B. C. 45
Julius Caesar - ruler of Rome declared himself "dictator for life". Caesar is probably the most famous politican and general.
B. C. 23
Octavian (Augustus) - Caesar's heir - Octavian became the first Roman emperor in 27 B.C. He took the name Augustus. He strengthened the army and expanded the Roman Empire.
37
Gaius (Caligula) - an emperor of Rome from 37 - 41 AD. He was known as Caligula because of the soldier's boots called caligae that he wore as a child. After only a few months in power, Caligula suffered an illness that left him deranged. He began to act strangely. After four years in power he was murdered.
41
Claudius
54
Nero - a cruel emperor from 37 - 68 AD. He murdered anyone who opposed him, including his own wife and his mother. He may have caused a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64 AD. The people of Rome finally made him leave.
68-69
Galba
69
Otho and Vitellius
69
Vespasian
79
Titus
81
Domitian
96
Nerva
97
Trajan
117
Hadrian - became emperor in 117 AD. He built a stone wall across northern Britain to keep out the barbarians.
138
Antoninus Pius
161-180
Marcus Aurelius
176 - 192
Commodus
193
Pertinax
193-217
Macrinus
218
Elagabalus
222
Severus Alexander
235
Maximin Thrax
238
Gordian I, II, III
244
Phillip and others
249
Decius and others
253
Gallienus and others
268
Claudius II
269
Aurelian and others
275
Tacitus
276
Probus
282
Carus
283
Carinus and Numerian
Diocletian was an army general who was declared emperor by his troops. He became emperor in 284 AD.
He divided the empire in two.
306-337
Constantine I was the sole emperor of East and West. Constantine made Christianity the state religion in 320. He set up a new capital called Constantinople. From there he ruled the eastern half of the empire.
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