list of Byzantine emperors
{{Short description|none}}
{{For|Roman emperors before Constantine I|List of Roman emperors}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox monarchy
| border = imperial
| royal_title = Emperor and Autocrat
| realm = the Romans
| native_name =
| image = Konstantinos XI Palaiologos fresco (less edited).jpg
| caption = Last to reign
Constantine XI
6 January 1449 – 29 May 1453
| first_monarch = Constantine I
| last_monarch = Constantine XI
| residence = Great Palace, Blachernae Palace
| appointer = Unspecified, de facto hereditary{{sfn|Nicol|1993|p=72}}{{efn|Historian Donald Nicol writes, "Hereditary succession to the throne was a custom or a convenience in Byzantium, not an inviolable... principle. Emperors, particularly in the later period, would take pains to nominate their sons as co-emperors, for the rule of a dynasty made for stability and continuity. But in theory, the road to the throne was a carriere ouverte aux talents [career open to talents]..."{{sfn|Nicol|1993|p=72}} }}
| began = 11 May 330
| ended = 29 May 1453
| pretender = Andreas Palaiologos
}}
The foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, which fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as legitimate rulers and exercised sovereign authority are included, to the exclusion of junior co-emperors who never attained the status of sole or senior ruler, as well as of the various usurpers or rebels who claimed the imperial title.
The following list starts with Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, who rebuilt the city of Byzantium as an imperial capital, Constantinople, and who was regarded by the later emperors as the model ruler. Modern historians distinguish this later phase of the Roman Empire as Byzantine due to the imperial seat moving from Rome to Byzantium, the Empire's integration of Christianity, and the predominance of Greek instead of Latin.
The Byzantine Empire was the direct legal continuation of the eastern half of the Roman Empire following the division of the Roman Empire in 395. Emperors listed below up to Theodosius I in 395 were sole or joint rulers of the entire Roman Empire. The Western Roman Empire continued until 476. Byzantine emperors considered themselves to be Roman emperors in direct succession from Augustus;{{sfn|Hooker|2007}} the term "Byzantine" became convention in Western historiography in the 19th century. The use of the title "Roman Emperor" by those ruling from Constantinople was not contested until after the papal coronation of the Frankish Charlemagne as Holy Roman emperor (25 December 800).
The title of all Emperors preceding Heraclius was officially "Augustus", although other titles such as Dominus were also used. Their names were preceded by Imperator Caesar and followed by Augustus. Following Heraclius, the title commonly became the Greek Basileus (Gr. Βασιλεύς), which had formerly meant sovereign, though Augustus continued to be used in a reduced capacity. Following the establishment of the rival Holy Roman Empire in Western Europe, the title "Autokrator" (Gr. Αὐτοκράτωρ) was increasingly used. In later centuries, the Emperor could be referred to by Western Christians as the "Emperor of the Greeks". Towards the end of the Empire, the standard imperial formula of the Byzantine ruler was "[Emperor's name] in Christ, Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans" (cf. Ῥωμαῖοι and Rûm).{{sfn|Morrisson|2013|p=72}}
Dynasties were a common tradition and structure for rulers and government systems in the Medieval period. The principle or formal requirement for hereditary succession was not a part of the Empire's governance;{{sfn|Karayannopoulous|2000|p=183}} hereditary succession was a custom and tradition, carried on as habit and benefited from some sense of legitimacy, but not as a "rule" or inviolable requirement for office at the time.{{sfn|Nicol|1993|p=72}}
Constantinian dynasty (306–363)
{{Main|Constantinian dynasty}}
{{Legend|#EBEBEB|({{Hash-tag}}) – Ambiguous legitimacy{{Efn|Unless otherwise noted to be some other ambiguity, the emperors marked to be of ambiguous legitimacy are those who fulfill one or more of the inclusion criteria above, but who are not universally regarded by scholars to count as legitimate. In most cases, such figures are those who held power only briefly, and/or who in times of more than one emperor held one of the capitals but never achieved the full recognition of the other emperor(s).{{Sfn|Vagi|1999|pp=415, 463, 529}}{{Sfn|Omissi|2018|p=24}}{{Sfn|Seibt|2018|p=213}}{{Sfn|Tilemachos|2015|p=243}}|name=ambig}}}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Constantinian dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Constantine Chiaramonti Inv1749 (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine I | 25 July 306 – 22 May 337 | Born at Naissus {{c.