Item: i40850
 
 Authentic Ancient Coin of:

 Faustina I - Roman Empress Wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius
Bronze As 27mm (10.75 grams) Rome mint: 148-161 A.D.
Reference: RIC 1179; Cohen 111. 
DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right
 AVGVSTA S-C, Vesta standing left holding palladium & sceptre.

Posthumous means arising, occurring, or continuing after one's death.

You are bidding on the exact item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.  

In Greek and Roman mythology , a palladium or palladion was an image of great antiquity on which the safety of a city was said to depend. "Palladium" especially signified the wooden statue (xoanon) of Pallas Athena that Odysseus and Diomedes stole from the citadel of Troy and which was later taken to the future site of Rome by Aeneas . The Roman story is related in Virgil 's Aeneid and other works. In English , since circa 1600, the word "palladium" has meant anything believed to provide protection or safety — a safeguard.

File:Palladium.jpg

Origins

The Trojan Palladium was said to be a wooden image of Pallas (whom the Greeks identified with Athena and the Romans with Minerva) and to have fallen from heaven in answer to the prayer of Ilus, the founder of Troy.

"The most ancient talismanic effigies of Athena," Ruck and Staples report, "...were magical found objects, faceless pillars of Earth in the old manner, before the Goddess was anthropomorphized and given form through the intervention of human intellectual meddling."

 Arrival at Troy

The arrival at Troy of the Palladium, fashioned by Athena in remorse for the death of Pallas, as part of the city's founding myth , was variously referred to by Greeks, from the seventh century BC onwards. The Palladium was linked to the Samothrace mysteries through the pre-Olympian figure of an Elektra, mother of Dardanus, progenitor of the Trojan royal line, and of Iasion , founder of the Samothrace mysteries. Whether Electra had come to Athena's shrine of the Palladium as a pregnant suppliant and a god cast it into the territory of Ilium, because it had been profaned by the hands of a woman who was not a virgin, or whether Elektra carried it herself or whether it was given directly to Dardanus vary in sources and scholia . In Ilion, King Ilus was blinded for touching the image to preserve it from a burning temple.

 Theft

During the Trojan War , the importance of the Palladium to Troy was said to have been revealed to the Greeks by Helenus , the prophetic son of Priam . After Paris' death, Helenus left the city but was captured by Odysseus. The Greeks somehow managed to persuade the warrior seer to reveal the weakness of Troy. The Greeks learned from Helenus, that Troy would not fall while the Palladium, image or statue of Athena, remained within Troy's walls. The difficult task of stealing this sacred statue again fell upon the shoulders of Odysseus and Diomedes. Since Troy could not be captured while it safeguarded this image, the Greeks Diomedes and Odysseus made their way to the citadel in Troy by a secret passage and carried it off. In this way the Greeks were then able to enter Troy and lay it waste using the deceit of the Trojan Horse .

Odysseus, some say, went by night to Troy, and leaving Diomedes waiting, disguised himself and entered the city as a beggar. There he was recognized by Helen , who told him where the Palladium was. Diomedes then climbed the wall of Troy and entered the city. Together, the two friends killed several guards and one or more priests of Athena's temple and stole the Palladium "with their bloodstained hands". Diomedes is generally regarded as the person who physically removed the Palladium and carried it away to the ships. There are several statues and many ancient drawings of him with the Palladium.

According to the Epic Cycle narrative of the Little Iliad , on the way to the ships, Odysseus plotted to kill Diomedes and claim the Palladium (or perhaps the credit for gaining it) for himself. He raised his sword to stab Diomedes in the back. Diomedes was alerted to the danger by glimpsing the gleam of the sword in the moonlight. He disarmed Odysseus, tied his hands, and drove him along in front, beating his back with the flat of his sword. From this action was said to have arisen the Greek proverbial expression "Diomedes' necessity", applied to those who act under compulsion. Because Odysseus was essential for the destruction of Troy, Diomedes refrained from punishing him.

Diomedes took the Palladium with him when he left Troy. According to some stories, he brought it to Italy. Some say that it was stolen from him on the way.

