Famous 2nd Century Emperors & Kings

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 1 
Marcus Aurelius
(Philosopher)
Marcus Aurelius
52
Birthdate: April 26, 0121
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: March 17, 0180

Marcus Aurelius played an important role in the Roman Empire. A Stoic philosopher, Marcus was part of the Five Good Emperors and the last emperor of the Pax Romana—a 200-year-long period of relative peace in the Roman Empire. Also a writer, his work Meditations is regarded by many as one of the greatest works of philosophy.

 2 
Trajan
(Roman Emperor)
Trajan
14
Birthdate: September 18, 0053
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hispania Baetica
Died: August 8, 0117

Trajan was the Roman emperor from 98 to 117 CE. Remembered as a successful soldier-emperor, he presided over a great military expansion, leading the Roman Empire to attain its maximum territorial extent by the time of his death. He was the second of the Five Good Emperors and focused on implementing social welfare policies for the benefit of his citizens.

 3 
Hadrian
(Roman Emperor)
Hadrian
13
Birthdate: January 24, 0076
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Italica, Hispania
Died: July 10, 0138
Hadrian was the Roman emperor from 117 to 138. Though he was married to Vibia Sabina, he was said to have many male lovers. He reconstructed the Pantheon and built the Temple of Venus and Roma. He also supported military discipline and came to be known as a benevolent dictator.
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 4 
Septimius Severus
(Roman Emperor from 193 to 211)
Septimius Severus
11
Birthdate: April 11, 0145
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Leptis Magna, Libya
Died: February 4, 0211
Roman emperor Septimius Severus reigned from 193 to 211. He worked in the senate under Marcus Aurelius and gained strength following the death of Pertinax. He killed incumbent emperor Didius Julianus and annexed many kingdoms, such as Osroene. While on an invasion of Scotland, he died of an infectious disease.
 5 
Antoninus Pius
(Roman Emperor)
Antoninus Pius
8
Birthdate: September 19, 0086
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lanuvium, Italy
Died: March 7, 0161
Antoninus Pius was the Roman emperor from 138 to 161 and is regarded as one of the Five Good Emperors of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. He was adopted by emperor Hadrian. His reign was marked by peace and the construction of the Antonine Wall. He was largely an efficient ruler.
 6 
Commodus
(Roman Emperor)
Commodus
19
Birthdate: August 31, 0161
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lanuvium
Died: December 31, 0192
Commodus ruled Rome as an emperor, with his father Marcus Aurelius, from 176 till 180, and then as a sole ruler till 192. His rule ended the 200-year peaceful era of Pax Romana. His dictatorial rule was portrayed in films such as Gladiator. He was assassinated by his wrestling partner.
 7 
Liu Bei
(Founder of the Chinese Shu Han Dynasty)
Liu Bei
5
Birthdate: 0161 AD
Birthplace: Zhuozhou, Baoding, China
Died: June 10, 0223

Liu Bei was a warlord in the Eastern Han dynasty. He is credited with founding the state of Shu Han. Liu Bei went on to reign as the emperor of Shu Han from 221 until his death in 223. Liu Bei is best remembered for his remarkable skills as a leader and politician. His life has inspired several TV series.

 8 
Maximinus Thrax
(Roman Emperor from 235 to 238)
Maximinus Thrax
5
Birthdate: 0173 AD
Birthplace: Thracia
Died: 0238 AD

Maximinus Thrax reigned as Roman emperor from 235 until his death in 238. The accession of Maximinus is generally viewed as the beginning of the Imperial Crisis. Hence, he is often called a barracks emperor of the 3rd century. He died during the Siege of Aquileia when he was assassinated by soldiers of the Legio II Parthica.

 9 
Didius Julianus
(Roman Emperor for Nine Weeks (193))
Didius Julianus
3
Birthdate: January 29, 0133
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mediolanum
Died: June 1, 0193
Born into an influential Roman family, Didius Julianus was raised by Marcus Aurelius’s mother, Domitia. As the man who bid the highest in an auction for the throne, he became the Roman emperor, following Pertinax’s murder. However, just after 66 days of rule, he was murdered in his palace.
 10 
Lucius Verus
(Roman Emperor)
Lucius Verus
3
Birthdate: December 15, 0130
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: January 23, 0169

Lucius Verus was the Roman emperor from 161 to 169, alongside his adoptive brother Marcus Aurelius. Their succession together marked the first time that the Roman Empire was ruled by multiple emperors. The eldest son of Lucius Aelius Caesar, Verus hailed from the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. He ruled for only a few years before he died of an illness in 169.

