|
With Marc Antony and Cleopatra dead, and Cleopatra's Son (also believed to be Julius Caesar's son) Caesarion executed, Octavian
becomes Caesar Augustus, the very first Emperor of the Roman Empire. Also due to his conquering of Egypt and Caesarion (the
King of Egypt) dead, he is proclaimed Pharoah by the Egyptian people. He takes the Pharoanic title with him upon arriving
in Rome and it is presumed to never actually hand it back to Egypt. All his titles (including Dictator for Life of the Senate,
Consul and Commander of the Army etc.) become semi-hereditary, and stays in Rome for almost 500 years. With this information,
I have come to the conclusion that from this point forward EVERY Roman Emperor, is also the Pharoah of Egypt as well, at least
de jure. As that title goes back at least 3000 years before Augustus, it adds to the prestige of the Imperial title of Rome.
Thus we continue Translatio Imperii.
Principate
The Principate is a period within Roman History in which the newly created "office" known as the Roman Emperor,
was in control de jure only with the full and complete permission of the still existing Roman Senate, a representation of
the Citizens of Rome. De facto however, the Emperor had supreme power within the Empire and he manipulated the Senate to
do his will. This period differs from the later Dominate period, in which the Emperor takes control outright with complete
disregard to the Senate and often, to other Co-Emperors as well.
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Julio-Claudian Dynasty
|
Augustus I
|
Takes the title Pharoah of Egypt in 30 B.C. and becomes the first Emperor of Rome, inheriting the various titles held by
his adoptive father, the famous Julius Caesar.
|
|
Julio-Claudian Dynasty
|
Tiberius I
|
The Emperor who famously sent Jesus of Nazareth from Rome back to Pontius Pilate in Judea after finding no fault of rebelious
actions against Him.
|
|
Julio-Claudian Dynasty
|
Caligula I
|
One of the most hated Emperors, declared himself a "living god" among the Roman citizens (who typically "bestow"
that right to a deceased Emperor themselves) and was assasinated.
|
|
Julio-Claudian Dynasty
|
Claudius I
|
|
|
Julio-Claudian Dynasty
|
Nero I
|
Adoptive son of Claudius I, one of the earliest persecutors of Christians.
|
After Nero committed suicide in 68 A.D. a civil war broke out. One year later, Galba I seize power as Emperor. Very little
support came to him and as such, was killed by a Praetorian Guard named Sempronius Densus. He was bribed to assasinate him
by Otho and became the new Emperor. Another man by the name of Vitellius who lead the best soldiers of Rome vied for power,
threatening to attack Rome. Unable to make a truce, Otho killed himself and Vitellius became Emperor. Vitellius was a very
untrusting man and made many ememies in Rome and throughout the empire. Other provinces choose to recognize Vespasian as
the successor to the throne. Placed in charge of the Roman army in Judea by Emperor Nero, his men successfully assasinated
Vitellius and became Emperor. All of these events happened within one years time, in the era known as the "Year of the
Four Emperors."
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Year of the Four Emperors
|
Galba I
|
See above
|
|
Year of the Four Emperors
|
Otho I
|
See above
|
|
Year of the Four Emperors
|
Vitellius I
|
See above
|
|
Year of the Four Emperors and Flavian Dynasty
|
Vespasian I
|
Ended the Year of the Four Emperors and brought stablity to the Imperial title by founding a Dynasty of his own called the
"Flavian Dynasty" after Vespasian's family name "Flavius."
|
|
Flavian Dynasty
|
Titus I
|
He is the son of Vespasian.
|
|
Flavian Dynasty
|
Domitian I
|
He was the younger brother of Titus.
|
The next era is known as the "Era of the Five Good Emperors" coined from the phrase by Niccolò Machiavelli (The
term Machiavellian is derived from his name). This period is marked by a relative peace for the city, and thus the term for
the era.
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Five Good Emperors
|
Nerva I
|
This Emperor ruled for two years and serve in the Imperial Army under Nero I and later the Emperors of the Vepian Dynasty.
He adopted the future Emperor Trajan I.
|
|
Five Good Emperors
|
Trajan I
|
This Emperor expanded the empire to its greatest extent in 117. It stretched from modern day Portugal in the west to Norther
Arabia in the east. From Egypt to the south through modern day England in the north. It surrounded the entire Mediterranean
Sea.
|
|
Five Good Emperors
|
Hadrian I
|
This Emperor was the ward of Emperor Trajan I. He famously erected "Hadrian's Wall" in the British Isles to mark
the greatest extent of the power of Rome in the north. The wall acted for centuries after, as the boarder for the "Civilized"
Anglish and later Anglo-Saxons to the south, and the "Barbarian" Celts (Ancient Rome called them Gauls), and later
Scots to the north.
|
|
Five Good Emperors and Antonines Dynasty
|
Antoninus Pius I
|
This Emperor is the first of the "Five Good Emperors" to be of the Antonine Dynasty. Also the adopted son of Emperor
Hadrian I.
|
|
Five Good Emperors and Antonines Dynasty
|
Marcus Aurelius I
|
Co-Ruled with Lucius Verus I and his son Commodus I. His later life is retold artistically in the film "Gladiator."
