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Augustus

Born in 63 BC and originally named Gaius Octavius, he was the son of Gaius Octavius the governor of Macedonia and Atia, the niece of Julius Caesar.

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Caligula

Full name Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, but known as Caligula, he ruled from 37 to 41n and was the adoptive grandson of Augustus.

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Claudius

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was the first roman emperor to be born outside Italy and was born in the region now known as France in 10 BC. 

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Nero

Born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in 37, Nero was the last emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

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Galba

Servius Sulpicius Galba, born in 3 BC was the first emperor in what historians refer to as the year of the four emperors.

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Otho

Otho’s family descended from princes of Etruria and were an ancient and noble line.

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Vitellius

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born in 15.

Chosen by Galba in 68 to lead the Germania Inferior army he became popular among these men due to his extremely good nature and generosity.

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Vespasian

Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus born in 9, was the emperor of Rome from 69 to 79 and was the forth and final emperor of the “year of the four emperors”.

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Commodus

Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus born 161 and ruled from 180 to 192, he was the son of Marcus Aurelius and had a twin who died at age 5. 

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Pertinax

Publius Helvius Pertinax born in 126 and ruled for a short period in 193. In his early life he was a teacher of Grammar but eventually became a commissioned officer after he sought a more rewarding and fulfilling career.

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Geta

Publius Septimius Geta born in 189 and co-ruled with his father Septimius Severus and older brother Caracalla from 209 until 211 when he was murdered by his brother.

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Elagabalus

Born as Varius Avitus Bassus in 203, his name Elagabalus is a Latin form of the name El-Gabal who was a Semitic deity who he worshipped and was in fact a high priest of this religious sect.

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Maximinus Thrax

Born as Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus in 173, he was the first emperor to never actually set foot in Rome and his rule marked the beginning of the “Crisis of the Third Century” .

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Gordian I

Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus was born in 159 and came from a very wealthy equestrian family but climbed the ranks until he entered the roman senate.

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Pupienus Maximus

Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus was born in 178 and due to his previous military success, was able to ascend in the Roman hierarchical system. 

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Hostilian

Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus was born after 230 and was the younger brother of Herennius and the son of Decius.

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Gallienus

Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus was born in 218 and succeeded the throne as sole emperor in 260 after the death of his father Valerian. 

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Postumus

Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus, of unknown birth date is believed to have been a citizen of Gaul and through hard work, rose through the military ranks and eventually becoming governor of either Germania Inferior or Superior.

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Marius

Marcus Aurelius Marius was a blacksmith by trade and rose through the ranks of the Roman army eventually becoming an officer.

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Victorinus

Marcus Piavonius Victorinus was born into a wealthy family and was a soldier under the order of Postumus.

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Tetricus I

Caius Pius Esuvius Tetricus was born to a noble family and at the time of Victorinus’ death, he held the position of provincial governor of Aquitania.

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Claudius II

Marcus Aurelius Claudius Augustus Gothicus was born in 213 and was the commander of the Roman army at the time that they fought the battle of Naissus and defeated the Goths.

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Quintillus

Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus was brother of emperor Claudius II and upon the death of Claudius, Quintillus became emperor himself.

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Tacitus

Marcus Claudius Tacitus was born in 200 and during his early years carried out duties for various civil offices and became consul in 273.

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Florianus

Marcus Annius Florianus was the half brother of Tacitus and was chose by the western armies to succeed him after his death in 276, this however was not agreed upon by the senate.

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Carus

Marcus Aurelius Carus was born in 230 and was educated in Rome and eventually rose to become a senator.

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Carinus

Marcus Aurelius Carinus was the older son of Carus and was appointed governor of the western empire when his father came to power.

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Diocletianus

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus was born in 245 to a common family and rose through the ranks of the army and when Carus was proclaimed emperor in 282 he set about gaining his trust.

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Maximian

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius was born in 250 and like many rulers began his career in the army.

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Galerius

Galerius Maximianus was born in 250 to a common family and began as a herdsman just like his father before him.

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Severus II

Flavius Valerius Severus was originally a soldier from the Illyrian province until 305 when Galerius approached Maximian and requested he appoint Severus as Caesar of the western half of the roman empire.

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Maxentius

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius was born in 278 to roman emperor Maximian and was son-in-law to Galerius.

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Constantine I

Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus was born in 272 to roman general Constantius Chlorus who in 292 left his mother to marry the daughter of emperor Maximian.

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Licinius

Flavius Galerius Valerius Licinianus was born in 250 was of peasant lineage and as a middle aged man joined the army and followed good friend Galerius on the Persian expedition.

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Maximinus Daia

Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximinus was born in 270 and was the nephew of Galerius though this did not change the fact he was born a peasant.

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Valerius Valens

Aurelius Valerius Valens originally went by the title “Dux Limitis” meaning a person of authority over a particular region.

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Martinianus

Sextus Marcius Martinianus came to power during the second civil war but originally he started out as a “magister officiorum” in Licinius’ court.

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Constantius II

Flavius Iulius Constantius was born in 317 and was the second of Constantine’s three sons and was immediately named Caesar by his father. 

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Vetranio

Much of Vetranio’s early life is unknown but he served much time in the military and was an experienced soldier when approached by the sister of Constantius II, Constantina, and asked to nominate himself as Caesar in 350.

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Jovian

Flavius Claudius Iovianus was born in 332 and was the son of the commander of the imperial  bodyguards at the time of Constantius II.

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Carausius

Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius and during Maximians campaign in Gaul, was chosen to command the Classis Britannica which was a large fleet situated in the English channel.

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Allectus

Earliest records mentioning Allectus state that he was the treasurer of Carasius and anything prior to that was of minor importance.

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Gratian

Flavius Gratianus Augustus was born in 359, was the son of Valentinian I and was named after his grandfather Gratian the Elder.

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Theodosius I

Flavius Theodosius was born in 347. His father was a senior military officer and in 368 they traveled together to Britannia to battle together.

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Arcadius

Flavius Arcadius was born in 377 and was the eldest son of Theodosius I and the brother of Honorius.

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Constantius III

Flavius Constantius began as a soldier in the roman army and attracted the attention of the emperor Honorius after several successful defensive campaigns on behalf of the Western Empire.

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Avitus

Marcus Maecilius Flavius Eparchius Avitus was born in 395 and was named Master of Soldiers by Emperor Petronius Maximus.

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Majorian

Iulius Valerius Maiorianus was born in 420 and was a capable general of the Roman army and had several victories over the Franks and the Alemanni.

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Libius Severus

Libius Severus was elevated to emperor by Ricimer following the death of Majorian in 461. As was the case with Majorian, Leo the emperor of the East refused to acknowledge Severus as having any power.

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Anthemius

Procopius Anthemius was born in 420 and was the first Emperor of the West to be acknowledged by Leo I the Emperor of the East.

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Olybrius

Anicius Olybrius was a member of a noble roman family and in 464 was made consul and married Placidia the daughter of the previous Emperor Valentinian III.

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Julius Nepos

Julius Nepos was born in 430 and was given power over the western empire by his “uncle in-law” to end the reign of Glycerius.

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