Roman Emperors

A visual who's who of 36 of the Roman emperors, with names and dates. Many are photographs taken from coins or statues, but others are artists' renderings. Learn their manners of death, accession, or place of birth. Put a face to emperors like Julian who put an end to the dynasty of Constantine and tried to bring back paganism, or Diocletian, the emperor who not only split the empire in 4, but actually stepped down. Tiberius, who left Rome to live in retirement, never gave up his power. There are also a few emperors who died inconveniently of natural causes; more ended their lives when someone else, like the praetorian guard, thought it convenient.

You may notice that among the early emperors there are few beards. Beards were often associated with philosophers. The Augustan History, which contains biographies of the emperors from Hadrian to Elagabalus, says Hadrian wore a beard because of facial blemishes.