This is a list of

victory titles A victory title is an honorific title adopted by a successful military commander to commemorate his defeat of an enemy nation. The practice is first known in Ancient Rome and is still most commonly associated with the Romans, but it was also adop ...

assumed by Roman Emperors, not including assumption of the title ''

Imperator The Latin word ''imperator'' derives from the stem of the verb la, imperare, label=none, meaning 'to order, to command'. It was originally employed as a title roughly equivalent to ''commander'' under the Roman Republic. Later it became a part o ...

'' (originally itself a victory title); note that the Roman Emperors were not the only persons to assume victory titles (

Maximinus Thrax Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus "Thrax" ("the Thracian"; – 238) was Roman emperor from 235 to 238. His father was an accountant in the governor's office and sprang from ancestors who were Carpi (a Dacian tribe), a people whom Diocleti ...

acquired his victory title during the reign of a previous Emperor). In a sense, the Imperial victory titles give an interesting summary of which wars and which adversaries were considered significant by the senior leadership of the Roman Empire, but in some cases more opportunistic motifs play a role, even to the point of glorifying a victory that was by no means a real triumph (but celebrated as one for internal political prestige). Multiple grants of the same title were distinguished by ordinals, e.g. ''Germanicus Maximus IV'', "great victor in Germania for the fourth time".

List

Quintus Labienus Quintus Labienus Parthicus (died 39 BC) was a Roman general in the Late Republic period. The son of Titus Labienus, he made an alliance with Parthia and invaded the Roman provinces in the eastern Mediterranean which were under the control of Mark ...

, 40-38 BC **''Parthicus imperator'': variously interpreted, with latest research suggest the meaning "friend of Parthia" *

Publius Ventidius Publius Ventidius ( 89–38 BC) was a Roman general and one of Julius Caesar's protégés. He won key victories against the Parthians which resulted in the deaths of key leaders – victories which redeemed the losses of Crassus and paved the way ...

Bassus, 38 BC ** ''Parthicus'', victorious against Parthia (the only non-imperial holder) *

Caligula Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula (), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the popular Roman general Germani ...

, 37–41 **''Germanicus'' ("victorious in Germania"), born with it *

Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54) was the fourth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Drusus and Antonia Minor ...

, 41–54 **''Germanicus'' ("victorious in Germania"), born with it **''Britannicus'' ("victorious in Britain"), 44 *

Vitellius Aulus Vitellius (; ; 24 September 1520 December 69) was Roman emperor for eight months, from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius was proclaimed emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of ci ...

, 69 **''Germanicus'' ("victorious in Germania"), 69 *

Domitian Domitian (; la, Domitianus; 24 October 51 – 18 September 96) was a Roman emperor who reigned from 81 to 96. The son of Vespasian and the younger brother of Titus, his two predecessors on the throne, he was the last member of the Fl ...

, 81–96 **''Germanicus'' ("victorious in Germania"), late 83 *

Nerva Nerva (; originally Marcus Cocceius Nerva; 8 November 30 – 27 January 98) was Roman emperor from 96 to 98. Nerva became emperor when aged almost 66, after a lifetime of imperial service under Nero and the succeeding rulers of the Flavian dy ...

, 96-98 **''Germanicus'' ("victorious in Germania"), October 97 *

Trajan Trajan ( ; la, Caesar Nerva Traianus; 18 September 539/11 August 117) was Roman emperor from 98 to 117. Officially declared ''optimus princeps'' ("best ruler") by the senate, Trajan is remembered as a successful soldier-emperor who presi ...

, 98–117 **''Germanicus'' ("victorious in Germania"), October 97 **''Dacicus'' ("victorious in Dacia"), 102 **''Parthicus'' ("victorious in Parthia"), 114 **''Optimus'' ("Best"), 114 *

Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Latin: áːɾkus̠ auɾέːli.us̠ antɔ́ːni.us̠ English: ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good E ...

, 161–180 **''Armeniacus'' ("victorious in Armenia"), 164 **''Medicus'' ("victorious in Media"), 166 **''Parthicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Parthia"), 166 **''Germanicus'' ("victorious in Germania"), 172 **''Sarmaticus'' ("victorious in Sarmatia"), 175 *

Lucius Verus Lucius Aurelius Verus (15 December 130 – January/February 169) was Roman emperor from 161 until his death in 169, alongside his adoptive brother Marcus Aurelius. He was a member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. Verus' succession together wit ...

, 161–169 **''Armeniacus'' ("victorious in Armenia"), 164 **''Parthicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Parthia"), 165 **''Medicus'' ("victorious in Media"), 166 *

Commodus Commodus (; 31 August 161 – 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. He served jointly with his father Marcus Aurelius from 176 until the latter's death in 180, and thereafter he reigned alone until his assassination. ...

