Romulus (mythical)
Numa Pompilius (c. 700)
Tullius Hostilius (673-642)
Ancius Marcius (642-617)
L. Tarquinius Priscus (616-579)
Servius Tullius (578-535)
Tarquinius Superbus (534-510)

Around 500 BC, Rome's monarcy is overthrown and is taken over by the aristocracy. This is the beginning of the Roman republic. The Republic, which lasts for almost 500 years, is full of many leaders: two new leaders (consuls) were elected every year. Howver, here are a few who stand out. Again, all dates are BCE.

Cincinnatus (consul in 460, twice dictator): A legenardy Roman hero who had retired to his farm. However, he was called twice called away to lead Rome's army to victory.
Appius Claudius (consul in 307 and 296, once dictator, censor in 312): Began work on first Roman aqueduct and the Via Appia (road to Capua). Let the sons of freedmen into the Senate and let the landless name their own tribe. Convinced the Senate to go to war against Pyrrhus (Greek king).
P. Scipio Aficanus (consul in 205 and 194): Scipio was the Roman general in the Second Punic War who drove the Cartheginians out of Spain and defeating Hannibal at the Battle of Zuma in 202.
Gaius Marius (born 157, died 87, consul 7 times): Roman general in Mary wars, including against Jugurtha (African king), Bocchus the pirate, Italian tribes, the Germans, and in the Social War. The first to enlist landless soldiers, an turning point in Rome's military history.
L. Cornelius Sulla (born 138, died 78): Roman general who began his career with Marius. To secure the right to fight against Mithridates IV of Pontus, he led his army against Rome. After securing Rome's eastern provinces, he led his army back against Italy and made himself the first dictator in perpetua.
Pompey the Great (Gn. Pompeius Magnus, born 106, died 48): A supporter of Sulla, Pompey rid the Mediterranean of pirates, took credit for defeating the gladiators led by Spartacus, and won the third was against a Mithridates. He was part of the first triumvirate, but later fought against Caesar.
G. Julius Caesar (born 101 BC, died 44 BC): Probably Rome's most famous leader, and hard to sum up in a few lines. He led a long suffessful campaign in Gaul. However, for fear of political prosecution from his enemies, Caesar led his troops against Rome in 49. He pursued Pompey (who was leading the opposing members of the Senate) around the Mediterranean. He returned to Rome and was made dictator for life, but was famously murdered a year later.

Please understand that the above list is only a small look at some of Rome's leaders during the Republican era.

Following the death of Caesar, Caesar's heir Octavian (aka Augustus) formed a second triumvirate with M. Antonius (Mark Anthony) and M. Lepidus to pursue Caesar's killers. However, the three soon turned on each other. After defeating Antonius and Cleopatra in 31, Octavian became the sole ruler of Rome. Through a series of senatorial decrees, Octavian, now called Caesar Augustus, established Rome's Empire. He ruled from 27 BCE to 14 CE.

Once the Empire was established, it is once again easy to name Rome's leader: the emperor. Except for Augustus, all dates are now CE.

Augustus (27 BCE - 14 CE)
Tiberius (14-37)
Caligula (37-41)
Claudius (41-54)
Nero (54-68)
Galba (68-69)
Otho (69)
Vitellius (69)
Vespasian (69-79)
Titus (79-81)
Domitian (81-96)
Nerva (96-98)
Trajan (98-117)
Hadrian (117-138)
Antonius Pius (138-161)
M. Aurelius (161-180)
L. Verus (161-169)
Commodus (180-192)
Pertinax (193)
Didius Iulianus (193)
Septimius Servus (193-211)
Carcalla (211-217)
Geta (211-212)
Macrinus (217-218)
Elagabalus (218-222)
Severus Alexander (222-235)
Maximinus (235-238)
Gordian I (238)
Gordian II (238)
Balbinus (238)
Pupienus (238)
Gordian III (238-244)
Philip (244-249)
Decius (249-251)
Trebonianus (251-253)
Aemilianus (253)
Valerianus (253-260)
Gallienus (253-268)
Claudius Gothicus (268-270)
Aurelian (270-275)
Tacitus (275-276)
Florianus (276)
Probus (276-282)
Carus (282-283)
Carinus (283-285)
Numerianus (283-284)
Diocletian (284-305)
Maximian (286-305)
Constantius (292-306)
Galerius (293-311)
Licinius (311-323)
Constantine (306-337)

After Constantine, civil war meant the Roman empire was mostly split into east and west. The eastern empire manages to become relatively stable and became more Greek than Roman. The westrern empire dissolved more quickly under the strain of German invanions and internal problems. The last Roman emperor was defeated in 476.

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