}} 272 as the son of the Augustus Constantius and Helena. Proclaimed Augustus of the western empire upon the death of his father on 25 July 306, he became sole ruler of the western empire after the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312. In 324, he defeated the eastern Augustus Licinius and re-united the empire under his rule, reigning as sole emperor until his death. Constantine completed the administrative and military reforms begun under Diocletian, who had begun ushering in the Dominate period. Actively interested in Christianity, he played a crucial role in its development and the Christianization of the Roman world, through his convocation of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea. He is said to have received baptism on his deathbed. He also reformed coinage through the introduction of the gold solidus, and initiated a large-scale building program, crowned by the re-foundation the city of Byzantium as "New Rome", popularly known as Constantinople. He was regarded as the model of all subsequent Byzantine emperors.{{ODB|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine I the Great|pages=498–500}} His reign was marked by greater imperial control over the Eastern Church and the construction of new churches, especially at the holy places sacred to Christianity.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=25–26}} To this day, Constantine is venerated as a saint by the eastern Orthodox church.{{sfn|Pohlsander|1996|pp=92–93}} |
File:Bust of Constantius II (Mary Harrsch) (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantius II | 9 September 337 – 3 November 361 | Born on 7 August 317, as the second surviving son of Constantine I, he inherited the eastern third of Roman Empire upon his father's death, sole Roman Emperor from 353, after the overthrow of the western usurper Magnentius; after two years on the run, the latter committed suicide.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=28}} Constantius' reign saw military activity on all frontiers, and dissension between Arianism, favoured by the emperor, and the supporters of the Nicene Creed. In his reign, Constantinople was accorded equal status to Rome, and the original Hagia Sophia was built. Constantius appointed Constantius Gallus and Julian as Caesares, and died on his way to confront Julian, who had risen up against him.{{ODB|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|title=Constantius II|page=524}} |
File:Juliancng8851obverse.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Julian "the Apostate" | 3 November 361 – 26 June 363 | Born in May 332 at Constantinople (the first emperor born there),{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=30}} Julian was the grandson of Constantius Chlorus and cousin of Constantius II. Proclaimed by his army in Gaul, he became the legitimate Emperor upon the death of Constantius. Julian has been described as the last pagan emperor of the Roman Empire and was generally opposed to Christianity.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=30–31}} He was killed on campaign against Sassanid Persia, despite his initial success in surrounding the ancient city of Ctesiphon. For his adherence to the old Roman gods and rejection of the Christian faith, he became known as Julian the Apostate.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=33}} |
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File:Solidus of Jovian2 (obverse).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Jovian | 27 June 363 – 17 February 364 | Born in {{Circa|332}}, Jovian hailed from a military family and was captain of the guards (protector domesticus) under both Constantius II and Julian.{{sfn|Elton|2018|p=119}} He was elected by the army upon Julian's death. After assuming power, Jovian withdrew Roman forces from Persia and made an unpopular peace with them, which lasted until the early sixth-century.{{sfn|Elton|2018|p=120}} Following an autumn spent in Antioch, he died of natural causes in central Anatolia and was buried in Constantinople.{{sfn|Elton|2018|p=120}} |
Valentinianic dynasty (364–392)
{{Main|Valentinianic dynasty}}
