The following is an attempted list usurpers of the Roman Empire. For an overview of the problem and consequences of usurpation see Roman usurpers.
Key:
- kPG, killed by the Praetorian guard
- kS, killed by own soldiers
- kB, killed in battle
- e, executed
- dates are beginning and end of reign
- origin of the rebellion indicated where possible
- the list is complete until the advent of the tetrarchy in the end of the 3rd century
This is a listing of Roman emperors that so became due to their own initiative with neither family ties to the previous nor senatorial appointement.
List of to be emperors eventually defeated by the ruling sovereign, listed by reign. The noted date is the attempted usurpation.
Emperor usurpers
First Roman Imperial civil war: the year of the four emperors (69 AD)
From 193 to the tetrarchy (crisis of the third century)
Unsuccessful usurpers in the 3rd century
Heliogabalus: 218-222
Alexander Severus: 222-235
Maximinus Thrax: 235-238
Gordian III: 238-244
Philip the Arab: 244-249
Decius: 249-251
Gallienus: 253-268
Claudius II: 268-270
Aurelian: 270-275
Probus: 276-282