Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire is the name given to the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 286 AD. It would exist intermittently in several periods between the 3rd Century and the 5th Century, after Diocletian's Tetrarchy and the reunifications associated with Constantine the Great and his later successors, and is generally held to have ended with the abdication of Romulus Augustus on September 4, 476, under pressure of the Germanic chieftain Odoacer. Its counterpart, the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, survived for another 1,000 years.

List of western Roman emperors

Gallic Emperors (259 to 273):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Postumus: 259 to 268
• Laelianus: 268 Usurpur
• Marius: 268
• Victorinus: 268 to 271
• Domitianus: 271 Usurper
• Tetricus I: 271 to 273
• Tetricus II: 271 to 273 Son and co-emperor of Tetricus I

Tetrarchy (293 to 313):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Augusti are shown with their Caesares, regents, etc., further indented

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Maximian: 293 to 305
• Constantius Chlorus: 293 to 305
• Constantius Chlorus: 305 to 306
• Flavius Valerius Severus: 305 to 306
• Flavius Valerius Severus: 306 to 307
• Constantine I: 306 to 313
• Maxentius/Maximian: 307 to 308
• Licinius: 308 to 313
• Maxentius: 308 to 312 Usurper
• Domitius Alexander: 308 to 309 African usurper

Constantinian Dynasty (313 to 363):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Constantine I: 313 to 337 Sole emperor 324 to 337
• Constantine II: 337 to 340 Emperor of Gaul, Britannia, and Hispania
• Constans I: 337 to 350 Initially emperor of Italy and Africa; emperor of the west 340 to 350
• Magnentius: 350 to 353 Usurper
• Constantius II: 353 to 361 Sole emperor
• Julian: 355 to 361
• Julian: 361 to 363

Non-Dynastic (363 to 364):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Jovian: 363 to 364

Valentinian Dynasty (364 to 392):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Valentinian I: 364 to 375
• Gratian: 367 to 375
• Gratian: 375 to 383
• Valentinian II: 375 to 383
• Magnus Maximus: 383 to 388 Usurper
• Valentinian II: 383 to 392

Non-Dynastic (392 to 394):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Eugenius: 392 to 394

Theodosian Dynasty (394 to 455):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Theodosius I: 394 to 395 Sole emperor
• Honorius: 395 to 423
• Flavius Stilicho: 395 to 408 Power behind the throne
• Constantius III: 421
• Constantine III: 407 to 411 Usurpur
• Priscus Attalus: 409 to 410/414 to 415 Usurper
• Jovinus: 411 to 412 Usurpur
• Valentinian III: 423 to 455
• Galla Placidia: 423 to 433 Regent
• Aëtius: 433 to 454 Regent
• Joannes: 423 to 425 Usurper

Non-Dynastic (455 to 480):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Petronius Maximus: 455
• Avitus: 455 to 456
• Ricimer: 456 to 472 Power behind the throne
• Majorian: 457 to 461
• Libius Severus: 461 to 465
• Anthemius: 465 to 472
• Olybrius: 472
• Glycerius: 473 to 474
• Julius Nepos: 474 to 480 In exile 475 to 480
• Romulus Augustus: 475 to 476
• Flavius Orestes: 475 to 476 Power behind the throne

Orestes was killed by revolting barbarian mercenaries. Their leader Odoacer assumed control of Italy as a de jure representative of Julius Nepos and Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno.

Related Topics:
Revolt - Barbarian - Mercenaries - Odoacer - De jure - Eastern Roman Emperor - Zeno

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~