{{Legend|#EBEBEB|({{Hash-tag}}) – Ambiguous legitimacy{{Efn|name=ambig}}}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Valentinianic dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name{{Efn|Distinction between nomen, praenomen and cognomen, the core elements of Roman naming conventions, began to fade away from the 3rd century onwards. Given that "new Romans" —that is, barbarians turned citizens— adopted the names of their masters, many citizens adopted the names Julius, Flavius (notable the Constantinians) and Marcus Aurelius (notable the 3rd century emperors), thus making them obsolete as surnames. As a result, most citizens of the Empire, even emperors, reverted back to single-names by the 5th century.{{Sfn|Salway|1994}}}} ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Restored head of Valentinian I (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Valentinian I "the Great" | 25/26 February 364 – 17 November 375 | Born in 321. An officer under Julian and Jovian, he was elected by the army upon Jovian's death. He soon appointed his younger brother Valens as Emperor of the East, while he himself ruled in the West. Died of cerebral haemorrhage in 375. |
File:INC-1867-a Солид. Валент II. Ок. 375—378 гг. (аверс).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Valens | 28 March 364 – 9 August 378 | Born in 328, Valens was not especially fit for the imperial office if Ammianus can be believed, but he was appointed Emperor of the East in 364 by his elder brother Valentinian I, who wanted a malleable colleague in the other half of the Empire.{{sfn|Lee|2013|pp=21–22}}{{efn|While some historians attribute the division of the Roman Empire into East and West after Theodosius the Great split the throne between his sons, the year 364 probably more accurately marks the point at which the Empire was actually divided.{{sfn|Lee|2013|p=23}} }} Following Valentinians's death in 375, his son Gratian succeeded him. Meanwhile, Valens faced the challenge of the invading Huns, whose ferocity pushed the Gothic tribes to seek refuge within the Empire; Valens allowed them to settle on the condition that they become allies to the Empire.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|pp=42–43}} When the Goths were mistreated at Roman hands and rebelled, Valens proceeded to face them without awaiting assistance from Gratian's armies and was killed at the Battle of Adrianople.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|pp=43–45}} |
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style="background:#EBEBEB" | File:INC-1866-a Солид. Прокопий. Ок. 365—366 гг. (аверс).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#EBEBEB" | Procopius ({{Hash-tag}}) | style="background:#EBEBEB" | 28 September 365 – 27 May 366 | style="background:#EBEBEB" | Maternal cousin of Julian; revolted against Valens and captured Constantinople, where the people proclaimed him emperor. Deposed, captured and executed by Valens{{Sfnm|1a1=PLRE|1loc=Vol. I, pp. 742–743|2a1=Kienast|2a2=Eck|2a3=Heil|2p=318}} |
Theodosian dynasty (379–457)
{{Main|Theodosian dynasty}}
{{Legend|#EBEBEB|({{Hash-tag}}) – Ambiguous legitimacy{{Efn|name=ambig}}}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Theodosian dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Bust of Theodosius I (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Theodosius I | 19 January 379 – 17 January 395 | Born on 11 January 347 in Spain, Theodosius was an aristocrat and military leader, and later brother-in-law of Gratian, who appointed him as emperor of the East in 379 and gave him charge of Macedonia and Dacia.{{sfn|Mitchell|2015|p=90}} During his reign, Theodosius made Nicene Christianity the official religion of the state.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=42}} He reunited the whole Empire after defeating Eugenius at the Battle of the Frigidus, in September 394.{{sfn|Mitchell|2015|p=94}} Theodosius died of a fever at Milan in 395 and his two sons, Honorius and Arcadius, became the emperors of the West and East, splitting power between them.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=45}} |
File:Arcadius Istanbul Museum (cropped).JPG
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Arcadius | 17 January 395 – 1 May 408 | Born in 377/378, Arcadius was the eldest son of Theodosius I and upon the latter's death in 395, the Roman Empire was permanently divided between the Eastern Roman Empire—later referred to as the Byzantine Empire—and the Western Roman Empire with Arcadius becoming Byzantine emperor in the East while his younger brother Honorius became emperor in the West; both were manipulated by court officials and did not possess their father's leadership abilities.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=45–46}} After contracting an illness, Arcadius died in 408.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=47–48}} |
