatia. Considered a possible successor to Caligula, he committed suicide on the island of Issa after his troops abandoned him.

[edit] Galba: 68-69

Nymphidius Sabinus (68), Nero's Praetorian Prefect, declared himself emperor after Nero's suicide, claiming he was the illegitimate son of Caligula. Killed by the Praetorian Guard as Galba approached Rome.

[edit] Titus: 79-81

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] Unsuccessful usurpers in the 2nd century

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Unsuccessful usurpers in the 3rd century

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Gordian III: 238-244

Sabinianus (240), in Africa, governor of the province

[edit] 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

[edit] Decius: 249-251

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

[edit] 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:

[edit] Claudius II: 268-270

Censorinus (269-kS.270), almost certainly non-existent: "attested" only by the Augustan History (Trig. Tyr. 33) with no literary, epigraphical, numismatic support of any kind.

[edit] Aurelian: 270-275

Domitianus (270-271)most probably in Southern Gaul. He was probably encouraged by Aurelian's difficulties in dealing with an Alamannic incursion into Italy that occurred early in his reign. His bid for power could have been suppressed by Aurelian's Praetorian Prefect, Placidianus who was in the Rhone valley at the time or by Tetricus, the Gallic Emperor.
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