Who were the shortest reigning emperors of Rome?

I thought the question was about the height of the emperors.

Answer quoted is incorrect. Here's a look at the top 10 shortest reigning emperors in the Roman Empire. Didius Julianus - 2 months, 6 days. Pertinax - 2 months, 27 days. ... Aemilianus - 2-3 months. ... Otho - 3 months. ... Florianus - 3 months. ... Pupienus & Balbinus - 3 months, 7 days. ... Hostilian - 5 months. ... Herennius Etruscus - 6 months. ...

Richard D. Boyle, I did a bit more research. The Gordian Knot is a legend of Phrygian Gordium associated with Alexander the Great. As the story goes, in 333 B.C. the Macedonian conqueror marched his army into the Phrygian capital of Gordium in modern day Turkey. Upon arriving in the city, he encountered an ancient wagon, its yoke tied with what one Roman historian later described as “several knots all so tightly entangled that it was impossible to see how they were fastened.” Phrygian tradition held that the wagon had once belonged to Gordius, the father of the celebrated King Midas. An oracle had declared that any man who could unravel its elaborate knots was destined to become ruler of all of Asia. According to the ancient chronicler Arrian, the impetuous Alexander was instantly “seized with an ardent desire” to untie the Gordian knot. After wrestling with it for a time and finding no success, he stepped back from the mass of gnarled ropes and proclaimed, “It makes no difference how they are loosed.” He then drew his sword and sliced the knot in half with a single stroke. Gordian I and Gordian II were emperors approximately a century later. The Gordian dynasty, sometimes known as the Gordianic dynasty, was short-lived, ruling the Roman Empire from 238–244 AD. The dynasty achieved the throne in 238 AD, after Gordian I and his son Gordian II rose up against Emperor Maximinus Thrax and were proclaimed co-emperors by the Roman Senate. Gordian II was killed by the governor of Numidia, Capillianus and Gordian I killed himself shortly after, either 21 or 36 days after he was declared emperor. On 22 April 238, Pupienus and Balbinus, who were not of the Gordian dynasty, were declared co-emperors but the Senate was forced to make Gordian III a third co-emperor on 27 May 238, due to the demands of the Roman people. Maximinus attempted to invade Italy but he was killed by his own soldiers when his army became frustrated. After this, the Praetorian Guard killed Pupienus and Balbinus, leaving Gordian III as the sole emperor. Gordian III ruled until AD 244 when he was either killed after his betrayal by Philip the Arab, killed by Philip the Arab or killed at the Battle of Misiche. With his death, the dynasty was ended and Philip the Arab became emperor. As far as I can tell, the Gordian knot has absolutely nothing to do with the Gordian dynasty.

Very poor question, it does not specify what the question is asking. Very confusing,

Richard D. Boyle, Definitely NOT. The Gordian Knot is a legend of Phrygian Gordium associated with Alexander the Great, not with Roman emperors.

I’m with ‘Suzy’ on this one it’s like asking who wa the “Shortest Reigning Emperor of France” ... with the answer being “ Napoleon “ .

Gordian...knot?

‘shortest reigning’

Shortest in length or height

Dennis Blunt, I agree after using a hint and a 50/50 guess. Got it. So did some research and pertinax is given as shortest reign

I have some reservations about this. How do we define who was a legitimate emperor?

Need fact checking on the names prior to publication. Pertinax and Didius Julianus are listed as the shortest from the History Channel (a little more reliable then Wiki).

It was just a guess