Emperors of Rome

Who was the best Emperor of Rome? How do you measure best? Without getting too hung up on the reasoning, I've thrown out my personal top 10 emperors of Rome below. This will be updated as I learn about the Emperors.

	Name	Succession	Reign From	Reign Until	Reign Length
1	Augustus	Great-nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar; became de facto emperor as a result of the 'first settlement' between himself and the Roman Senate.	16 January 27 BC	19 August 14 AD	40 years 7 months and 2 days
2	Constantine the Great	Son of Constantius I Chlorus, proclaimed emperor by his father's troops; accepted as Caesar (west) by Galerius in 306; promoted to Augustus (west) in 307 by Maximian after death of Severus II; refused relegation to Caesar in 309	25 July 306	22 May 337	30 years 9 months and 27 days
3	Diocletian	Proclaimed emperor by army after death of Numerian, and in opposition to Carinus; adopted Maximian as senior co-emperor in 286	20 November 284	1 May 305	20 years 5 months and 11 days
4	Trajan	Adopted son and heir of Nerva. His reign marked the geographical peak of the empire	27 January 98	8 August 117	19 years 6 months and 11 days
5	Hadrian	Adopted son and heir of Trajan	10 August 117	10 July 138	20 years 10 months and 30 days
6	Aurelian	Proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions after Claudius II's death, in opposition to Quintillus	September 270	September 275	5 years
7	Heraclius (East)	Revolt	5 October 610	11 February 641	30 years 4 months and 5 days
8	Nikephoros II Phokas (East)	Chosen by the army, acted as senior emperor during the regency of young emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII	16 August 963	11 December 969	6 years 3 months and 26 days
9	Marcus Aurelius	Adopted son, son-in-law and heir of Antoninus Pius; Co-emperor with Lucius Verus until 169. Last of the “Five Good Emperors”	8 March 161	17 March 180	19 years and 9 days
10	Vespasian	Seized power with the support of the eastern Legions (in opposition to Marcillinus)	1 July 69	24 June 79	9 years 11 months and 22 days

Appearing here in chronological order are Emperors that didn't make the cut for a place in the Top 10.
However, they still made an impression on me and would be first in line to move up.

	Name	Succession	Reign From	Reign Until	Reign Length
Emperors	Claudius	Uncle of Caligula; brother of Germanicus; nephew of Tiberius; great-nephew and step-grandson of Augustus; proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard.	24 January 41	13 October 54	13 years 8 months and 20 days
	Septimius Severus	Seized power with support of Pannonian legions[a]	14 April 193	4 February 211	17 years 9 months and 19 days
	Julian	Cousin of Constantius II; made Caesar of the west in 355; proclaimed Augustus by his troops in 360; sole emperor after the death of Constantius	February 360	26 June 363	3 years 4 months and 25 days
	Valentinian I	Elected to replace Jovian by the army	26 February 364	17 November 375	11 years 8 months and 20 days

To contrast the top 10, I've included a bottom five Emperors as well.

	Name	Succession	Reign From	Reign Until	Reign Length
5	Elagabalus	Grandnephew of Septimius Severus, first cousin once removed and alleged illegitimate son of Caracalla; proclaimed emperor by Syrian legions	8 June 218	11 March 222	3 years 9 months and 2 days
3	Nero	Great-nephew, stepson, son-in-law and adopted son of Claudius; nephew of Caligula; great-great-nephew of Tiberius; grandson of Germanicus; great-great-grandson of Augustus	13 October 54 AD	9 June 68 AD	13 years 7 months and 26 days
	Commodus	Natural son of Marcus Aurelius; joint emperor from 177	177	31 December 192	15 years
2	Caracalla	Son of Septimius Severus; co-emperor with Severus from 198; with Severus and Geta from 209 until February 211; co-emperor with Geta until December 211	211	8 April 217	6 years
1	Caligula	Great-nephew and adoptive grandson of Tiberius; natural son of Germanicus; great-grandson of Augustus.	16 March 37	24 January 41 AD	3 years 10 months and 8 days