Famous Ancient Roman Military Leaders

Vote for Your Favourite Ancient Roman Military Leaders

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Julius Caesar
(Roman General and Statesman)
Julius Caesar
15
Birthdate: 0100
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: March 15, 0044

Julius Caesar is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history and played an important role in the events that led to the downfall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. He assumed control of the government after a civil war. He was assassinated by rebel senators on the Ides of March, 44 BC.

 2 
Constantine the Great
(Roman Emperor)
Constantine the Great
7
Birthdate: February 27, 0272
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Naissus, Moesia, Roman Empire
Died: May 22, 0337

Constantine the Great served as the Roman emperor between 306 and 337. During his reign, he enacted financial, administrative, military, and social reforms to strengthen the empire. Constantine the Great is also credited with introducing the solidus, a gold coin which became the standard for European and Byzantine currencies for over a thousand years.

 3 
Marc Antony
(Roman General)
Marc Antony
10
Birthdate: January 14, 0083
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rome
Died: August 1, 0030

Mark Antony was a Roman politician who played a key role in transforming the Roman Republic into the autocratic Roman Empire. Marc Antony is best remembered as one of Julius Caesar's generals during Caesar's Civil War. One of the most important figures in the history of Rome, Mark Antony has been the subject of several artistic portrayals since his death.

Recommended Lists:
 4 
Scipio Africanus
(One of the Best Military Commanders and Strategists of All Time)
Scipio Africanus
8
Birthdate: 0236 BC
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: 0183 BC
Roman general and consul Scipio Africanus is remembered for his exploits during the Second Punic War. He gained the title Africanus by defeating Hannibal at the Battle of Zama. He was later dragged into a trial for accepting bribes and eventually left Rome to live in his villa in Liternum.
 5 
Trajan
(Roman Emperor)
Trajan
7
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.

 6 
Pompey
(Roman General and Statesman)
Pompey
7
Birthdate: September 29, 0106
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Picenum
Died: September 28, 0048

Considered ruthless by his opponents, Pompey was an ancient Roman general who was a veteran of many wars and played a key role in changing Rome from a republic to an empire. Pompey was first an ally of his more illustrious compatriot Julius Caesar whose daughter he married, and then became his enemy. He was assassinated in Egypt, an end not uncommon in history.

 7 
Marcus Licinius Crassus
(Roman General and Statesman)
Marcus Licinius Crassus
9
Birthdate: 0115 AD
Birthplace: Roman Republic
Died: 0053 AD

Roman general and politician Marcus Licinius Crassus played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. A patron of Julius Caesar, he became involved in the unofficial political alliance known as the First Triumvirate. An excellent military commander and a wealthy man, he died at the battle of Carrhae.

 8 
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
6
Birthdate: 0064 BC
Birthplace: Arpino, Istria or Asisium
Died: 0012 BC
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa is chiefly remembered in history for crushing Mark Antony and his forces at the Battle of Actium. A close friend of Octavian, who later took over as Emperor Augustus Caesar, he is credited with completing the Pantheon and building scores of baths, gardens, and sewers in Rome.
 9 
Pertinax
(Military Leader)
Pertinax
4
Birthdate: August 1, 0126
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Alba Pompeia, Italy
Died: March 28, 0193

Born to a freed slave, Pertinax joined the Roman army early in life and soon rose to be a commander. He was declared the emperor after Commodus was murdered but was himself killed within three months of his rule. Septimius Severus later organized a state funeral and also deified him.

 10 
Gaius Marius
(Roman General)
Gaius Marius
4
Birthdate: 0157 BC
Birthplace: Arpinum
Died: January 13, 0086
Born to a plebeian farmer, near Arpinum, Gaius Marius was a skilled military leader but lacked the polish and sophistication required of a political leader. Known as "the third founder of Rome" for his win at the Cimbrian War, Marius had been made a consul for seven terms.
 11 
Cincinnatus
(Statesman)
Cincinnatus
4
Birthdate: 0519 BC
Birthplace: Roman Kingdom
Died: 0430 BC
 12 
Arminius
(Roman general)
Arminius
5
Birthdate: 0017 AD
Birthplace: Germania
Died: 0021 AD
 13 
Constantius II
(Roman ruler)
Constantius II
4
Birthdate: August 7, 0317
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sirmium
Died: November 3, 0361
 14 
Nero Claudius Drusus
(Roman Politician)
Nero Claudius Drusus
4
Birthdate: January 14, 0038
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: September 14, 0009
 15 
Pontius Pilatus
(The Governor of Judaea Who Ordered Jesus's Crucifixion)
Pontius Pilatus
14
Birthplace: Abruzzo, Italy
Died: 0039 AD

The 5th governor or prefect of the Roman province Judaea, under Roman Emperor Tiberius, Pontius Pilatus is remembered as the one who officiated the trial of Jesus Christ and ordered his crucifixion. He apparently persecuted Jews and eventually killed himself on the orders of the new emperor Caligula.

 16 
Sulla
(Roman General and Statesman)
Sulla
5
Birthdate: 0138 BC
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: 0078 BC

A Roman general and statesman, Lucius Cornelius Sulla is remembered for carrying out significant constitutional reforms during the last phase of Roma Empire. Winner of the first civil war, he was appointed dictator under Valerian law and undertook number of reforms intending to strengthen the Roman republic; but actually paved the way for rise of future dictators like Julius Caesar.

