Pontifex Maximus: Timeline

712 BC   Numa Pompilius Numa Pompilius

According to legend [i], Numa Pompilius was the second of the Kings of Rome [i], succeeding Romulus [i]. ... 

 creates the office of Pontifex Maximus.

508 BC   Office of ''pontifex maximus'' created in Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

.

161   Roman emperor Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius

Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus Pius was Roman emperor [i] from 138 [i] ... 

 dies and is succeeded by Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius

Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was Roman Emperor [i] from 161 [i] to his death. ... 

 who shares imperial power with Lucius Verus Lucius Verus

Lucius Ceionius Commodus Verus Armeniacus, known simply as Lucius Verus, was Roman co-emperor [i] ... 

, although Marcus retains the title Pontifex Maximus.

379   Gratian renounces the title ''pontifex maximus.

381   A deputation from the Roman Senate Roman Senate

The Roman Senate was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic [i], which started in 510 BC [i] ... 

 delivers to Gratianus the robe of the Pontifex Maximus, which had been worn by every Roman Emperor since Augustus. He refuses to accept this insignia, insulting the pagan Paganism

Paganism is a blanket term which has come to connote a broad set of western spiritual [i] ... 

 aristocrats of Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

.

382   Pope Siricius Pope Siricius

[i] [[399]... 

 takes the title Pontifex Maximus, after it was relinquished by Roman Emperor Roman Emperor

"Roman Emperor" is the term historians use to refer to rulers of the Roman Empire [i], after the epoch c ... 

 Gratian Gratian

Flavius Gratianus Augustus, known as Gratian, was a Western Roman Emperor [i] from 375 [i] to 383 [i] ... 

.