User:Tintero21/Roman usurpers

The following is a list of usurpers in the Roman Empire. The term "Roman usurper" tipically refers to individuals who unsuccessfully claimed and/or attempted to usurp the throne of a ruling emperor. The ancient term was "tyrant" (Latin: tyrannus), which had negative connotation in and of itself. Usurpation was common during the whole imperial era; virtually all imperial dynasties rose to power through usurpation and conspiracies. The "imperial office" established by Augustus never defined an stable system of succession, and emperors often had to rely solely on military power to survive.

In the Eastern Roman Empire (395–1453), rebellion and usurpation were so notoriously frequent (in the vision of the medieval West, where usurpation was rare) that the modern term "byzantine" became a byword for political intrigue and conspiracy. For usurpation in the Eastern Roman Empire, see List of Byzantine usurpers.

Usurpers who became legitimate emperors
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. Emperors marked in bold are those who managed to secure the throne for themselves; all other emperors, unless noted, were murdered in office.

First civil war

 * Galba (68–69)
 * Otho (69)
 * Vitellius (69)
 * Vespasian (69–79) ― secured the throne

Second civil war

 * Pertinax (193)
 * Didius Julianus (193)
 * Septimius Severus (193–211) ― secured the throne

Crisis of the Third Century

 * Macrinus (217–218)
 * Elagabalus (218–222), restored the Severan dynasty
 * Maximinus I (235–238)
 * Gordian I and Gordian II (238)
 * Philip (244–249)
 * Decius (249–251)
 * Trebonianus Gallus (251–253)
 * Aemilian (253)
 * Valerian (253–260) ― captured by the Persians
 * Claudius Gothicus (268–270) ― died of plague
 * Quintillus (270)
 * Aurelian (270–275)
 * Florian (276)
 * Probus (276–282)
 * Carus (282–283) ― died in Persia
 * Diocletian (284–305) ― secured the throne

Western Empire

 * Constantine I (306–337)
 * Maxentius (306–312)
 * Vetranio (350) ― peacefully abdicated
 * Julianus II (360–363)
 * Magnus Maximus (383–388)
 * Majorian (457–461)

The last emperors of the West were all accepted by the Senate but never recognized as colleagues by the Emperor of the East.


 * Constantine III (407–411), recognized by Honorius
 * Priscus Attalus (409–410)
 * Joannes (423–425)
 * Petronius Maximus (455)
 * Avitus (455–456)
 * Libius Severus (461–465) ― natural death
 * Olybrius (472) ― natural death
 * Glycerius (473–474) ― deposed and spared
 * Romulus Augustulus (475–476) ― deposed and spared

Unsuccessful usurpers or rebels
Individuals marked in bold are those who adopted the title of "emperor" (augustus). All "usurpers" began as rebels, but not all rebels claimed the imperial titles. In most cases, it is not known whether they attempted or intended to claim the throne. Either way, they all had the potential of becoming usurpers.