Curated playlist
Illyrian emperors
- HostilianRoman emperor Hostilian may have died of plague or murder. Ancient writers disagree on how the boy died in 251.
- LiciniusLicinius, a peasant's son, co-wrote the Edict of Milan with Constantine. Later Constantine erased his laws.
- Constantius ChlorusThe Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus never heard the name Chlorus. Byzantine-era historians coined it after he died.
- Constantine the GreatConstantine, the first Christian Roman emperor, was baptized only on his deathbed.
- Claudius GothicusAn ancient legend says Emperor Claudius Gothicus once knocked out a horse's teeth with one punch.
- DiocletianRetired emperor Diocletian answered a plea to return in 308 by talking about his cabbages.
- Justinian IJustinian I nearly fled Constantinople by sea during the Nika riots. His wife Theodora refused to leave, and he stayed.
- GaleriusGalerius, a cattle-herder's son, became a Roman emperor. In 311 he ended the persecution of Christians he had pushed.
- MaximianRoman emperor Maximian retired when ordered to, then came back twice. His last try in 310 began with a false claim.
- AurelianA forged list of officials marked for execution got Roman emperor Aurelian killed by his own officers.
- ValensRoman emperor Valens died in 378 and his body was never found.