 Arrival at Rome

According to various versions of this legend the Trojan Palladium found its way to Athens , or Argos , or Sparta (all in Greece ), or Rome in Italy . To this last city it was either brought by Aeneas the exiled Trojan (Diomedes, in this version, having only succeeded in stealing an imitation of the statue) or surrendered by Diomedes himself. It was kept there in the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum .

Pliny the Elder said that Lucius Caecilius Metellus had been blinded by fire when he rescued the Palladium from the Temple of Vesta in 241 BC, an episode alluded to in Ovid and Valerius Maximus

When the controversial emperor Elagabalus (reigned 218-222) transferred the most sacred relics of Roman religion from their respective shrines to the Elagabalium , the Palladium was among them.

In Late Antiquity , it was rumored that the Palladium was transferred from Rome to Constantinople by Constantine the Great and buried under the Column of Constantine in his forum. Such a move would have undermined the primacy of Rome, and was naturally seen as a move by Constantine to legitimize his reign.

Vesta was the virgin goddess of the hearth , home, and family in Roman religion . Vesta's presence was symbolized by the sacred fire that burned at her hearth and temples.File:Vesta-Roma.jpg

Vesta's (in some versions she is called Vestia) fire was guarded at her Temples by her priestesses , the Vestales . Every March 1 the fire was renewed. It burned until 391 , when the Emperor Theodosius I forbade public pagan worship. One of the Vestales mentioned in mythology was Rhea Silvia , who with the God Mars conceived Romulus and Remus (see founding of Rome ).

The Vestales were one of the few full-time clergy positions in Roman religion . They were drawn from the patrician class and had to observe absolute chastity for 30 years. It was from this that the Vestales were named the Vestal virgins. They could not show excessive care of their person, and they were not allowed to let the fire go out. The Vestal Virgins lived together in a house near the Forum (Atrium Vestae), supervised by the Pontifex Maximus . On becoming a priestess, a Vestal Virgin was legally emancipated from her father's authority and swore a vow of chastity for 30 years. This vow was so sacred that if it were broken, the Vestal was buried alive in the Campus Sceleris ('Field of Wickedness'). It is likely that this is what happened to Rhea Silvia . They were also very independent and had many privileges that normal women did not have. They could move around the city but had to be in a carriage.

The Vestales had a strict relationship with the rex sacrorum and flamen dialis as is shown in the verses of Ovid about their taking the februae (lanas: woolen threads) from the king and the flamen. Their relationship with the king is also apparent in the ritual phrase: "Vigilasne rex, vigila!" by which they apostrophated him. The sacrality of their functions is well compounded by Cicero's opinion that without them Rome could not exist as it would not be able to keep contact with gods.

A peculiar duty of the vestals was the preparation and conservation of the sacred salamoia muries used for the savouring of the mola or mola salsa , dough to be spread on sacrificial victims, a procedure known as immolation . This dough too was prepared by them on fixed days. Theirs also the task of preparing the suffimen for the Parilia .

File:MacPherson, Robert (1811-1872) - n. 681 - Temple of Vesta at Tivoli - ca. 1858.jpg

Temple of Vesta in Italy

Annia Galeria Faustina, more familiarly referred to as Faustina the Elder (Latin: Faustina Major; born September 21 about 100, died October or November 140), was Faustina02 pushkin.jpga Roman Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius .

Faustina was the only known daughter of consul and prefect Marcus Annius Verus and Rupilia Faustina. Her brothers were consul Marcus Annius Libo and praetor Marcus Annius Verus . Her maternal aunts perhaps were Roman Empress Vibia Sabina , Matidia Minor . Her paternal grandfather had the same name as her father and her maternal grandparents possibly were Salonina Matidia (niece of Roman Emperor Trajan ) and suffect consul Lucius Scribonius Libo Rupilius Frugi Bonus . Faustina was born and raised in Rome.

As a private citizen, she married Antoninus Pius between 110 and 115. Faustina and Antoninus had a very happy marriage. Faustina bore Antoninus four children, two sons and two daughters. They were:

  • Marcus Aurelius Fulvius Antoninus (died before 138); his sepulchral inscription has been found at the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome.

  • Marcus Galerius Aurelius Antoninus (died before 138); his sepulchral inscription has been found at the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome. His name appears on a Greek Imperial coin.

