Who were the Roman emperors assassinated while in power?

One of the most infamous political assassinations in recorded history took place on March 15, 44 BCE when Julius Caesar was stabbed numerous times by a group of senators in Rome. Caesar, a Roman general and statesman, played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

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Claudius (10 BCE–54 CE) -

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was emperor from 41 to 54 CE. Infirm and lacking in experience, Claudius nonetheless proved to be an able and efficient administrator. Unfortunately his wife, Agrippina the Younger, wasn't impressed and poisoned her husband so that she could maneuver Nero, her son by Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, into the line of succession.

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Galba (3 BCE–69 CE) -

Assuming the throne in 68 CE after Nero had taken his own life, Servius Sulpicius Galba survived one year in the position before his death at the hands of mutinous soldiers commanded by Marcus Otho, who succeeded the hapless Galba.

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Caligula (12–41 CE) -

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known to history as Caligula, was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy by officers of the Praetorian Guard, plus senators and courtiers, all dismayed by the emperor's tyranny, extravagance, and sexual perversion—extreme even by Roman standards!

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Aulus Vitellius (15–69 CE) -

Vitellius survived eight months as Roman Emperor, reigning from April 19 to December 20, 69 CE, before being executed in Rome by soldiers loyal to Vespasian, who himself later became leader of the empire.

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Domitian (51–96 CE) -

Domitian served as emperor from 81 to 96 CE, when his reign came to an abrupt end after being assassinated by court officials, who considered him a tyrant.

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Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) -

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ruled from 161 to 180 CE. The last of the so-called Five Good Emperors, he died at the age of 58 of unknown causes in his military quarters. While there is no definitive reason given for his demise, some scholars believe he may have been assassinated so that his son Commodus could succeed the throne earlier.

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Pertinax (126–193 CE) -

Publius Helvius Pertinax briefly succeeded Commodus and ruled for the first three months of 193 CE before his life was ended. Pertinax had tried to impose stricter military discipline upon an increasingly lazy Praetorian Guard. When their wages were also docked, the emperor was struck down by one of the petulant soldiers.

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Didius Julianus (133 or 137–193 CE) -

Marcus Didius Julianus hardly had time to adjust his toga before being slain by a soldier loyal to a general laying claim to the imperial throne, thus ending Julianus' nine-week rule.

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Commodus (161–192 CE) -

Ruling as emperor from 176 to 192 CE, Commodus is remembered for his performances as a gladiator in Rome's Colosseum. His demise came about after his mistress, Marcia Aurelia Ceionia Demetrias, imperial bodyguard Quintus Aemilius Laetus, and others realized they were about to be executed on his orders. In response, they sent his wrestling partner, Narcissus, to strangle him. The 2000 movie 'Gladiator' is a fictionalized account of Commodus' exploits.

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Macrinus (c. 165–218 CE) -

Marcus Opellius Macrinus ruled the empire for just 14 months, from April 217 to June 218 CE, jointly reigning with his son, Diadumenian. He is the first emperor who never visited Rome during his tenure, overthrown in battle by wannabe ruler Elagabalus, and later executed.

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Maximinus Thrax (c. 173–238 CE) -

Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus "Thrax" met a gruesome end even by the standards of knocked-off emperors. During an advance on Rome to put down a revolt Thrax, who ruled from 235 to 238 CE, was murdered along with his son and chief ministers by soldiers of the the II Parthica legion, their heads severed and placed on poles to be displayed in Rome.

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Caracalla (188–217 CE) -

By all accounts one of the most tyrannical of all Roman emperors, the wrath of Caracalla Marcus Aurelius Antoninus "Caracalla" was well known: he had is own brother, Geta, also an emperor, murdered by the Praetorian Guard. It took a brave and dissatisfied soldier called Justin Martialis to end Caracalla's rule, stabbing him to death during the Roman army's hostilities with Parthia.

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Geta (189–211 CE) -

In a complicated and ultimately fatal three-way, Publius Septimius Geta ruled Rome from 209 to 226 CE with his father Septimius Severus and older brother Caracalla. As mentioned, he was murdered on command of his conniving sibling.

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Elagabalus (c. 204–222 CE) -

Roman Emperor Elagabalus was only 18 years old when he was assassinated, murdered along with his mother by members of the Praetorian Guard after the youthful ruler had ordered the arrest and summary execution of those who had mocked his leadership and instead cheered for his cousin, Severus Alexander, who succeeded him as emperor and who also later met a grisly end by the sword.

