10 Worst Roman Emperors To Have Ever Lived

10 Worst Roman Emperors

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the ten most widely reviled and criticized Roman Emperors.

Valerian

Serving between 253 and 260, Valerian reigned during the Crisis of the Third Century, a period of time that was marred by invasions, economic troubles, and internal instability. He failed to address the Empire’s fledgling economy and was known for his harsh persecution of Christians, which increased social unrest. He also struggled in his military duties, leading to what is perhaps his biggest contribution to history. Valerian was captured during the Battle of Edessa in 260 AD, making him the only Roman emperor to be taken captive. Not only that, but some sources claim that he was humiliated in captivity by the Sasanian King of Kings, Shapur I. It was a tremendous embarrassment for the failing Roman Empire, and it worsened an already terrible crisis.

Tiberius

Called “the gloomiest of men” by Pliny the Elder, Tiberius was a great administrator but a terrible ruler. He was a highly distrustful man, and his rule was marred by paranoia and acts of violence. He launched numerous treason trials against perceived enemies and had many executed. He was also known for being aloof and reclusive, resulting in a rocky relationship with the Senate. Tiberius eventually left Rome altogether for the island of Capri, leaving the day-to-day administration in the hands of his Praetorian Prefect, Sejanus, who became increasingly corrupt. By the time he died in 37 AD, Tiberius was not viewed favorably, and Roman historians were incredibly critical of his reign, portraying him as a detached and tyrannical ruler.

Domitian

No one hated Domitian more than the Senate. He was a popular emperor in his time, and the people loved him. He protected Rome’s borders with a solid military and invested heavily into the Empire. But Domitian ruled with an iron fist, emphasizing his autocratic power more openly than previous emperors. He called himself Lord and God (or “Dominus et Deus”), and he was notoriously paranoid about conspiracies against him, leading to his reputation as a tyrant. He also had a deeply antagonistic relationship with the Senate, resulting in his assassination in 96 AD. Following his death, Domitian was wiped from the public record in a practice known as “Damnatio memoriae,” meaning “condemnation of memory.”

Maximinus Thrax

We’ll give him this - Maximinus Thrax has probably the coolest name of any Roman Emperor. Unfortunately, rulers are not judged on how cool their names are. Maximinus was a renowned military leader, so the army declared him emperor following the death of Severus Alexander. This was not an especially popular idea, and his ascension marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century. The Senate saw Maximinus as a low-born outsider, and his authority was undermined by his open disdain for diplomacy and political traditions. His continuous military campaigns were also very expensive, and he raised taxes in order to fund them. Naturally, this too was not a popular idea, and the high taxes led to widespread discontent.

Elagabalus

You want a real life King Aegon? It’s Elagabalus. He began his reign at just fourteen and proceeded to infuriate politicians and citizens alike with his shocking public behavior and total disregard for political office. He openly defied traditional Roman customs and even introduced a new God to the citizenry called Elagabal, which he forced people to publicly worship. He was also known for his sexual promiscuity and wild debauchery, as he certainly got around and even sold his body for money. He did what he wanted and didn’t care who he upset in the process. Unfortunately for him, Elagabalus made one too many enemies and was assassinated, with his corpse being unceremoniously thrown into the Tiber river.

Caracalla

And if you want a real life King Joffrey, let’s point you towards Caracalla. The similarities between him and Joffrey are significant, with historian Edward Gibbon calling him “the common enemy of mankind.” Caracalla was very young and had virtually zero interest in politics, with most of the administrative work being left to his mother, Julia Domna, who ruled behind the scenes. Sound familiar? He was also a reckless spender and was enormously violent, having his own brother assassinated and unleashing a series of massacres across the Roman Empire. To this day he is regarded as one of Rome’s greatest tyrants, with some modern historians even suggesting that he was a clinical psychopath.

Honorius

Perilous times call for great leaders. Rome got Honorius. He ruled the western half of the Empire between 393 and 423, during a time of great instability. Virtually everything was collapsing under Honorius, and the Emperor was largely incompetent, relying mostly on a powerful military man named Stilicho to rule in his place. He died in 408, and the Roman Empire lost control of Britain just two years later. The Empire was also plagued by rebellions and invasions during this time, culminating in the famous Sack of Rome, when King Alaric and his Visigoths invaded the symbolic center in August 410. This was the first time in nearly 800 years that the city fell, signaling the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire.

Commodus

The Pax Romana lies between the years of 27 BC and 180 AD and is generally considered the golden age of the Roman Empire. That period of historic prosperity ended with the megalomaniac Commodus. Virtually everything fell apart underneath him thanks to his inept rule and general neglect of governance. Commodus just wanted to have fun and had no interest in actually ruling, instead relying on corrupt officials and advisors to cover the day-to-day operations. Meanwhile, Commodus lived extravagantly, ruining the economy and often fighting in the Colosseum as a mock gladiator. He even started his own cult of personality, renaming Rome after himself and erecting statues portraying him as Hercules. These statues were promptly dismantled after Commodus was assassinated in 192.

Nero

It’s said that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. This probably isn’t literal, but it sure paints a good picture of his distaste for the city. Nero was popular with the commoners, but everyone else - especially the aristocracy - detested him. He had a lavish lifestyle and spent wildly, often taxing the higher classes to pay for his debauchery and opulence. He also valued personal entertainment over effective governance and was known for his wicked cruelty, like having his mother, wife, and stepbrother all murdered. He also infamously blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, kickstarting one of history’s most notorious persecutions. Many contemporaries blamed Nero for starting the fire himself, either to scapegoat Christians or clear land for a new, extravagant palace.

Caligula

There’s a very good argument to be made that Caligula was the worst emperor in Roman history. There’s all the usual stuff like reckless spending and political disinterest, but what sets Caligula apart is his mental health. The emperor enacted a rash of confusing, often nonsensical actions throughout the course of his tenure, earning the ire of his contemporaries. This includes sadistic executions for little to no reason, appointing his horse as consul, declaring himself a living God, and waging war against the ocean. According to modern historians, it’s possible that Caligula suffered from mania, epilepsy, or even schizophrenia, which severely affected his decision-making. Others debate the veracity of contemporary sources, arguing that they are biased and highly exaggerated.

What do you make of these men and their actions? Let us know in the comments below!