List of Roman usurpers
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The following is an attempted list usurpers of the Roman Empire. For an overview of the problem and consequences of usurpation see Roman usurpers.
Key:
- kPG, killed by the Praetorian guard
- kS, killed by own soldiers
- kB, killed in battle
- e, executed
- 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
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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)
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 3rd century
List of to be emperors eventually defeated by the ruling sovereign, listed by reign. The noted date is the attempted usurpation.
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
- Seleucus (after 221), in Moesia
- Uranius (around 221), questioned existence and date; sources place him in 253
Alexander Severus: 222-235
- Seius Sallustius (around 227), in Rome, executed, prefect of the Praetorian guard
- Taurinus (date unclear), in the East, committed suicide
Maximinus Thrax: 235-238
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
Gallienus: 253-268
- 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:
Claudius II: 268-270
- Censorinus (269-kS.270), almost certainly non-existent: "attested" only by the Augustan History (Trig. Tyr. 33 (http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Tyranni_XXX*.html#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)