  • Aurelia Fadilla (died in 135); she married Aelius Lamia Silvanus or Syllanus. She appears to have had no children with her husband and her sepulchral inscription has been found in Italy .

  • Annia Galeria Faustina Minor or Faustina the Younger (between 125-130-175), a future Roman Empress; she married her maternal cousin, future Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius . She was the only child who survived to adulthood.

On July 10 , 138, her uncle emperor Hadrian had died and her husband became the new emperor. Antoninus was Hadrian's adopted son and heir. Faustina became Roman Empress and the senate accorded her the title of Augusta . Faustina as an empress was well respected and this beautiful woman was renowned for her wisdom. The Augustan History impugned her character, criticizing her as having "excessive frankness" and "levity". However, this doesn’t appear to be the case with her character. Throughout her life, Faustina as a private citizen and an empress was involved in assisting with charities, assisting the poor and sponsoring and assisting in the education of Roman children, particularly of Roman girls.

She can be viewed as one of the most moral, stable and respected empresses in the history of the Roman Empire . When Faustina died, Antoninus was in complete mourning for Faustina.

Antoninus did the following in memory of his loving wife:

  • Deified her as a goddess (her apotheosis was portrayed on an honorary column )

  • Had a temple built in the Roman Forum in her name, with priestesses in the temple.

  • Had various coins with her portrait struck in her honor. These coins were inscribed DIVA FAVSTINA ("Divine Faustina") and were elaborately decorated.

  • Founded a charity called Puellae Faustinianae or Girls of Faustina, which assisted orphaned girls.

  • Created a new alimenta (see Grain supply to the city of Rome ).

In 2008, archaeologists digging at the ancient site of Sagalassos in Turkey discovered a colossal marble head which is believed to be that of Faustina.


The Principate

 Julio-Claudian dynasty

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

16 January 27 BC to 19 August AD 14

Augustus

 

19 August 14 to 16 March 37

Tiberius

 

18 March 37 to 24 January 41

Caligula

Murdered by Praetorian Guard

24 January 41 to 13 October 54

Claudius

Poisoned by his wife Agrippina, mother of Nero

13 October 54 to 11 June 68

Nero

Made a slave kill him

 Year of the Four Emperors (Civil War)

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

8 June 68 to 15 January 69

Galba

Murdered in favour of Otho

15 January 69 to 16 April 69

Otho

Committed suicide

2 January 69 to 20 December 69

Vitellius

Murdered in favour of Vespasian

 Flavian dynasty

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

1 July 69 to 24 June 79

Vespasian

 

24 June 79 to 13 September 81

Titus

Possibly assassinated by Domitian

14 September 81 to 18 September 96

Domitian

Assassinated

 Nervan-Antonian dynasty

Main article: Five Good Emperors

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

18 September 96 to 27 January 98

Nerva

Proclaimed emperor by senate

28 January 98 to 7 August 117

Trajan

 

11 August 117 to 10 July 138

Hadrian

 

10 July 138 to 7 March 161

Antoninus Pius

 

7 March 161 to 17 March 180

Marcus Aurelius

 

