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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.

Usurpers who became legitimate emperors

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{see|List of Roman 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.

First Imperial civil war; the year of the four emperors

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

Second Imperial civil war

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Crisis of the Third Century

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Usurpers not considered legitimate emperors

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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.

Name Against 'Reign' Notes
Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus Claudius 41 AD The imperial legate of Dalmatia under Caligula, he was considered a possible successor and attempted to claim the throne. He committed suicide after his troops abandoned him.
Nymphidius Sabinus Galba 68 AD 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 Titus c. 79 AD Due to his resemblance to the former emperor, he claimed to be Nero, and gained followers in Asia Minor and along his march to the Euphrates . He took refuge with Artabanus III of Parthia, but was executed when his true identity became known.
Lucius Antonius Saturninus Domitian 89 AD Motivated by a personal grudge, Saturninus led two legions stationed at Moguntiacum (Mainz) in revolt against Domitian. He was defeated by the general and future emperor Trajan, and later executed.
Avidius Cassius Marcus Aurelius 175 governor of Syria, declared himself emperor upon hearing erroneus reports that Marcus Aurelius had died, and continued his revolt even upon learning Marcus Aurelius was alive. When it became clear ('3 months and 6 days' later) that his usurpation would not succeed, he was assassinated by a centurion.
Pescennius Niger
CAESAR GAIVS PESCENNIVS NIGER IVSTVS AVGVSTVS 		Didius Julianus, Septimius Severus 193–194 Proclaimed emperor by the Eastern legions after the murder of Pertinax. Defeated in battle by Severus's forces, and captured and executed while attempting to flee to Parthia.
Clodius Albinus
DECIMVS CLODIVS SEPTIMIVS ALBINVS AVGVSTVS 		Didius Julianus, Septimius Severus 193–197 Proclaimed emperor by the British and Spanish legions after the murder of Pertinax. Allied to Severus during the initial conflict with Pescennius Niger. Severus then moved to secure complete control of the empire, and defeated Albinus in battle, who was either killed in battle, or executed afterwards.
Verus
Elagabalus 218–219 A former centurion who had risen to the rank of senator and to command of the Legio III Gallicain in Syria. His legion had supported Elagabalus's bid for power, but then grew disenchanted with the emperor; Verus took the opportunity to declare himself emperor and led the legion in rebellion. However, Elagabalus ordered the execution of Verus (in unclear circumstances), and dispersed the rebellious legion, ending the revolt.
Gellius Maximus Elagabalus 219 An officer in Legio IV Scythica in Syria who also took advantage of the turmoil during the Elagabalus's reign to proclaim himself emperor. The rebellion was soon extinguished, and Gellius Maximus was executed.
Magnus Maximinus Thrax 235 A senator who led a conspiracy to strand the unpopular new emperor in Germania, but the plot was discovered and Magnus executed before it cam to fruition.
Sabinianus Gordian III 240 Governer of the province of Africa, proclaimed himself emperor, but was defeated in battle and executed.
Pacatianus Philip the Arab 248 An officer in the Moesian legions, led a revolt in response to Philip's peace treaty with the Sassanids. Was killed by his own troops when the general Decius moved to end the revolt (the same troops then proclaimed Decius emperor instead).
Iotapianus Philip the Arab 249 Probably a member of the indigenous aristicracy in the Eastern provinces, led a rebellion against taxation and declared himself emperor. Was eventually killed by his own troops, possibly after the end of Philip's reign.
Licinianus Trajan Decius 250 A senator, who with support from the rest of the senate, declared himself emperor while Decius was away fighting the Goths. The revolt was suppressed by Valerian.
Priscus Trajan Decius 251 Governor of Thrace, he declared himself emperor during a Gothic invasion, probably in collusion with the Goths. Died in unclear circumstances, probably after the accession of Trebonianus Gallus.
Postumus
CAESAR MARCVS CASSIANVS LATINIVS POSTVMVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS MAXIMVS 		Gallienus 260–269 A general in the Western provinces, who defeated a Juthungian invasion and was then proclaimed emperor by his troops. Led the breakaway 'Gallic Empire' for most of a decade, and indeed outlived Gallienus. However, he was then himself challenged by a usurper, and although he defeated Laelianus, he was subsequently murdered by his troops when he refused to let them sack Mogantiacum
Ingenuus Gallienus 260 The legate in Pannonia, declared himself emperor after the defeat and capture of Valerian. Was defeated in battle by Gallienus's general Aureolus and comitted suicide.
Regalianus Gallienus 260 A military office in Pannonia, who was declared emperor after the defeat of Ingenuus. Was later killed by his own men in collusion with Sarmatian invaders.
Macrianus Major