 11 
Macrinus
(Roman emperor)
Macrinus
3
Birthdate: 0164 AD
Birthplace: Caesarea of Mauretania
Died: May 31, 0218
 12 
Ptolemy XII Auletes
(King of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt)
Ptolemy XII Auletes
3
Birthdate: 0117 AD
Birthplace: Egypt
Died: 0051 AD

Being an illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX, Ptolemy XII Auletes apparently bribed Julius Caesar, in exchange for a law acknowledging his kingship in Egypt. He was later exiled, but came back to Egypt and killed his daughter, Berenice IV, who ruled in his absence and with the support of the opposition.

 13 
Annia Galeria Faustina
(Roman patrician)
Annia Galeria Faustina
3
Birthdate: September 21, 0130
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rome, Roman Empire
Died: 0175 AD
 14 
Cao Pi
(Emperor)
Cao Pi
3
Birthdate: 0187 AD
Birthplace: Xiao County, Suzhou, China
Died: June 29, 0226
 15 
Tigranes the Great
(King)
Tigranes the Great
3
Birthdate: 0140 BC
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0055 BC
 16 
Ardashir I
(Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire (224–242))
Ardashir I
6
Birthplace: Banvan, Iran
Died: January 31, 0242

Ardashir I was the founder of the Sasanian Empire. According to some sources, he was a son of Papak, son of Sasan. He began his career as the commander of Fort Darabgard and steadily rose in power, eventually defeating the last Parthian shahanshah Artabanus IV on the Hormozdgan plain. After this, he crowned himself "shahanshah” and continued his conquests. 

 17 
Mithridates VI of Pontus
(King of Pontus from 120 BC to 63 BC)
Mithridates VI of Pontus
2
Birthdate: 0135 AD
Birthplace: Sinop, Turkey
Died: 0063 AD

Mithridates VI of Pontus, also known as Mithridates the Great, came to power as a young boy after his father, Mithridates V, was assassinated by poisoning. However, since Mithridates VI’s mother acted as a regent and favored his brother, Mithridates got them both imprisoned and took over the throne.

 18 
Jugurtha
(King)
Jugurtha
2
Birthdate: 0160 AD
Birthplace: Cirta, Algeria
Died: 0104 AD
 19 
Masinissa
(Former King of Numidia (202 - 148 BC))
Masinissa
2
Birthdate: 0238 AD
Birthplace: Mascula, Algeria
Died: 0148 AD

Masinissa was a 2nd-century BC king of the North African kingdom of Numidia. While he initially fought against the Romans, supporting Carthage in Spain, he later joined the Roman forces and emerged victorious in the Battle of the Great Plains. He ruled for over 5 decades, until age 90.

 20 
Baldwin V
(King)
Baldwin V
3
Birthdate: 1177
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Jerusalem, Kingdom of Jerusalem, Israel
Died: July 31, 1186
 21 
Kanishka
(King)
Kanishka
3
Birthdate: 0078 AD
Birthplace: Peshawar, Pakistan
Died: 0144 AD
 22 
Duṭṭhagāmaṇī
(King)
Duṭṭhagāmaṇī
2
Birthplace: Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Died: 0137 AD
 23 
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
(Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Kingdom)
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
3
Birthdate: October 9, 0210
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: August 31, 0180
 24 
Gordian I
(Roman Emperor)
Gordian I
2
Birthdate: 0158 AD
Birthplace: Phrygia
Died: April 12, 0238
 25 
Mithridates I of Parthia
(King of the Parthian Empire)
Mithridates I of Parthia
3
Birthdate: 0195 BC
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0132 BC

Parthian ruler Mithridates I belonged to the Arsacid dynasty and was the first ruler of Parthia to assume the title King of Kings. He is remembered for his aggressive expansion of his kingdom and his war against the Seleucid Empire. His affinity for Greeks was evident by his title Philhellene.  