File:Theodosius II Louvre Ma1036.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Theodosius II | 1 May 408 – 28 July 450 | Born on 10 April 401, he was the only son of Emperor Arcadius and Empress Aelia Eudoxia. Theodosius II succeeded the throne in 408 upon the death of his father. Because he was a minor, the praetorian prefect Anthemius was essentially regent from 408 to 414, but Theodosius II's elder sister Aelia Pulcheria played a critical role as regent and co-ruler during his early years. Pulcheria exerted considerable influence, shaping court policies and fostering Christian orthodoxy.{{sfn|Kulikowski|2019|pp=156–158}} Theodosius II was known for his mild and scholarly temperament. He had a keen interest in theology, astronomy, and calligraphy, and was reportedly well-educated, thanks to the influence of his sister Pulcheria. His long reign was marked by significant legal, administrative, and theological developments. One of the most enduring legacies of Theodosius II's reign was the construction of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=50}} These massive fortifications protected the city for over a millennium and are regarded as one of the greatest defensive structures of antiquity.{{sfn|Mitchell|2015|pp=315–316}} Theodosius II strongly supported Nicene Christianity and convened the Council of Ephesus in 431 CE, which declared the Virgin Mary as Theotokos ("God-bearer") and condemned the theology of Nestorianism.{{sfn|Kulikowski|2019|pp=177–179}} He also commissioned the Theodosian Code, a comprehensive compilation of Roman laws published in 438; this codex organized and systematized the legal framework of the empire and influenced later European legal traditions.{{sfn|Kulikowski|2019|pp=179–181}} During his reign, he faced constant threats from the Huns of Attila and negotiated treaties with them, paying substantial tributes to prevent invasions.{{sfn|Kulikowski|2019|pp=181–182, 184–186}} He married Aelia Eudocia Augusta, a learned woman of Greek descent, who, like the emperor's sister Pulcheria, became an influential figure in the court. Their marriage produced one daughter, Licinia Eudoxia, who later married Valentinian III, the Western Roman Emperor.{{sfn|Mitchell|2015|pp=104, 107–108}} Theodosius II died in 450 CE from injuries sustained after falling off his horse while hunting.{{sfn|Stephenson|2022|p=162}} His death marked the end of a relatively peaceful and prosperous reign, though it left unresolved issues such as rising threats from external enemies and religious divisions. |
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File:Solidus of Marcian.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Marcian | 25 August 450 – 27 January 457 | Born in 396. A soldier and politician, he became emperor after being wed by the Augusta Pulcheria, sister of Theodosius II, following the latter's death. Died of gangrene. |
Leonid dynasty (457–518)
{{Main|Leonid dynasty|Byzantine Empire under the Leonid dynasty}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Leonid dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Leo I Louvre Ma1012 n2 (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Leo I "the Thracian" | 7 February 457 – 18 January 474 | Born in Dacia {{c.}} 400, and of Bessian origin, Leo became a low-ranking officer and served as an attendant of the Gothic {{lang|la|magister militum}}, Aspar, who chose him as emperor on Marcian's death. He was the first emperor to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the first one to legislate in Greek.{{sfn|Wickham|2009|p=90}} His reign was marked by the pacification of the Danube and peace with Persia, which allowed him to intervene in the affairs of the West, supporting candidates for the throne and dispatching an expedition to recover Carthage from the Vandals in 468. Initially a puppet of Aspar, Leo began promoting the Isaurians as a counterweight to Aspar's Goths, marrying his daughter Ariadne to the Isaurian leader Tarasicodissa (Zeno). With their support, in 471 Aspar was murdered and Gothic power over the army was broken.{{ODB|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Leo I|pages=1206–1207}} |
File:Solidus of Leo II.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Leo II "the Younger" | 18 January – November 474 | Born 468, he was the grandson of Leo I by Leo's daughter Ariadne and her Isaurian husband, Zeno. He was raised to Augustus on 17 November 473. Leo ascended the throne after the death of his grandfather on 18 January 474. He crowned his father as co-emperor and effective regent on 29 January, dying shortly after. |