, 177–192 **''Germanicus'' ("victorious in Germania"), 15 October 172 **''Sarmaticus'' ("victorious in Sarmatia"), spring 175 **''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), mid-182 **''Britannicus'', late 184 *

Septimius Severus Lucius Septimius Severus (; 11 April 145 – 4 February 211) was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Al-Khums, Libya) in the Roman province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary suc ...

, 193–211 **''Arabicus'' ("victorious in Arabia"), 195 **''Adiabenicus'' (victor of

Adiabene Adiabene was an ancient kingdom in northern Mesopotamia, corresponding to the northwestern part of ancient Assyria. The size of the kingdom varied over time; initially encompassing an area between the Zab Rivers, it eventually gained control of N ...

"), 195 **''Parthicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Parthia"), 198 **''Britannicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Britain"), 209 or 210 *

Caracalla Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (born Lucius Septimius Bassianus, 4 April 188 – 8 April 217), better known by his nickname "Caracalla" () was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. He was a member of the Severan dynasty, the elder son of Emperor ...

, 198–217 **''Britannicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Britain"), 209 or 210 **''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), 213 *

, 235–238 **''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), 235 *

Philip the Arab Philip the Arab ( la, Marcus Julius Philippus "Arabs"; 204 – September 249) was Roman emperor from 244 to 249. He was born in Aurantis, Arabia, in a city situated in modern-day Syria. After the death of Gordian III in February 244, Philip, ...

**''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), ca 247 **''Caspicus Maximus'' ("great victor of the Carpi") ca 247 *

Claudius II Marcus Aurelius Claudius "Gothicus" (10 May 214 – January/April 270), also known as Claudius II, was Roman emperor from 268 to 270. During his reign he fought successfully against the Alemanni and decisively defeated the Goths at the Battle ...

, 268–270 **''Gothicus Maximus'' ("great victor against the Goths"), 269 *

Aurelian Aurelian ( la, Lucius Domitius Aurelianus; 9 September 214 October 275) was a Roman emperor, who reigned during the Crisis of the Third Century, from 270 to 275. As emperor, he won an unprecedented series of military victories which reunited ...

, 270–275 **''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), 270 and 271 **''Gothicus Maximus'' ("great victor of the Goths"), 271 **''Parthicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Parthia"), 273 *

Tacitus Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars. The surviving portions of his two major works—the ...

, 275–276 **''Gothicus Maximus'' ("great victor of the Goths"), 276 *

Probus Probus may refer to: People * Marcus Valerius Probus (c. 20/30–105 AD), Roman grammarian * Marcus Pomponius Maecius Probus, consul in 228 * Probus (emperor), Roman Emperor (276–282) * Probus of Byzantium (–306), Bishop of Byzantium from 29 ...

, 276–282 **''Gothicus'' (victor of the Goths"), 277 **''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), 279 **''Persicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Persia"), 279 *

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

, 284–305 **''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), 285, 287, 288, 293 and 301 **''Sarmaticus Maximus'' ("great victor of the Sarmatians"), 285, 289, 294 and 300 **''Persicus Maximus'' ("great victor over the Persians"), 295 and 298 **''Britannicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Britain"), 297 **''Carpicus Maximus'' ("great victor over Carpians"), 297 **''Armenicus Maximus'' ("victorious in Armenia"), 298 **''Medicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Media"), 298 **''Adiabenicus Maximus'' ("great victor in

"), 298 *

Maximian Maximian ( la, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus; c. 250 – c. July 310), nicknamed ''Herculius'', was Roman emperor from 286 to 305. He was '' Caesar'' from 285 to 286, then ''Augustus'' from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his ...

, 286–305, 306–308 **''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), 287, 288, 293 and 301 **''Sarmaticus Maximus'' ("great victor of the Sarmatians"), 289, 294 and 300 **''Persicus Maximus'' ("great victor over the Persians"), 298 **''Britannicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Britain"), 297 **''Carpicus Maximus'' ("great victor over Carpians"), 297 **''Armenicus Maximus'' ("victorious in Armenia"), 298 **''Medicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Media"), 298 **''Adiabenicus Maximus'' ("great victor in

"), 298 *

Galerius Maximianus Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus (; 258 – May 311) was Roman emperor from 305 to 311. During his reign he campaigned, aided by Diocletian, against the Sasanian Empire, sacking their capital Ctesiphon in 299. He also campaigned across the D ...

, 305–311 **''Britannicus Maximus'' ("great victory in Britain"), 297 **''Carpicus Maximus'' ("great victor of the Carpians"), six times between 297 and 308 *

Constantine I Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to convert to Christianity. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterran ...