7 March 161 to March 169

Lucius Verus

Co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius

175

Avidius Cassius

Usurper; ruled in Egypt and Syria; murdered by his own army

177 to 31 December 192

Commodus

Assassinated

 Year of the Five Emperors & Severan dynasty

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

1 January 193 to 28 March 193

Pertinax

Proclaimed emperor by senate; murdered by Praetorian Guard

28 March 193 to 1 June 193

Didius Julianus

Proclaimed emperor by Praetorian Guard; executed on orders of the Senate

9 April 193 to 4 February 211

Septimius Severus

Proclaimed emperor by Pannonian troops; accepted by senate

193 to 194/195

Pescennius Niger

Proclaimed emperor by Syrian troops, defeated in battle by Septimius Severus

193/195 to 197

Clodius Albinus

Proclaimed emperor by British troops, defeated in battle by Septimius Severus

198 to 8 April 217

Caracalla

Assassinated at the behest of Macrinus

209 to 4 February 211

Geta

Co-emperor with Caracalla ; assassinated on orders of Caracalla

11 April 217 to June 218

Macrinus

Proclaimed himself emperor; executed on orders of Elagabalus

May 217 to June 218

Diadumenian

Junior co-emperor under Macrinus ; executed

June 218 to 222

Elagabalus

Proclaimed emperor by army; murdered by his own troops

13 March 222 to ?March 235

Alexander Severus

Murdered by his own troops

 Rulers during the Crisis of the Third Century

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

February/March 235 to March/April 238

Maximinus Thrax

Proclaimed emperor by the army; murdered by Praetorian Guard

earlyJanuary/March 238 to lateJanuary/April 238

Gordian I

Proclaimed emperor in Africa; committed suicide after Gordian II 's death

earlyJanuary March 238 to lateJanuary/April 238

Gordian II

Proclaimed emperor with Gordian I , killed in battle

earlyFebruary 238 to earlyMay 238

Pupienus

Proclaimed joint emperor by senate; murdered by Praetorian Guard

earlyFebruary 238 to earlyMay 238

Balbinus

Proclaimed joint emperor by senate; murdered by Praetorian Guard

May 238 to February 244

Gordian III

Nephew of Gordian II ; death unclear, probably murdered

240

Sabinianus

Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor; defeated in battle

February 244 to September/October 249

Philip the Arab

Proclaimed emperor after death of Gordian III ; killed in battle by Decius

248

Pacatianus

Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor; murdered by his own soldiers

248 to 249

Iotapianus

Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor in the east; murdered by his own soldiers

248? or 253?

Silbannacus

Usurper; details essentially unknown

249 to June 251

Decius

Killed in battle

249 to 252

Priscus

Proclaimed himself emperor in the east in opposition to Decius

250 to 250

Licinianus

Usurper; proclaimed emperor in Rome; rebellion suppressed

early251 to June 251

Herennius Etruscus

Junior co-emperor under Decius ; killed in battle

251

Hostilian

Son of Decius ; died of plague

June 251 to August 253

Gallus

Proclaimed emperor by his troops after Decius's death; murdered by them in favour of Aemilianus

July 251 to August 253

Volusianus

Junior co-emperor under Gallus ; murdered by army

August 253 to October 253

Aemilian

Proclaimed emperor by his troops; murdered by them in favour of Valerian

253 to June 260

Valerian

Proclaimed emperor by his troops; captured in battle by the Persians ; died in captivity

253 to September 268

Gallienus

Junior co-emperor under Valerian to 260; probably murdered by his generals

260

Saloninus

Son of Gallienus ; proclaimed emperor by army; murdered shortly after by troops of Postumus

June 260 (or 258)

Ingenuus

Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor after Valerian 's capture; defeated in battle

260

Regalianus

Usurper; proclaimed emperor after Ingenuus 's defeat; fate unclear

260 to 261

Macrianus Major

Usurper; proclaimed emperor by eastern army; defeated and killed in battle

260 to 261

Macrianus Minor

Usurper; son of Macrianus Major ; defeated and killed in battle

260 to 261

Quietus

Usurper; son of Macrianus Major ; defeated and killed in battle

261 to 261 or 262

Mussius Aemilianus

Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor after the defeat of the Macriani; defeated and executed

268 to 268

Aureolus

Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor after Gallienus 's death; surrendered to Claudius II Gothicus ; murdered by Praetorian Guard

268 to August 270

Claudius II Gothicus

Proclaimed emperor by the army

August 270 to September 270

Quintillus

Proclaimed himself emperor; cause of death unclear

August 270 to 275

Aurelian

Proclaimed emperor by army; murdered by the Praetorian Guard

271 to 271

Septimius

Usurper; proclaimed emperor in Dalmatia ; killed by his own soldiers

November/December 275 to July 276

Tacitus

Appointed emperor by the Senate; possibly assassinated

July 276 to September 276

Florianus

Brother of Tacitus , proclaimed emperor by the western army; murdered by his troops

July 276 to lateSeptember 282

Probus

Proclaimed emperor by the eastern army; murdered by his own soldiers in favour of Carus

280

Julius Saturninus

Usurper; proclaimed emperor by his troops; then killed by them

280

Proculus

Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor at the request of the people of Lugdunum ; executed by Probus