File:Semissis of Zeno.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Zeno | 29 January 474 – 9 January 475 | Born {{c.}} 425 in Isauria, originally named Tarasicodissa. As the leader of Leo I's Isaurian soldiers, he rose to comes domesticorum, married the emperor's daughter Ariadne and took the name Zeno, and played a crucial role in the elimination of Aspar and his Goths. He was named co-emperor by his son on 29 January 474 and became sole ruler upon the latter's death, but had to flee to his native country before Basiliscus in 475, regaining control of the capital in 476. Zeno concluded peace with the Vandals, saw off challenges against him by Illus and Verina, and secured peace in the Balkans by enticing the Ostrogoths under Theodoric the Great to migrate to Italy where the Gothic king ruled.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=62}} Convincing Theodoric to move his Goths westward into Italy allowed Zeno to reduce what had been a drain to imperial resources, since these Germanic warriors had been exacting payments from the Empire throughout the 470s and 480s and menacing Eastern territories.{{sfn|Lee|2013|p=165}} As a consequence, Zeno's reign also saw the end of the western line of emperors. His pro-Miaphysite stance made him unpopular and his promulgation of the Henotikon resulted in the Acacian Schism with the papacy.{{ODB|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|title=Zeno|page=2223}} |
File:Solidus of Basiliscus.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Basiliscus | 9 January 475 – August 476 with Marcus (475–476)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor|Although they constitutionally held the same supreme power as their senior counterpart, it is customary among scholars of the later empire to only regard those who actually ruled as emperors, omitting junior co-emperors who only exercised power nominally and never governed in their own name.{{Sfn|Foss|2005|p=101}}{{Sfn|ODB|p=360}}}} | General and brother-in-law of Leo I, seized power from Zeno and crowned himself emperor on 12 January. Zeno was restored soon after. Died in 476/477 |
File:Semissis of Zeno.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Zeno | August 476 – 9 April 491 | Retook the throne with the help of general Illus. Saw the end of the Western Roman Empire. Died of dysentery or epilepsy{{Sfnm|1a1=PLRE|2a1=ODB|2p=2223|1loc=Vol. II, pp. 1200–1202|3a1=Grant|3pp=327–329|4a1=Croke|4y=2004|4p=572}} |
File:Flavius Anastasius Probus 01c (Anastasius I) (cropped).JPG
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Anastasius I "Dicorus" | 11 April 491 – 9 July 518 | Born {{c.}} 430 at Dyrrhachium, Anastasius was a palace official (silentiarius) when he was chosen as the husband and ultimately Emperor by Empress-dowager Ariadne. He was nicknamed "Dikoros" (Latin: Dicorus), because of his heterochromia. Apparently, there was some insistence from the citizenry of Constantinople that Zeno's successor should be an "Orthodox" Christian, which caused Ariadne to turn to Anastasius in the first place.{{sfn|Ostrogorski|1969|p=59}} Anastasius reformed the tax system and the Byzantine coinage and proved a frugal ruler, so that by the end of his reign he left a substantial surplus. His Miaphysitism led to widespread opposition, most notably the Revolt of Vitalian and the Acacian Schism.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=66–67}} His reign was also marked by the first Bulgar raids into the Balkans and by a war with Persia over the foundation of Dara. He died childless.{{ODB|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|title=Anastasios I}} Shortly before his death, he tried to devise a means for one of his three nephews to succeed him by placing a note that read Regnum under their beds, but when none of them chose that bed, he decided instead to name the first person he saw the following morning. Keeping true to his word, when Justin—commander of the imperial guards—entered his presence first that morning, he was pronounced as Anastasius's successor.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=67}} |
Justinian dynasty (518–602)
{{Main|Byzantine Empire under the Justinian dynasty}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Justinian dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Solidus of Justin I (obverse).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Justin I "the Thracian" | 9/10 July 518 – 1 August 527 | Born {{Circa|450}} at Bederiana (Justiniana Prima), Dardania. Officer and commander of the Excubitors bodyguard under Anastasius I, he was elected by army and people upon the death of Anastasius I. |