, 307–337 **''Germanicus Maximus'' ("great victor in Germania"), 307, 308, 314 and 328 **''Sarmaticus Maximus'' ("great victor over the Sarmatians"), 323 and 334 ** ''Gothicus Maximus'' ("great victor over the Goths"), 328 and 332 **''Dacicus Maximus'' ("great victor over the Dacian"), 336 *

Constans Flavius Julius Constans ( 323 – 350), sometimes called Constans I, was Roman emperor from 337 to 350. He held the imperial rank of '' caesar'' from 333, and was the youngest son of Constantine the Great. After his father's death, he was mad ...

, 337–350 **''Sarmaticus'' ("victorious over the Sarmatians") *

Justinian I Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized '' renov ...

, 527–565 **''Alamannicus'' ("victorious over the

Alamanni The Alemanni or Alamanni, were a confederation of Germanic tribes * * * on the Upper Rhine River. First mentioned by Cassius Dio in the context of the campaign of Caracalla of 213, the Alemanni captured the in 260, and later expanded into pre ...

"), on accession **''Gothicus'' ("victorious over the

Goths The Goths ( got, 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰, translit=''Gutþiuda''; la, Gothi, grc-gre, Γότθοι, Gótthoi) were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Euro ...

"), on accession **''Francicus'' ("victorious over the

Franks The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools ...

"), on accession **''Anticus'' ("victorious over the

Antae The Antes, or Antae ( gr, Ἄνται), were an early East Slavic tribal polity of the 6th century CE. They lived on the lower Danube River, in the northwestern Black Sea region (present-day Moldova and central Ukraine), and in the regions ...

"), on accession **''Alanicus'' ("victorious over the

Alans The Alans (Latin: ''Alani'') were an ancient and medieval Iranian nomadic pastoral people of the North Caucasus – generally regarded as part of the Sarmatians, and possibly related to the Massagetae. Modern historians have connected the A ...

"), on accession **''Vandalicus'' ("victorious over the

Vandals The Vandals were a Germanic peoples, Germanic people who first inhabited what is now southern Poland. They established Vandal Kingdom, Vandal kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean islands, and North Africa in the fifth century. The ...

"), after the

Vandalic War The Vandalic War was a conflict fought in North Africa between the forces of the Byzantine Empire and the Vandal Kingdom, Vandalic Kingdom of Carthage in 533–534. It was the first of Justinian I's wars of reconquest of the Western Roman Empi ...

, 534 **''Africanus'' ("victorious in Africa"), after the

, 534 *

Maurice Maurice may refer to: People * Saint Maurice (died 287), Roman legionary and Christian martyr * Maurice (emperor) or Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602), Byzantine emperor *Maurice (bishop of London) (died 1107), Lord Chancellor and ...

, 582–602 **''Alamannicus'' ("victorious over the Alamanni") **''Gothicus'' ("victorious over the Goths") **''Anticus'' ("victorious over the Antae") **''Alanicus'' ("victorious over the Alans") **''Wandalicus'' ("victorious over the Vandals") **''Erullicus'' ("victorious over the

Heruls The Heruli (or Herules) were an early Germanic people. Possibly originating in Scandinavia, the Heruli are first mentioned by Roman authors as one of several "Scythian" groups raiding Roman provinces in the Balkans and the Aegean Sea, attacking b ...

") **''Gypedicus'' ("victorious over the

Gepids The Gepids, ( la, Gepidae, Gipedae, grc, Γήπαιδες) were an East Germanic tribe who lived in the area of modern Romania, Hungary and Serbia, roughly between the Tisza, Sava and Carpathian Mountains. They were said to share the relig ...

") **''Africus'' ("victorious over the Africans")

Heraclius Heraclius ( grc-gre, Ἡράκλειος, Hērákleios; c. 575 – 11 February 641), was Eastern Roman emperor from 610 to 641. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, led a revol ...

() was the last emperor to use ethnic victory titles before the twelfth century. In 612 he proclaimed himself victor over the Alamanni, Goths, Franks, Germans, Antae, Alans, Vandals, Africans, Heruls and Gepids.

Manuel I Komnenos Manuel I Komnenos ( el, Μανουήλ Κομνηνός, translit=Manouíl Komnenos, translit-std=ISO; 28 November 1118 – 24 September 1180), Latinized Comnenus, also called Porphyrogennetos (; " born in the purple"), was a Byzantine empero ...

() revived the practice in 1166, calling himself ''Isauricus, Cilicius, Armenicus, Dalmaticus, Ugricus, Bosniacus, Chrobaticus, Lazicus, Ibericus, Bulgaricus, Serbicus, Zikhicus, Azaricus, Gothicus''. This was not just classical imitation. There was a legal basis for each of these fourteen claims of victory. A. A. Vasiliev (1936), ''The Goths in the Crimea'' (Cambridge MA: Mediaeval Academy of America), pp. 140–145.

List

See also

References

Further reading