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Macrianus Minor
and
Quietus 		Gallienus 260–261 A fiscal officer in the Eastern provinces, he led tried to seize power in the vacuum left by Valerian's capture. Also had his two sons elevated to the throne. Was killed, along with Macrianus Minor in battle against Gallienus's general Aureolus. Quietus was murdered at some point later, probably at the orders of Odaenathus, lord of Palmyra.
Aureolus Gallienus 268 A major commander of Gallienus's armies, who eventually turned against him. He tried to persuade Postumus to attack Italy and depose Gallienus, but Postumus seems to have been unreceptive. Once his treachery was exposed, Aureolus claimed the throne himself, but was attacked and defeated by Gallienus who then besieged him in Milan. However, during the siege Gallienus was murdered in a conspiracy led by Claudius Gothicus, who then became emperor.
Laelianus Claudius Gothicus/
Postumus 		269 A military commander in Germania Superior under Postumus, he was proclaimed emperor by his troops, in opposition to Postumus as leader of the Gallic Empire. He was defeated and killed by Postumus at Mogantiacum, but Postumus was then himself killed when he refused to let his troops sack the city.
Marcus Aurelius Marius Claudius Gothicus 269 An officer in Postumus's army that defeated Laelianus, he was made emperor when Postumus was murdered. He himself was murdered approximately 3 months later by Victorinus.
Victorinus Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian 269–271 An officer in Postumus's service (possibly Praetorian prefect), he arranged for the murder of Marcus Aurelius Marius, and was then declared emperor of the Gallic provinces. He was killed by an jealous officer whose wife he tried to seduce.
Victorinus Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian 269–271 An officer in Postumus's service (possibly Praetorian prefect), he arranged for the murder of Marcus Aurelius Marius, and was then declared emperor of the Gallic provinces. He was killed by an jealous officer whose wife he tried to seduce.
Domitianus II Aurelian 271 An individual known to have claimed the throne from coins struck with his name, but otherwise mysterious. Possibly claimed the throne of the Gallic Empire after the death of Victorinus. Fate unknown, but the scarcity of coins suggests he did not reign for long.
Tetricus I
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Tetricus II 		Aurelian 271–274 The governor of a province in Gaul, he was declared emperor at the behest of Victorinus's mother, after her son's death. He eventually negotiated to surrender the Gallic Empire to Aurelian, thus reuniting the empire, and was allowed to keep his senatorial rank.
Septimius Aurelian 271–274 Proclaimed emperor in Dalmatia when a Gothic invasion was threatened, but was killed by his own troops when the invasion failed to materialise.

Probus: 276-282

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Carus, Carinus, Numerian: 282-284

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Diocletian: 284-305

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Galerius: 305-311

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Constantine I: 309-324

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Constantius II: 337-361

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Valentinian I: 364-375

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Theodosius I: 379-395

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Honorius: 395-423

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Valentinian III: 423-455

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Anthemius: 467-472

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Possible usurpers

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Several histories contain details of other supposed usurpers, but there is little or no supporting evidence that these individuals existed or attempted usurpation.