File:Mosaic of Justinianus I (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Justinian I "the Great" | 1 April 527 – 14 November 565 | Born in 482/483 at Tauresium (Taor) Macedonia, Justinian was the nephew of Justin I and was made consul in 521; he was elevated to co-emperor on 1 April 527, when Justin fell ill.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=73}} He succeeded Justin I's as emperor upon the former's death. Through his mighty commanding general Belisarius, Justinian was able to regain North Africa, as well as much of Italy and Spain; these were territories that had been seized and occupied previously by various Germanic tribes (Vandals and Goths) at the former Western Roman Empire's expense. He carried out a massive building program throughout the Empire, including construction of the famous Hagia Sophia at Constantinople.{{sfn|Kaldellis|2024|pp=276–277}} Justinian was also responsible for the {{Lang|la|corpus juris civilis}}, or the "body of civil law", which is the foundation of law for many modern European nations.{{sfn|Sarris|2023|pp=122–124}} |
File:Solidus of Justin II (obverse).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Justin II | 14 November 565 – 5 October 578 | Born {{Circa|520}}. Nephew of Justinian I, he seized the throne on the death of Justinian I with support of army and Senate. Became insane, hence in 573–574 under the regency of his wife Sophia, and in 574–578 under the regency of Tiberius Constantine. |
File:Tiberios II (obverse).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Tiberius II Constantine | 26 September 578 – 14 August 582 | Born {{Circa|535}}, commander of the Excubitors, friend and adoptive son of Justin. Was named Caesar and regent in 574. Succeeded on Justin II's death. |
File:Solidus of Maurice (transitional issue).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Maurice | 13 August 582 – 27 November 602 with Theodosius (590–602)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born in 539 at Arabissus, Cappadocia. Maurice became an official and later a general of the Byzantine army in the East under Tiberius II, achieving notable successes against the Sassanian Empire during the Byzantine–Sassanian War of 572–591.{{sfn|Stephenson|2022|pp=103, 222–223}} He married the daughter of Tiberius II and was proclaimed emperor on 13 August 582 after Tiberius II's death.{{sfn|Stephenson|2022|pp=223–224}} Maurice fought wars against the Sassanian kingdom on the eastern front of his empire, the Avars and Slavs for control over the Balkans, and reinforced Byzantine holdings in Ravenna and Carthage.{{sfn|Stephenson|2022|pp=224–232}} He is best remembered for his contributions to Byzantine military theory, notably his treatise Strategikon, a manual on warfare.{{sfn|Stephenson|2022|p=225}} Maurice named his son Theodosius as co-emperor in 590. Deposed by a centurion named Phocas, he was captured and executed on 27 November 602 along with his family at Chalcedon.{{sfn|Stephenson|2022|pp=231, 236–238}} |
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! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Phocas | 23 November 602 – 5 October 610 | Subaltern in the Balkan army, he led a rebellion that deposed Maurice. Increasingly unpopular and tyrannical, he was deposed and executed by Heraclius. |
Heraclian dynasty (610–695)
{{Main|Byzantine Empire under the Heraclian dynasty}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Heraclian dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Heraclius as job (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Heraclius{{Small| | 5 October 610 – 11 February 641 | Born {{Circa|575}} as the eldest son of the Exarch of Africa, Heraclius the Elder. Began a revolt against Phocas in 609 and deposed him in October 610. Brought the Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602–628 to successful conclusion but was unable to stop the Muslim conquest of Syria. Heraclius' officials worked to replace Latin with Greek as the official language of administration in the East.{{sfn|Norwich|1989|p=311}} By this time Latin had long fallen out of everyday use in the Eastern part of the Empire and Heraclius's adopting of the title basileus (king or emperor) "marked a shift from Rome towards a Greek and Eastern Christian culture."{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=98}} |
File:Solidus Heraclius Constantine Obverse.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Heraclius Constantine | 11 February – 25 May 641 | Born on 3 May 612 as the eldest son of Heraclius by his first wife Fabia Eudokia. Named co-emperor on 22 January 613, he succeeded to throne with his younger brother Heraklonas following the death of Heraclius. Died of tuberculosis, allegedly poisoned by Empress-dowager Martina. |