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Trebonianus Gallus (206–253 CE) -

Roman emperor from 251 to 253 CE, in a joint rule with his son Volusianus, Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus and his son were violently dispatched by their own troops, who proclaimed their commander, Aemilianus, the rightful ruler of the Empire.

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Aurelian (214–275 CE) -

Despite an unprecedented series of military victories that helped restore a fragmented Empire after barbarian invasion, Aurelian's five-year leadership ended after high-ranking officers of the Praetorian Guard named by the emperor as corrupt and dishonest murdered him.

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Probus (232–282 CE) -

Roman Emperor from 276 to 282 CE, Marcus Aurelius Probus was a popular leader and throughout his reign secured prosperity for much of the Empire as well as seeing off numerous incursions into Roman territory by barbarian tribes. Yet even this didn't save him from his own kind, struck down by soldiers who mutinied during preparations for the Persian War.

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Severus Alexander (208–235 CE ) -

Roman Emperor from 222 to 235 CE, Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander met his end after taking advice from his mother. She convinced her son to try and bribe the tribes of Germania into surrender, a tactic that infuriated the Roman army. The generals conspired to do away with Alexander and his well-meaning ma, and they were both murdered.

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Aemilianus (c. 210–253 CE) -

Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus was emperor for just three months before he was murdered by his own troops in Spoletium, when Roman general Valerian proclaimed himself emperor and moved against Aemilianus with a larger army.

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Tacitus (c. 200-276 CE) -

Marcus Claudius Tacitus was Roman Emperor from 275 to 276 CE. Some Greek historians, including Zosimus, claim he was assassinated after accusations of nepotism. Other scholars suggest he died of fever.

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Licinius (c. 265–325 CE) -

For most of his reign as emperor, from 308 to 324 CE, Valerius Licinianus Licinius was at constant loggerheads with Constantine I. This rivalry eventually erupted into civil war, with Constantine emerging as victor and ordering the execution of Lisinius and killing another emperor, Maxentius, into the bargain.

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Gallienus (c. 218–268 CE) -

Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus did well to survive for so long as emperor, with his father Valerian from 253 to 260 CE, and alone from 260 to 268 CE. In fact, his 15-year reign was the longest in half a century before he was stabbed to death by a Roman officer called Cecropius, as part of a conspiracy.

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Florianus (232–276 CE) -

Just three months into his reign, from July to September 276 CE, Marcus Annius Florianus' rule as emperor was cut short by disillusioned members of his own army.

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Maxentius (c. 283–312 CE) -

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius managed to cling to power from 306 until 312 CE. His problem was that his time as emperor was never recognized as legitimate by those around him. The end came during a civil war when Maxentius and his army were cut down and drowned in the River Tiber.

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Carinus (250-285 CE) -

Roman Emperor from 283 to 285 CE, Marcus Aurelius Carinus was assassinated by a tribune whose wife he had seduced.

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Constans (c. 320–350 CE) -

Flavius Julius Constans held the top job from 337 to 350 CE before being overthrown and killed by Roman general Magnentius, apparently unhappy with the emperor's misrule and alleged homosexuality.

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Valentinian III (419–455 CE) -

Valentinian was made emperor in childhood, which is why he enjoyed one of the longest reigns over the Roman Empire, from 425 to 455 CE. But by the 5th century, Rome was crumbling, and infighting between Valentinian III and the Roman general Aetius led to the emperor ordering the execution of Aetius, whereupon the general's bodyguards assassinated Valentinian.

Sources: (Britannica) (Live Science)

Who were the Roman emperors assassinated while in power?

The most dangerous occupation in ancient Rome was leading the Roman Empire

03/01/25 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE History

During the Roman Empire's more than 500-year run, more than 30 of ancient Rome's 82 emperors were assassinated while in office. Indeed, being the most powerful person in the land was often a death sentence. Ironically the Praetorian Guard, a unit of the Imperial Roman Army charged with protecting Roman emperors, murdered 13 of them. Otherwise, blame can be leveled on disgruntled relatives and power-hungry politicians and officials.

Intrigued? Click through and take a look at the Roman emperors who lost their lives while doing their job.