 26 
Philip V of Macedon
(King of Macedonia from 221 to 179 BC)
Philip V of Macedon
2
Birthdate: 0238 AD
Birthplace: Pella, Macedonia
Died: 0179 AD
 27 
Demetrius I of Bactria
(Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek King)
Demetrius I of Bactria
5
Birthdate: 0222 AD
Birthplace: Bactria, Afghanistan
Died: 0180 AD
Demetrius I of Bactria was a Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek king. He reigned as the king of Bactria as well as the Indo-Greek king from 200 to 180 BC. He conquered extensive areas in present-day Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Iran. Demetrius I of Bactria remained undefeated in battles, which earned him the nickname, the Invincible. 
 28 
Perseus of Macedon
(Last king (Basileus) of the Antigonid dynasty)
Perseus of Macedon
2
Birthdate: 0212 BC
Birthplace: Pella, Greece
Died: 0166 BC
 29 
Balbinus
(Former Roman emperor with Pupienus for three months in 238, the Year of the Six Emperors)
Balbinus
2
Birthdate: 0178 AD
Birthplace: Italy
Died: 0238 AD
 30 
Emperor Jing of Han
(Emperor)
Emperor Jing of Han
2
Birthdate: 0188 AD
Birthplace: Taiyuan, China
Died: March 9, 0141
 31 
Ptolemy VIII Physcon
(King)
Ptolemy VIII Physcon
2
Birthdate: 0184 AD
Birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt
Died: June 28, 0116
 32 
Ptolemy VI Philometor
(King of Ptolemaic Egypt who reigned from 180 to 164 BC and from 163 to 145 BC)
Ptolemy VI Philometor
2
Birthdate: 0186 AD
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0145 AD
 33 
Emperor Seimu
(13th Legendary Emperor of Japan)
Emperor Seimu
1
Birthdate: 0084 AD
Birthplace: Japan
Died: June 11, 0190
 34 
Seleucus IV Philopator
(Ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, reigned from 187 BC to 175 BC)
Seleucus IV Philopator
1
Birthdate: 0218 AD
Birthplace: Syria
Died: September 3, 0175
 35 
Ptolemy IX Lathyros
(King)
Ptolemy IX Lathyros
1
Birthdate: February 18, 0142
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Egypt
Died: November 30, 0081
 36 
Sasan
(Prince)
Sasan
1
Birthplace: Unknown
 37 
Eucratides
(king of Bactria)
Eucratides
1
Birthplace: Central Asia
Died: 0145 AD
 38 
Demetrius II Nicator
(King of Syria)
Demetrius II Nicator
1
Birthdate: 0160 BC
Birthplace: Syria
Died: 0125 BC
 39 
Ptolemy X Alexander I
(King of Egypt (reigned 107–88 BCE))
Ptolemy X Alexander I
1
Birthdate: 0140 AD
Birthplace: Egypt
Died: 0088 AD
 40 
Alexander Balas
(Second Century BC King of Syria Who Reigned over the Seleucid Empire)
Alexander Balas
1
Birthplace: Smyrna, Turkey
Died: July 31, 0145

Second century BC king of Syria Alexander Balas ruled over the Seleucid Empire. He made Jonathan Maccabeus the Jewish governor, thus appeasing Palestine. He was helped by the Roman Senate and the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty during his reign but was killed in combat against Demetrius II Nicator.

 41 
Eumenes II
(King of Pergamon (197–159 BC))
Eumenes II
1
Birthplace: Pergamon, Turkey
Died: 0159 BC
 42 
Artaxias I
(King)
Artaxias I
1
Birthdate: 0230 AD
Birthplace: Orontid dynasty, Armenia
Died: 0160 AD
 43 
Antiochus V
(Ruler of the Greek Seleucid Empire who reigned from late 164 to 161 BC)
Antiochus V
1
Birthdate: 0172 AD
Birthplace: Greek
Died: 0161 AD
 44 
Artabanus IV of Parthia
(King)
Artabanus IV of Parthia
0
Birthdate: 0191 AD
Birthplace: Parthian Empire, Iran
Died: March 31, 0224
 45 
Aristobulus I
(King of Judaea)
Aristobulus I
1
Birthplace: Israel
Died: 0103 AD

Aristobulus I was the king of Judaea who reigned from 104 to 103 BCE. Aristobulus, who hailed from the Hasmonean dynasty, was the first Hebrew king to claim the kingship as well as high priesthood title. He is depicted as a cruel king as he killed his brothers and took the throne from his mother, against his late father’s will.  

 46 
Antiochus XI Epiphanes
(King of Syria)
Antiochus XI Epiphanes
1
Birthplace: Antioch
Died: 0092 BC
 47 
Attalus III
(King)
Attalus III
1
Birthdate: 0170 BC
Birthplace: Pergamon, Turkey
Died: 0133 BC
 48 
Phraates IV
(King of Parthia)
Phraates IV
0
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0002 AD
 49 
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
(King)
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
0
Birthplace: Egypt
Died: 0145 AD
 50 
Bocchus I
(King of Mauretania)
Bocchus I
0
Birthplace: Mauretania