Abstract
The Roman Empire was ruled by 77 emperors between 27 BC and AD 476 (503 years); 18 (23,4%) of them held sway during the Early Empire (27 BC–AD 193, 220 years), and 59 (76,6%) during the Late Empire (193-476, 283 years). On the average emperors in the Early Empire ruled for a longer period (12,7 years as against 6,0 years), and died slightly later (53,4 years as against 46,0 years) than subsequent emperors. During the Early Empire 55,6% of the emperors died of natural causes or illness, as against 25,4% during the Late Empire. Of the second group more were murdered or executed (55,9% versus 33,3%) and more died on the battlefield (5 versus none). The incidence of suicide was slightly higher among the early emperors (11,1% as against 6,8%). Seven emperors abdicated before death brought an end to their rule — only 2 died of natural causes. 30 of the 33 murdered were killed by the sword or dagger (5 were beheaded), one was strangled, one was hanged and one was killed by stoning.
Highlights
After its founding, traditionally dated to 753 BC, Rome was ruled by kings as a city-state for two centuries, until in 509 BC a republic was established, to be ruled by a Senate led by two consuls who were elected annually
From until the deposition of the last emperor, the 16 year old Romulus Augustulus, by Germanic invaders from the North in 476, the Western Roman Empire was ruled by 77 emperors
In the Later Roman Empire in particular, it was not uncommon for emperors to rule jointly, or for their regnal periods to overlap in part, with the result that the 503 calendar years between 27 BC and AD 476 equate to 583 regnal years
Summary
Traditionally dated to 753 BC, Rome was ruled by kings as a city-state for two centuries, until in 509 BC a republic was established, to be ruled by a Senate led by two consuls who were elected annually. As its area of influence increased, this republican system of government became ineffective, and in 27 BC Augustus became the first Roman Emperor. From until the deposition of the last emperor, the 16 year old Romulus Augustulus, by Germanic invaders from the North in 476, the Western Roman Empire was ruled by 77 emperors. The Eastern Roman Empire, with Constantinople as its capital, continued to exist for a further ten centuries, until 1453. This article investigates the causes of the deaths of the emperors who ruled the Empire from Rome over a period of 503 years
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