How old is old enough to be a ruler? Is there an age before which there is bound to be trouble? Looking at the callous behavior of several of the young Roman emperors it's hard not to wonder if too much power was thrust upon immature shoulders. The following table of the Age of Accession of the Roman Emperors was created because of a forum discussion of the relationship between the relative youth of the emperor and his unfitness to rule.
Please add your thoughts to this discussion. Do you think youth or old age was more of a problem for the Roman emperors? Did age at accession of the emperor make any difference?
The table shows the approximate age at accession of the Roman emperors. For those emperors with no birth information, the approximate date of accession and the birth year are marked with question marks. Consult the resources for more exact information.
Unless otherwise indicated, all dates are A.D.
Birth Year: 63 B.C.;
Reigned: 27 B.C.- 14 A.D.;
Approximate Age at Accession: 36
Birth Year: 42 B.C.;
Reigned: A.D. 14-37;
Approximate Age at Accession: 56
Birth Year: A.D. 12;
Reigned: 37-41;
Approximate Age at Accession: 25
Birth Year: 10 B.C.;
Reigned: 41-54;
Approximate Age at Accession: 51
Birth Year: A.D. 37;
Reigned: 54-68;
Approximate Age at Accession: 17
Birth Year: 3 B.C.;
Reigned: 68-69;
Approximate Age at Accession: 65
Birth Year: A.D. 32;
Reigned: 69;
Approximate Age at Accession: 37
Birth Year: 15;
Reigned: 69;
Approximate Age at Accession: 54
Birth Year: 9;
Reigned: 69-79;
Approximate Age at Accession: 60
Birth Year: 30;
Reigned: 79-81;
Approximate Age at Accession: 49
Birth Year: 51;
Reigned: 81-96;
Approximate Age at Accession: 30
Birth Year: 30;
Reigned: 96-98;
Approximate Age at Accession: 66
Birth Year: 53;
Reigned: 98-117;
Approximate Age at Accession: 45
Birth Year: 76;
Reigned: 117-138;
Approximate Age at Accession: 41
Birth Year: 86;
Reigned: 138-161;
Approximate Age at Accession: 52
Birth Year: 121;
Reigned: 161-180;
Approximate Age at Accession: 40
Birth Year: 130;
Reigned: 161-169;
Approximate Age at Accession: 31
Birth Year: 161;
Reigned: 180-192;
Approximate Age at Accession: 19
Birth Year: 126;
Reigned: 192-193;
Approximate Age at Accession: 66
Birth Year: 137;
Reigned: 193;
Approximate Age at Accession: 56
Birth Year: 145;
Reigned: 193-211;
Approximate Age at Accession: 48
Pescennius Niger
Birth Year: c. 135-40;
Reigned: 193-194;
Approximate Age at Accession: 55
Clodius Albinus
Birth Year: c. 150;
Reigned: 193-197;
Approximate Age at Accession: 43
Birth Year: 188;
Reigned: 211-217;
Approximate Age at Accession: 23
Birth Year: 189;
Reigned: 211;
Approximate Age at Accession: 22
Birth Year: c. 165;
Reigned: 217-218;
Approximate Age at Accession: 52
Diadumenianus
Birth Year: (son of Macrinus, birth unknown);
Reigned: 218;
Approximate Age at Accession: ?
Birth Year: 204;
Reigned: 218-22;
Approximate Age at Accession: 14
Birth Year: 208;
Reigned: 222-235;
Approximate Age at Accession: 14
Birth Year: 173?;
Reigned: 235-238;
Approximate Age at Accession: 62
Birth Year: 159;
Reigned: 238;
Approximate Age at Accession: 79
Birth Year: 192;
Reigned: 238;
Approximate Age at Accession: 46
Birth Year: 178;
Reigned: 238;
Approximate Age at Accession: 60
Birth Year: 164;
Reigned: 238;
Approximate Age at Accession: 74
Birth Year: 225;
Reigned: 238-244;
Approximate Age at Accession: 13
Birth Year: ?;
Reigned: 244 - 249;
Approximate Age at Accession: ?
Birth Year: c. 199;
Reigned: 249 - 251;
Approximate Age at Accession: 50
Birth Year: 207;
Reigned: 251 - 253;
Approximate Age at Accession: 44
Birth Year: ?;
Reigned: 253 - 260;
Approximate Age at Accession: ?
Gallienus
Birth Year: 218;
Reigned: 254 - 268;
Approximate Age at Accession: 36
Claudius Gothicus
Birth Year: 214?;
Reigned: 268 - 270;
Approximate Age at Accession: 54
Aurelian
Birth Year: 214;
Reigned: 270 - 275;
Approximate Age at Accession: 56
Tacitus
Birth Year: ?;
Reigned: 275 - 276;
Approximate Age at Accession: ?
Birth Year: 232;
Reigned: 276 - 282;
Approximate Age at Accession: 44
Birth Year: 252;
Reigned: 282 - 285;
Approximate Age at Accession: 30
Birth Year: 252;
Reigned: 282 - 285;
Approximate Age at Accession: 30
Birth Year: ?;
Reigned: 282 - 285;
Approximate Age at Accession: ?
Birth Year: 243?;
Reigned: 284 - 305;
Approximate Age at Accession: 41
Maximian
Birth Year: ?;
Reigned: 286 - 305;
Approximate Age at Accession: ?
Constantius I Chlorus
Birth Year: 250?;
Reigned: 305 - 306;
Approximate Age at Accession: 55
Galerius
Birth Year: 260?;
Reigned: 305 - 311;
Approximate Age at Accession: 45
Licinius
Birth Year: 250?;
Reigned: 311 - 324;
Approximate Age at Accession: 61
Birth Year: 280?;
Reigned: 307 - 337;
Approximate Age at Accession: 27
Constans I
Birth Year: 320;
Reigned: 337 - 350;
Approximate Age at Accession: 17
Constantine II
Birth Year: 316?;
Reigned: 337 - 340;
Approximate Age at Accession: 21
Constantius II
Birth Year: 317;
Reigned: 337 - 361;
Approximate Age at Accession: 20
Birth Year: 331;
Reigned: 361 - 363;
Approximate Age at Accession: 30
Jovian
Birth Year: 331;
Reigned: 363 - 364;
Approximate Age at Accession: 32
Birth Year: 328;
Reigned: 364 - 368;
Approximate Age at Accession: 36
Birth Year: 359;
Reigned: 367 - 383;
Approximate Age at Accession: 8
Birth Year: 346;
Reigned: 379 - 395;
Approximate Age at Accession: 32
Mean average age = 41.3
Oldest = 79 Gordian I
Youngest = 8 Gratian
Forum Discussion
"Have you already noticed that the worst roman emperors were those that ascended to power when they were still very young? I think that any teenager would go crazy if he were put in a position of absolute power..."
paaman
Sources
• History of Rome, the Emperors• Roman Emperors The Imperial Index (DIR)