280

Bonosus

Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor; defeated by Probus and committed suicide

September 282 to July/August 283

Carus

Proclaimed emperor by Praetorian guard

spring 283 to summer 285

Carinus

Son of Carus; co-emperor with Numerian ; fate unclear

July/August 283 to November 284

Numerian

Son of Carus; co-emperor with Carinus ; probably murdered

 Gallic Empire 260 to 274

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

260 to 268

Postumus

Declared himself emperor after Valerian 's death; killed by his own troops

268 to 268

Laelianus

Proclaimed himself emperor in opposition to Postumus; defeated and killed by Postumus

269 to 269

Marius

Proclaimed himself emperor after Postumus's death

269 to 271

Victorinus

Proclaimed emperor after Marius's death

270 to 271

Domitianus

Proclaimed himself emperor of the Gallic Empire

271 to 274

Tetricus I

Nominated heir to Victorinus

 Britannic Empire 286 to 297

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

286 to 293

Carausius

Declared himself emperor; assassinated by Allectus

293 to 297

Allectus

Declared himself emperor after Carausius 's death; defeated by Constantius Chlorus

 Dominate

 Tetrarchy and Constantinian dynasty

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

20 November 284 to 1 May 305

Diocletian

Declared emperor by the army after Numerian's death; Abdicated

1 April 286 to 1 May 305

Maximian

Made co-emperor ('Augustus') with Diocletian ; abdicated

1 May 305 to 25 July 306

Constantius I Chlorus

Made junior co-emperor ('Caesar') under Maximian ; became Augustus after his abdication

1 May 305 to May 311

Galerius

Made junior co-emperor ('Caesar') under Diocletian ; became Augustus after his abdication

August 306 to 16 September 307

Severus II

Made junior co-emperor ('Caesar') under Constantius Chlorus ; became Augustus after his death; executed by Maxentius

28 October 306 to 28 October 312

Maxentius

Son of Maximian ; proclaimed Augustus by Praetorian Guard ; defeated in battle by Constantine I

de jure: 307, de facto 312 to 22 May 337

Constantine I

Son of Constantius Chlorus ; proclaimed Augustus by army

308 -309?/311?

Domitius Alexander

Proclaimed emperor in Africa; defeated in battle by Maxentius

11 November 308 to 18 September 324

Licinius

Appointed Augustus by Galerius ; deposed by Constantine I and executed

1 May 311 to July/August 313

Maximinus Daia

Made junior co-emperor ('Caesar') under Galerius ; became Augustus after his death; defeated in battle by Licinius and committed suicide

December 316 to 1 March 317

Valerius Valens

Appointed co-Augustus by Licinius ; executed by Licinius

July to 18 September 324

Martinianus

Appointed co-Augustus by Licinius ; deposed by Constantine I and executed

337 to 340

Constantine II

Son of Constantine I ; co-emperor with his brothers; killed in battle

337 to 361

Constantius II

Son of Constantine I ; co-emperor with his brothers

337 to 350

Constans I

Son of Constantine I ; co-emperor with his brothers, killed by Magnentius

January 350 to 11 August 353

Magnentius

Usurper; proclaimed emperor by the army; defeated by Constantius II and committed suicide

c. 350

Vetranio

Proclaimed himself emperor against Magnentius ; recognized by Constantius II but then deposed

c. 350

Nepotianus

Proclaimed himself emperor against Magnentius , defeated and executed by Magnentius

November 361 to June 363

Julian

Cousin of Constantius II ; made Caesar by Constantius, then proclaimed Augustus by the army; killed in battle

