The following is a list of usurpers in the Roman Empire. For an overview of the problem and consequences of usurpation, see Roman usurpers. In the Byzantine Empire (476–1453), rebellion and usurpation were so notoriously frequent (in the vision of the medieval West, where usurpation was rare) that the term "byzantine" became a byword for political intrigue and conspiracy. For usurpation in the Byzantine Empire, 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
The following individuals began as usurpers, but became the legitimate emperor either by establishing uncontested control of the empire or by confirmation of their position by the Roman Senate or by the legitimate emperor.
Galba – killed January 15, 69
Otho – committed suicide April 16, 69
Vitellius – killed December 22, 69
Vespasian – secured the throne
Pertinax (193)
Didius Julianus (193)
Septimius Severus (193-211)
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)
Maxentius (307–312)
Vetranio (350)
Magnus Maximus (383-388) and Flavius Victor (384-388)
The following last emperors of the West were all accepted by the Senate but never recognized as colleagues by the Emperor of the East:
Constantine III and Constans II (407-411)
Joannes (423-425)
Petronius Maximus (455)
Avitus (455-456)
Libius Severus (461-465)
Olybrius (472)
Glycerius (473-474)
Romulus Augustulus (475-476)
The following individuals proclaimed themselves emperor (or were proclaimed or appointed as emperor), but are not considered as legitimate emperors because they did not oust the ruling emperor, or did not establish control of the whole empire, or were not accepted by the senate or other imperial colleagues.
They are listed here under the emperor whose rule they attempted to usurp. The noted date is the attempted year of usurpation.
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.
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.
Terentius Maximus, in Asia, took refuge with Artabanus, a Parthian leader, resembled Nero
Lucius Antonius Saturninus (89), in Germania Superior, governor of Germania Superior, could not bring in Germanic allies because the Rhine thawed, put down by
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.
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.
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 (c. 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 (c. 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
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
Sabinianus (240), in Africa, governor of the province
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
Priscus (249-k?252) in the East, Philip's brother
Licinianus (250) in Rome, executed
Valens Senior in Illyria, great-uncle of Valens Thessalonicus
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— Possibly the villain in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus
Trebellianus
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.
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
Bonosus (280)
Proculus (280)
Saturninus (280)
Sabinus Julianus
Amandus and Aelianus: 285
Carausius: 286–293
Allectus: 293–296
Domitius Domitianus: 297
Aurelius Achilleus: 297–298
Eugenius: 303
Domitius Alexander (308-e.311)
Calocaerus (e.333/334)
Magnentius and Decentius (350–353)
Nepotianus (350)
Claudius Silvanus (355)
Procopius (366)
Marcellus (366)
Theodorus (372)
Firmus (372-375)
Eugenius (392-e.394)
Marcus: 406-407
Gratian: 407
Maximus of Hispania: 409-411, 420-421
Priscus Attalus: 409-410, 415-416
Jovinus: 411-413
Sebastianus: 412-413
Heraclianus: 412-413, e
Bonifacius: 427
Arvandus: 468
Romanus: 470
Burdunellus (e.496), in the Ebro valley
Peter (e.506), in the Ebro valley