 17 
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
(Roman general and statesman who formed the Second Triumvirate alongside Octavian and Mark Antony during the final years of the Roman Republic)
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
3
Birthdate: 0089 AD
Birthplace: Rome
Died: 0013 AD
 18 
Florianus
(Roman emperor)
Florianus
3
Birthdate: August 19, 0232
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Terni, Italy
Died: July 31, 0276
 19 
Stilicho
(Military commander)
Stilicho
3
Birthdate: 0359 AD
Birthplace: Germany
Died: August 22, 0408
 20 
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus
(Statesman)
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus
3
Birthdate: 0203 AD
Birthplace: Rome
Died: 0280 AD
 21 
Gnaeus Julius Agricola
(General)
Gnaeus Julius Agricola
3
Birthdate: June 13, 0040
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Fréjus, France
Died: August 23, 0093
 22 
Simon bar Kokhba
(Military leader)
Simon bar Kokhba
3
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0135 AD
 23 
Sextus Pompey
(Military leader)
Sextus Pompey
3
Birthdate: 0067 AD
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: 0035 AD
 24 
Marcus Furius Camillus
(Roman Statesman and Politician)
Marcus Furius Camillus
3
Birthdate: 0446 AD
Birthplace: Ancient Rome
Died: 0365 AD
 25 
Marcus Atilius Regulus
(Roman general)
Marcus Atilius Regulus
2
Birthdate: 0299 AD
Birthplace: Roman Republic
Died: 0250 AD
 26 
Avidius Cassius
(Military General)
Avidius Cassius
2
Birthdate: 0130 AD
Birthplace: Cyrrhus, Turkey
Died: June 30, 0175
 27 
Marcus Claudius Marcellus
(Roman Military Leader During the Gallic War of 225 BC)
Marcus Claudius Marcellus
2
Birthdate: 0270 BC
Birthplace: Rome. Italy
Died: 0208 BC
 28 
Syagrius
(Roman General and the Last Ruler)
Syagrius
2
Birthdate: 0430 AD
Birthplace: Rome
Died: 0487 AD
 29 
Clodius Albinus
(Roman general)
Clodius Albinus
2
Birthdate: 0150 AD
Birthplace: Sousse, Tunisia
Died: February 19, 0197
 30 
Postumus
(Roman general)
Postumus
2
Birthplace: Roman Gaul
Died: 0269 AD
 31 
Carausius
(Officer)
Carausius
2
Birthplace: Gallia Belgica, Valledupar, Colombia
Died: 0293 AD
 32 
Flavius Ardaburius Aspar
(Roman General)
Flavius Ardaburius Aspar
1
Birthdate: 0400 AD
Birthplace: Constantinople
Died: 0471 AD
 33 
Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus
(Author)
Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus
1
Birthdate: 0064 AD
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0008 AD
 34 
Publius Ventidius Bassus
(General)
Publius Ventidius Bassus
1
Birthdate: 0089 AD
Birthplace: Ascoli Piceno
 35 
Sextus Afranius Burrus
(Prefect)
Sextus Afranius Burrus
1
Birthdate: 0001 AD
Birthplace: Gallia Narbonensis
Died: 0062 AD
 36 
Aulus Gabinius
(Statesman)
Aulus Gabinius
1
Birthplace: Rome
Died: 0047 AD
 37 
Metellus Scipio
(Military Commander)
Metellus Scipio
1
Birthdate: 0098 AD
Birthplace: Roman Republic
Died: 0046 AD
 38 
Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger
(Military General)
Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger
1
Birthdate: 1062 AD
Birthplace: Orestiada
Died: 1137 AD
 39 
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus
(Statesman)
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus
1
Birthdate: 0160 AD
Birthplace: Ancient Rome
Died: 0091 AD
 40 
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus
(General)
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus
1
Birthdate: 0210 AD
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0115 AD
 41 
Gaius Trebonius
(General)
Gaius Trebonius
1
Birthdate: 0092 AD
Birthplace: Not known
Died: December 31, 0043
 42 
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer
(Statesman)
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer
1
Birthdate: 0059 AD
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0103 AD
 43 
Manius Curius Dentatus
(General)
Manius Curius Dentatus
1
Birthdate: 0321 AD
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0270 AD
 44 
Arbogast
(General)
Arbogast
1
Birthdate: 0340 AD
Birthplace: Rome
Died: September 8, 0394
 45 
Gaius Duilius
(Roman General and Statesman)
Gaius Duilius
1
Birthplace: Unknown
 46 
Gaius Laelius
(Statesman)
Gaius Laelius
1
Birthdate: 0235 AD
Birthplace: Rome
 47 
Gaius Lutatius Catulus
(Statesman)
Gaius Lutatius Catulus
1
Birthdate: 0291 AD
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0220 AD
 48 
Gnaeus Papirius Carbo
(Consul)
Gnaeus Papirius Carbo
0
Birthdate: 0130 AD
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: 0082 AD
 49 
Gildo
(General)
Gildo
1
Birthplace: Mauretania Caesariensis
Died: July 31, 0398
 50 
Lucius Verginius Rufus
(Military commander)
Lucius Verginius Rufus
1
Birthdate: 0015 AD
Birthplace: Como, Italy
Died: 0097 AD