File:Heraclius solidus sb 764 (obverse).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Heraclonas | 25 May – 5 November (?) 641 with Tiberius-David, son of Heraclius (641)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born in 626 to Heraclius' second wife Martina, named co-emperor on 4 July 638. Succeeded to throne with Constantine III following the death of Heraclius. Sole emperor after the death of Constantine III, under the regency of Martina, but was forced to name Constans II co-emperor by the army, and was deposed by the Senate in September 641 (or early 642). |
File:Solidus Constans II (transparent).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constans II "the Bearded" | September 641 – 15 July 668 | Born on 7 November 630, Constans II was the son of Constantine III. Raised to co-emperor in summer 641 after his father's death due to army pressure, he became sole emperor after the forced abdication of his uncle Heracleonas and his exile.{{sfn|Louth|2008|p=230}} Baptized Heraclius, he reigned as Constantin but was given the nickname "Constans". He faced a number of Arab incursions, almost losing his life while commanding the Byzantine fleet. Constans had some military success against the Slavs in the Balkans.{{sfn|Louth|2008|pp=230–231}} Around 662, he moved his seat and court to Syracuse, intending to liberate Italy from the Lombards. His presence was unwelcome in Italy and there was "fierce opposition" to Constans II's abandonment of Constantinople. He was assassinated by a chamberlain in 668.{{sfn|Louth|2008|p=232}} |
File:Constantine IV mosaic (cropped) (2).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine IV "the Younger" | September 668 – 10 July (?) 685 with Heraclius and Tiberius, sons of Constans II (659–681)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born in 652, co-emperor since 13 April 654, he succeeded following the murder of his father Constans II. Erroneously called "Constantine the Bearded" by historians through confusion with his father. He called the Third Council of Constantinople which condemned the heresy of Monothelitism, repelled the First Arab Siege of Constantinople, and died of dysentery. |
File:Justinian II mosaic (cropped).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Justinian II "Rhinotmetus" | July 685 – 695 | Born in 669, son of Constantine IV, he was named co-emperor in 681 and became sole emperor upon Constantine IV's death. Deposed by military revolt in 695, mutilated (hence his surname) and exiled to Cherson, whence he recovered his throne in 705. |
Twenty Years' Anarchy (695–717)
{{Main|Twenty Years' Anarchy}}
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File:Solidus of Leontius.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Leontius | 695 – 698 | General from Isauria, he deposed Justinian II and was overthrown in another revolt in 698. He was executed in February 706. |
File:Solidus of Tiberius III Apsimar.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Tiberius III{{Small| | 698 – 21 August (?) 705 | Admiral of Germanic origin, originally named Apsimar. He rebelled against Leontius after a failed expedition. Reigned under the name of Tiberius until deposed by Justinian II in 705. Executed in February 706. |
File:Justinian II mosaic (cropped).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Justinian II "Rhinotmetus" | 21 August (?) 705 – 4 November 711 with Tiberius, son of Justinian II (706–711)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Returned on the throne with Bulgar support. Named son Tiberius as co-emperor in 706. Deposed and killed by military revolt. |
File:Solidus of Philippicus.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Philippicus | 4 November 711 – 3 June 713 | A general of Armenian origin, he deposed Justinian II and was in turn overthrown by a revolt of the Opsician troops. |
File:Tremissis of Anastasius II.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Anastasius II | 4 June 713 – fall 715 | Originally named Artemios. A bureaucrat and secretary under Philippicus, he was raised to the purple by the soldiers who overthrew Philippicus. Deposed by another military revolt, he led an abortive attempt to regain the throne in 718 and was killed. |
File:Coin of Theodosius III.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Theodosius III{{Small| | Fall 715 – 25 March 717 | A fiscal official, he was proclaimed emperor by the rebellious Opsician troops. Entered Constantinople in November 715. Abdicated following the revolt of Leo the Isaurian and became a monk. |
Isaurian (Syrian) dynasty (717–802)
{{Main|Byzantine Empire under the Isaurian dynasty}}