He famously wrote "Meditations", a classical example of Stoic Philosophy.
|
|
Antonines Dynasty
|
Lucius Verus I
|
Co-Ruled with Marcus Aurelius
|
|
Antonines Dynasty
|
Avidius Cassius I
|
Ruled Rome from Egypt and Syria only. This Emperor was killed by a centurion.
|
|
Antonines Dynasty
|
Commodus I
|
Son of Marcus Aurelius I. The first Emperor to be born while his father ruled as Emperor and was also Co-Emperor with his
father. His story is artistically retold in the film "Gladiator."
|
Commodus' reign was a bad one as he had made many enemies in the Senate and the Army. After a plot to murder him by the Praetorian
Prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus, and his mistress Marcia, The Urban Prefect at the time, Pertinax, was declared the new Emperor
of Rome the following day on January 1st, 193 AD. And so ended the "Five Good Emperors" period and "Antonines"
dynasty, and began an new era for Rome.
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Pertinax I
|
This Emperor was murdered by the Praetorian Guard.
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Didius Julianus I
|
This Emperor was executed by order of the Roman Senate.
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Septimius Severus I
|
Co-Ruled with his son Caracalla I. Also the first African Emperor of Rome, born in modern day Libya.
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Caracalla I
|
This Emperor was the son of Septimius Severus I. He was killed by future Emperor Macrinus I. Also the brother of Geta I.
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Geta I
|
This Emperor was murdered by the former Emperor and brother Caracalla I to gain sole rule over Rome.
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Macrinus I
|
This Emperor was executed by his own soldiers.
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Diadumenian I
|
This Emperor was the son of Emperor Macrinus I. He was executed and according to the work "Historia Augusta", his
head was presented to his successor, Elagabalus I.
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Elagabalus I
|
This Emperor was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard with the help of his Grandmother, Julia Maesa.
|
|
Severan Dynasty
|
Alexander Severus I
|
This Emperor was the cousin of Elagabalus I. He was assassinated. The end of his reign marks the beginning of the "Crisis
of the Third Century" period of the Roman Empire. He was also the last Syrian Emperor of Rome.
|
These Emperors were ruling during the era known as "The Crisis of the Third Century" a period known for "short
reigns at the top", that Roman Emperors in History are now famous for. Many were murdered, executed, died in battle,
poisoned, fell ill, or had committed suicide during their respective reigns.
Crisis of the Third Century @ Wikipedia.org
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Maximinus Thrax I
|
First Emperor from a Commoner (Low) Class of Roman Citizens, he had never visited Rome during his reign.
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Gordian I
|
Cause of Death: Suicide.
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Gordian II
|
Cause of Death: Killed in Action.
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Pupienus Maximus I
|
Cause of Death: Murdered by the Praetorian Guards.
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Balbinus I
|
Cause of Death: Murdered by the Praetorian Guards.
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Gordian III
|
Cause of Death: Murdered.
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Philip I
|
Also Known as Philip the Arab due to his family origins in the east.
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Silbannacus I
|
Cause of Death: Unknown
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Decius I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Herennius Etruscus I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Hostilian I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Trebonianus Gallus I
|
Co-Ruler with Hostilian
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Volusianus I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Aemilianus I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Valerian I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Gallienus I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Saloninus I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Fulvius Macrianus I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Titus Fulvius Iunius Macrianus I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Mussius Aemilianus I
|
|
|
Crisis of the Third Century
|
Aureolus I
|
|
These Emperors mark the end of the Crisis of the Third Century and later begin the Dominate period of Roman History.
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Claudius II Gothicus
|
This Emperor caught Plague and died.
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Quintillus I
|
Co-Emperor with Aurelian I
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Aurelian I
|
Co-Emperor with Quintillus I
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Tacitus I
|
This Emperor was either assassinated or caught incurable fever and died.
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Florianus I
|
This Emperor was killed by his own troops.
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Probus I
|
This Emperor was also killed by his own troops.
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Carus I
|
This Emperor died of unknown causes.