Name Against 'Reign' Notes
Uranius Elagabalus/Alexander Severus/Valerian ? There is significant confusion regarding Uranius. Polemius Silvius claims he was a usurper during the reign of Elagabalus, while [Zosimus]] has him as a usurper in the reign of Alexander Severus. It is possible that both authors have confused the details of an apparent later usurper. Coins bearing the name Lucius Julius Aurelius Sulpicius Severus Uranius Antoninus were minted in Syria in 254, suggesting that the actual act of usurpation took place in the reign of Valerian.
Taurinus Elagabalus/Alexander Severus c. 232 According to Aurelius Victor he was a usurper in the reign of Alexander Severus, but Polemius Silvius has him as another usurper during the reign of Elagabalus.
Seleucus Elagabalus c. 221 Attested by the 5th-century historian Polemius Silvius, but nowhere else. His identity is not clear: he could be Julius Antonius Seleucus, governor in Moesia, or Marcus Flavius Vitellius Seleucus, consul for 221.
Sallustius Alexander Severus 227 The father-in-law of Alexander Severus, who raised him to the rank of Caesar (i.e. junior emperor). According to Polemius Silvius he attempted to usurp the throne by killing Alexander, but failed and was executed instead. However, according to Herodian, Alexander's mother had Sallustius killed for other reasons.
Taurinus Alexander Severus c. 232 According to Aurelius Victor he was a usurper in the reign of Alexander Severus, but Polemius Silvius has him as another usurper during the reign of Elagabalus.
Quartinus Maximinus Thrax 235 Only attested by Herodian, who suggests that he was proclaimed emperor by troops in the East, but then betrayed and executed by one of the officers involved.
Silbannacus Philip the Arab Known only from coin finds, bearing the title IMP MAR SILBANNACVS AVG, dated to the Philip's reign.
Sponsianus Philip the Arab Also known only from coin finds, but there is some evidence the coins are modern forgeries.
Censorinus Claudius Gothicus 269–270 Only attested by the Historia Augusta, and probably fictious.
Urbanus Aurelian 271 Only attested by Zosimus, and possibly fictious.
Firmus Aurelian 271 Only attested by the Historia Augusta, and although probably a real person, does not seem to have actually claimed the throne.

The Thirty Tyrants

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Main articles: Thirty Tyrants (Roman) and Augustan History

The Thirty Tyrants (Latin: Tyranni Triginta) were a series of thirty rulers that appear in the Historia Augusta as alleged usurpers to the throne of the Roman Empire during the reign of the emperor Gallienus. The Historia Augusta is unreliable, and there is a scholarly consensus that the author deliberately inflated the number of pretenders in order to parallel the Thirty Tyrants of Athens. The source actually gives 32 names but as the author places the last two under the reign of Maximinus Thrax and Claudius II respectively, this leaves thirty pretenders supposedly under the reign of Gallienus.

Chapter in
Historia Augusta 		Name Notes about historicity
2 Cyriades never claimed Imperial dignity
3 Postumus accurate placement
4 Postumus Junior youth
5 Laelianus accurate placement
6 Victorinus contemporary not with Gallienus but Claudius II and Aurelian
7 Victorinus Junior youth, contemporary not with Gallienus but Claudius II and Aurelian
8 Marius accurate placement
9 Ingenuus accurate placement
10 Regalianus accurate placement
11 Aureolus accurate placement
12 Macrianus accurate placement
13 Macrianus Junior accurate placement
14 Quietus accurate placement
15 Odaenathus never claimed Imperial dignity
16 Herodes youth, never claimed Imperial dignity
17 Maeonius never claimed Imperial dignity
18 Balista never claimed Imperial dignity
19 Valens probably never claimed Imperial dignity
20 Valens Superior contemporary of Decius, not Valerianus
21 Piso probably never claimed Imperial dignity
22 Aemilianus probably never claimed Imperial dignity
23 Saturninus probably fictitious
24 Tetricus Senior contemporary not with Gallienus but Claudius II and Aurelian
25 Tetricus Junior youth, contemporary not with Gallienus but Claudius II and Aurelian
26 Trebellianus probably fictitious
27 Herennianus youth, never claimed Imperial dignity, possibly fictitious
28 Timolaus youth, never claimed Imperial dignity, possibly fictitious
29 Celsus probably fictitious
30 Zenobia female, never claimed Imperial dignity,
31 Victoria (or Vitruvia) female, never claimed Imperial dignity,

Unsuccessful regional usurpers after the fall of Rome (476)

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