363 to 17 February 364

Jovian

Proclaimed emperor by the army after Julian 's death

 Valentinian dynasty

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

26 February 364 to 17 November 375

Valentinian I

Valentinian I Coins.htm

Proclaimed emperor by the army after Jovian 's death

28 March 365 to 9 August 378

Valens

Made co-emperor in the east by his brother Valentinian I ; killed in battle

September 365 to 27 May 366

Procopius

Usurper; Proclaimed himself emperor; defeated and executed by Valens

24 August 367 to 383

Gratian

Gratian Coins.htm

Son of Valentinian I ; assassinated

375 to 392

Valentinian II

Valentinian II Coins.htm

Son of Valentinian I ; deposed by Arbogast and died in suspicious circumstances

383 to 388

Magnus Maximus

Magnus Maximus Coins.htm

Usurper; proclaimed emperor by troops; at one time recognized by Theodosius I , but then deposed and executed

c.386 to 388

Flavius Victor

Flavius Victor Coins.htm

Son of Magnus Maximus, executed on orders of Theodosius I

392 to 394

Eugenius

Eugenius Coins.htm

Usurper; proclaimed emperor by army under Arbogast ; defeated in battle by Theodosius I

 Theodosian dynasty

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

379 to 17 January 395

Theodosius I

Theodosius I Coins.htm

Made co-emperor for the east by Gratian

383 to 408
EAST

Arcadius

Arcadius Coins.htm

Appointed co-emperor with his father Theodosius I ; sole emperor for the east from January 395

23 January 393 to 15 August 423
WEST

Honorius

Honorius Coins.htm

Appointed Augustus for the west by his father Theodosius I

407 to 411
WEST

Constantine III

Constantine III Coins.htm

Usurper; proclaimed emperor in Britain; defeated by Constantius III

409 to 411
WEST

Constans II

Constans II Coins.htm

Usurper; made emperor by his father Constantine III ; killed in battle

409 and 414 to 415
WEST

Priscus Attalus

Priscus Attalus Coins.htm

Usurper; twice proclaimed emperor by Visigoths under Alaric and twice deposed by Honorius

409 to 411
WEST

Maximus

Maximus Coins.htm

Usurper; proclaimed emperor in Spain; abdicated

411 to 413
WEST

Jovinus

Jovinus Coins.htm

Usurper; proclaimed emperor after Constantine III 's death, executed by Honorius

412 to 413
WEST

Sebastianus

Sebastianus Coins.htm

Usurper; appointed co-emperor by Jovinus , executed by Honorius

408 to 450
EAST

Theodosius II

Theodosius II Coins.htm

Son of Arcadius

421 to 421
WEST

Constantius III

Constantius III Coins.htm

Son-in-law of Theodosius I ; appointed co-emperor by Honorius

423 to 425
WEST

Joannes

Johannes Coins.htm

Proclaimed western emperor, initially undisputed; defeated and executed by Theodosius II in favour of Valentinian III

425 to 16 March 455
WEST

Valentinian III

Valentinian III Coins.htm

Son of Constantius III ; appointed emperor by Theodosius II ; assassinated

 Western Roman Empire

Reign

Incumbent

Notes

17 March 455 to 31 May 455

Petronius Maximus

Petronius Maximus Coins.htm

Proclaimed himself emperor after Valentinian III 's death; murdered

June 455 to 17 October 456

Avitus

Avitus Coins.htm

Proclaimed emperor by the Visigoth king Theoderic II ; deposed by Ricimer

457 to 2 August 461

Majorian

Majorian Coins.htm

Appointed by Ricimer ; deposed and executed by Ricimer

461 to 465

Libius Severus

Libius Severus Coins.htm

Appointed by Ricimer ; deposed and executed by Ricimer

12 April 467 to 11 July 472

Anthemius

Anthemius Coins.htm

Appointed by Ricimer ; deposed and executed by Ricimer

July 472 to 2 November 472

Olybrius

Olybrius Coins.htm

Appointed by Ricimer

5 March 473 to June 474

Glycerius

Glycerius Coins.htm

Appointed by Gundobad ; deposed by Julius Nepos

June 474 to 25 April 480

Julius Nepos

Julius Nepos Coins.htm

Appointed by eastern emperor Leo I ; deposed in Italy by Orestes in 475; continued to be recognised as lawful emperor in Gaul and Dalmatia until his murder in 480

31 October 475 to 4 September 476

Romulus Augustus
(Romulus Augustulus)

Romulus Augustus Coins.htm

Son of Orestes ; deposed by Odoacer ; fate unknown

Further information: Barbarian kings of Italy

 Eastern Roman Empire

  • For the rulers of the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as the Byzantine Empire ) after Theodosius II , see: List of Byzantine Emperors