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Carinus I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Numerian I
|
|
Illyrian Emperors
|
Numerian I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Carinus I his brother.
|
Dominate
This era is marked by the complete dissolution of the Senate and the Roman Citizens' power over the government with the Emperor
taking outright authority. The Empire was split in two, eastern and western halves. The Tetrarchy (power between 4 persons)
was established to regain stability to the Empire after the Crisis of the Third Century. Soon after Constantine I ascends
to the throne, the Tetrarchy is consolidated to a sole ruler once again.
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Diocletian I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Maximian I. He is the first Roman Emperor to willingly abdicate the throne and retire.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Maximian I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Diocletian I.
|
|
Tetrarchy and Constantinian dynasty
|
Constantius I Chlorus
|
Emperor of the west, this Emperor is the father of Constantine I. His Reign marks the beginning of the Constantinian Dynasty.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Galerius I
|
Co-ruled with Severus II.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Severus II
|
Co-ruled with Galerius I.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Maxentius I
|
This Emperor is the son of Maximian I
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Maximian I
|
Regained the Imperial throne from his son Maxentius I for a time before being desposed by Constantine I.
|
|
Tetrarchy and Constantinian dynasty
|
Constantine I
|
The famous Emperor who first legalized Christianity in Empire. His mother St. Helena was sent to Jerusalem to establish the
Church of the Holy Seplechur, the most holy site in Christian world and discovered several (believed) relics of biblical importance,
spreading them throughout Europe. The First Emperor to become sole ruler of a unified Roman Empire after the Crisis of the
Third Century, destroying the Tetrarchy. He also established Byzantium in Asia Minor into Constantinople, the new capital
of The Empire.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Licinius I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Maximinus I. Later became Emperor of the eastern half of the Empire with Constantine defeating
him and reuniting the Empire.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Maximinus Daia I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Galerius I
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Valerius Valens I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Licinius I against Constantine I. He was later executed by Constantine.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Martinianus I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Licinius I against Constantine I as a replacement for Valerius Valens I. He was later executed
by Constantine as well.
|
|
Tetrarchy and Constantinian dynasty
|
Constantine II
|
This Emperor was the eldest son of Constantine I. Co-ruled with Constantius II and Constans I, his younger brothers, dividing
the Empire once again.
|
|
Tetrarchy and Constantinian dynasty
|
Constantius II
|
This Emperor after his father Constantine I had died, had all males born from his grandfather Constantius Chlorus I killed,
leaving only himself and his brothers left to rule the divide Empire per Emperor Constantine I wishes.
|
|
Tetrarchy and Constantinian dynasty
|
Constans I
|
This Emperor had his territory consolodated with his brother Constantine II after his death.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Magnentius I
|
This Emperor took control of Constans I portion of the Empire as a usurper. Was killed by Constantius II.
|
|
Tetrarchy
|
Vetranio I
|
This Emperor proclaimed himself Caesar and was recognized and co-ruled with Constantius II against the usurper Magnentius
I.
|
|
Constantinian dynasty
|
Julian I
|
This Emperor is the last to promote Roman Paganism and Helenism. He established freedom of religion to wrestle power from
high-ranking Christians in the Empire. He attemped to rebuild the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, but due
to unexplained fires and earthquakes, it was never completed.
|
|
Non-dynastic
|
Jovian I
|
Became Emperor after elected by the troops of Julian I after Julian was killed during a battle against the Sassanid Persian
Empire in the east.
|
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Valentinian Dynasty
|
Valentinian I
|
This Emperor served under Julian I and Jovian I and became Caesar of the West.
|
|
Valentinian Dynasty
|
Valens I
|
This Emperor co-ruled with Valentinian I, his brother, and was proclaimed Caesar of the East.
|
|
Valentinian Dynasty
|
Procopius I
|
This Emperor usurped power from and was executed by Valens I. He is the cousin of Julian I.
|
|
Valentinian Dynasty
|
Gratian I
|
This Emperor was the son of Valentinian I. He became Caesar of the West.
|
|
Valentinian Dynasty
|
Valentinian II
|
This Emperor is the half-brother of Gratian I. He was proclaimed Caesar at age 4.
|
|
Valentinian Dynasty
|
Magnus Maximus I
|
This Emperor Usurped power from Gracian I and became Emperor of the West.
|
|
Valentinian Dynasty
|
Flavius Victor I
|
This Emperor was the son of Magnus Maximus I. Theodosius I, Emperor of the East, had both he and his father executed.
|
|
Valentinian Dynasty
|
Eugenius I
|
This Emperor usupered power from Valentinian II. Was later executed by the Caesar of the east, Theodosius I. Was the last
to tolerate Pagan faiths in the Empire.
|
The Theodosian dynasty is significant because they held for the last time in Roman History power over an undivided Empire.