Theodosian dynasty (395–457)

Name Reign Comments
  Theodosius I "the Great"
(Θεοδόσιος Α' ο Μέγας, Flavius Theodosius)Theodosius I Coins.htm
19 January 379 –
17 January 395
Born on 11 January 347. Aristocrat and military leader, brother-in-law of Gratian, who appointed him as emperor of the East. From 392 until his death sole Roman emperor
  Arcadius
(Αρκάδιος, Flavius Arcadius)Arcadius Coins.htm
17 January 395 –
1 May 408
Born in 377/378, the eldest son of Theodosius I. Succeeded upon the death of his father
  Theodosius II
(Θεοδόσιος Β', Flavius Theodosius) Theodosius II Coins.htm
1 May 408 –
28 July 450
Born on 10 April 401, the only son of Arcadius. Succeeded upon the death of his father. As a minor, the praetorian prefect Anthemius was regent in 408–414. He died in a riding accident
Marcian.jpg Marcian
(Μαρκιανός, Flavius Valerius Marcianus)

Marcian Coins.htm

450 – January 457 Born in 396. A soldier and politician, he became emperor after being wed by the Augusta Pulcheria , Theodosius II's sister, following the latter's death. Died of gangrene

Leonid dynasty (457–518)

Name Reign Comments
  Leo I "the Thracian"
(Λέων Α' ο Θράξ, Flavius Valerius Leo)

Leo I Coins.htm

7 February 457 –
18 January 474
Born in Dacia in 401. A common soldier, he was chosen by Aspar , commander-in-chief of the army. Died of dysentery
Leo (474)-coin.jpg Leo II
(Λέων Β', Flavius Leo)

Leo II Coins.htm

18 January –
17 November 474
Born in 467, the grandson of Leo I. Succeeded upon the death of Leo I. Died of an unknown disease, possibly poisoned
Zeno.png Zeno
(Ζήνων, Flavius Zeno)

Zeno Coins.htm

17 November 474 –
9 April 491
Born c.425 at Zenonopolis , Isauria , originally named Tarasicodissa. Son-in-law of Leo I, he was bypassed in the succession because of his barbarian origin. Named co-emperor by his son on 9 February 474, he succeeded upon the death of Leo II. Deposed by Basiliscus, brother-in-law of Leo, he fled to his native country and regained the throne in August 476.
Basiliscus.jpg Basiliscus
(Βασιλίσκος, Flavius Basiliscus)

Basiliscus Coins.htm

9 January 475 –
August 476
General and brother-in-law of Leo I, he seized power from Zeno but was again deposed by him. Died in 476/477
Anastasius I (emperor).jpg Anastasius I
(Αναστάσιος Α', Flavius Anastasius)

BYZANTINE - Anastasius Coins.htm

11 April 491 –
9 July 518
Born c. 430 at Dyrrhachium , Epirus nova . A palace official (silentiarius) and son-in-law of Leo I, he was chosen as emperor by empress-dowager Ariadne

Justinian Dynasty

Portrait Name Born Reigned Succession Died
Tremissis-Justin I-sb0058.jpg Justin I
FLAVIVS IVSTINVS AVGVSTVS
c. 450 AD, Naissus July 9, 518 AD – August 1, 527 AD Commander of the palace guard under Anastasius I) ; elected as emperor with support of army August 1, 527 AD
Natural causes
Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna 004.jpg Justinian I
FLAVIVS PETRVS SABBATIVS IVSTINIANVS AVGVSTVS
c. 482 AD, Tauresium , Dardania August 1, 527 AD – 13/14 November 565 AD Nephew and nominated heir of Justin I 13/14 November 565 AD
Natural causes
Solidus-Justin II-sb0391.jpg Justin II
FLAVIVS IVSTINIVS IVNIOR AVGVSTVS
c. 520 AD, ? 13/14 November 565 AD – 578 AD Nephew of Justinian I 578 AD
Became insane; Tiberius II Constantine ruled as regent from December 574 and became emperor on Justin's death in 578

Roman Late Monogram Coins.htm

Roman AE4 Coins.htm

 

 

 


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