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Theodosian Dynasty
|
Theodosius I
|
This Emperor is the last to rule over the entire unified Empire. After his death, the Empire was split permanently, with his
two sons Arcadius I becoming Emperor of the East and Honorius I becoming Emperor of the West.
|
At this point, in January of 395 A.D. the Empire was permanently split East, and West. Honorius I maintained power in the
ancestral city of Rome while the elder Arcadius I ruled the east from Constantinople (formerly Byzantium) established by Constantine
I years ealier. Traditionally, this event marks the begininng of the Eastern Roman Empire also known as the Byzantine Empire
(posthumously), although at the time, the state was still known as the Roman Empire by it's citizens. Translatio Imperii is
continued, legitimately, through both Honorius I and the Traditional Roman Empire in the West, and Arcadius I and the Byzantine
Empire in the East.
Continue to The Byzantine Emperors
|
Era
|
Name (Common)
|
Notes
|
|
Theodosian Dynasty
|
Honorius I
|
This Emperor is the younger brother of Arcadius I, Emperor of the East.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Priscus Attalus I
|
This Emperor was proclaimed Caesar by the Visigoths, a foreign peoples living inside Roman territory. He was later exiled
by Honorius I.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Constantius III
|
This Emperor co-ruled the West with Honorius I.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Joannes I
|
This Emperor seized power after the death of Constantius III. He transferred the Capital of the Empire from Rome to Ravenna
during his reign.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Valentinian III
|
This Emperor was the son of Constantinius III. He was placed on the Throne at age six.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Petronius Maximus I
|
This Emperor was believed to have "brought" the Throne by hiring assasins to murder the ruling Caesar Valentinian
III, and later married his wife Licinia Eudoxia to make his claim legitimate.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Avitus I
|
This Emperor came to power after the Vandals another group who lived on Roman Soil, had killed the reigning Emperor Petronius
Maximus I, then proclaimed Caesar by his army.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Majorian I
|
After the ineffective and unpopular rule of Avitus I, Majorian I was declared Emperor.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Libius Severus I
|
This Emperor was put in power by the man who had killed Majorian I, General of the Roman Army, Ricimer. Because of this,
the Emperor of the East, Leo I, refused to recognize his claim and declared him a usurper, just as Leo I had done with Majorian
I before him.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Anthemius I
|
This Emperor was recognized as legitimate by Leo I in the East. He was at war with Ricimer, lost and was executed by him.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Olybrius I
|
Before becoming Emperor, he was sent by Leo I to negotiate peace with Ricimer. After Anthemius I death, Ricimer was also
killed, giving him the Throne unopposed.
|
|
Non-dynastic
|
Glycerius I
|
This Emperor was put on the Throne by Gundobad, the new General of the Roman Army. He willingly abdicated the title to Julius
Nepos I, sent by the ruiling Eastern Emperor Leo I.
|
|
Add your content here
|
Julius Nepos I
|
This Emperor is the last to be recognized as Caesar in the East. He was sent into exile by Orestes, General of the Roman
Army.
|
|
Non-dynastic
|
Romulus Augustus I
|
The Last Roman Emperor of the Traditional Roman Empire. He was placed on the Throne by his father Orestes after he had sent
Julius Nepos I into exile. Odoacer, leader of the Germanic Foederati (non-Roman soldiers who fight for Rome) was asked by
Orestes to help overthrow Julius Nepos in exchange for more Roman Lands. After Romulus Augustus I became Emperor however,
Orestes went back on his word and gave Odoacer nothing. Odoacer fought and defeated Orestes, killed him and disposed Augustus
from the Throne in 476 A.D. marking the end of Roman Empire of the West.
|
When Odoacer exiled Romulus Augustus in 476 A.D. he did not take the Imperial Throne for himself. Instead he sent all Imperial
Regalia to the reigning Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno I, symbollically stating that the Imperial Lineage and thus, Translatio
Imperii, was now with Zeno and the Eastern Roman Empire alone. In return, Zeno declared Odoacer Patrician of the West, and
when Odoacer declared himself "Rex Italia" or "King of Italy", Zeno did not oppose it. Centuries later
in 800 A.D., Charlemagne or "Charles the Great" conquered most of Central Europe and the Italian Peninsula and was
crowned "Emperor of the Romans" by Pope Leo III. His exceptance of the title continues, for our purposes, Translatio
Imperii in the West, as well as the Titles of Egyptian Pharoah and Roman Emperor, while simultaniously being continued in
the East by the Byzantine Emperor.
Continue to The Holy Roman Emperors
|