{{Legend|#EBEBEB|({{Hash-tag}}) – Ambiguous legitimacy{{Efn|name=ambig}}}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Isaurian dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Solidus of Leo III sb1504.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Leo III "the Isaurian" | 25 March 717 – 18 June 741 | Born {{Circa|685}} in Germanikeia, Commagene, he became a general. Rose in rebellion and secured the throne in spring 717. Repelled the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople and initiated the Byzantine Iconoclasm. |
File:Solidus of Constantine V (transparent background).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine V "Copronymus" | 18 June 741 – 14 September 775 | Born in July 718, the only son of Leo III. Co-emperor since 720, he succeeded upon his father's death. After overcoming the usurpation of Artabasdos, he continued his father's iconoclastic policies and won several victories against the Arabs and the Bulgars. He is given the surname "the Dung-named" by hostile later chroniclers. |
style="background:#EBEBEB" | File:Solidus of Artabasdos.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#EBEBEB" | Artabasdos ({{Hash-tag}}) | style="background:#EBEBEB" | June 741 – 2 November 743 with Nikephoros, son of Artabasdos (741–743)}} | General and son-in-law of Leo III, Count of the Opsician Theme. Led a revolt that secured Constantinople, but was defeated and deposed by Constantine V, who blinded and tonsured him. |
File:Solidus of Leo IV and Constantine VI.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Leo IV "the Khazar" | 14 September 775 – 8 September 780 | Born on 25 January 750 as the eldest son of Constantine V. Co-emperor since 751, he succeeded upon his father's death. |
File:Solidus of Constantine VI.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine VI "the Blind" | 8 September 780 – 19 August 797 | Born in 771, the only child of Leo IV. Co-emperor since 14 April 776, sole emperor upon Leo's death in 780, until 790 under the regency of his mother, Irene of Athens. He was overthrown on Irene's orders, blinded and imprisoned, probably dying of his wounds shortly after. |
File:Solidus of Irene.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Irene | 19 August 797 – 31 October 802 | Born {{Circa|752}} in Athens, she married Leo IV on 3 November 768 and was crowned empress on 17 December. Regent for her son Constantine VI in 780–790, she dethroned and blinded him in 797 and became empress-regnant. In 787 she called the Second Council of Nicaea which condemned the practice of iconoclasm and restored the veneration of icons to Christian practice. Deposed in a palace coup in 802, she was exiled and died on 9 August 803. |
Nikephorian dynasty (802–813)
{{Main|Byzantine Empire under the Nikephorian dynasty}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Nikephorian dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Nikephoros I Logothetes.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Nikephoros I | 31 October 802 – 26 July 811 | Logothetes tou genikou (general finance minister) under Irene, led initially successful campaigns against the Bulgars but was killed at the Battle of Pliska. |
File:INC-1870-r Солид. Никифор I и его сын Ставракий. Ок. 803—811 гг. (реверс).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Staurakios | 28 July – 2 October 811 | Only son of Nikephoros I, crowned co-emperor in December 803. Succeeded on his father's death; however, he had been heavily wounded at Pliska and left paralyzed. He was forced to abdicate, and retired to a monastery where he died soon after. |
File:Byzantine co-emperor.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Michael I Rangabe | 2 October 811 – 11 July 813 with Theophylact and Staurakios, sons of Michael I (811–813)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Son-in-law of Nikephoros I, he succeeded Staurakios on his abdication. Resigned after the revolt under Leo the Armenian and retired to a monastery, where he died on 11 January 844. Reigned with eldest son Theophylact as co-emperor. |
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File:Leo V in Madrid Skylitzes.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Leo V "the Armenian" | 11 July 813 – 25 December 820 with Constantine Symbatios (813–820)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | General of Armenian origin, born {{Circa|755}}. He rebelled against Michael I and became emperor. Appointed his son Symbatios co-emperor under the name of Constantine in 813. Revived Byzantine Iconoclasm. Murdered by a conspiracy led by Michael the Amorian. |
Amorian dynasty (820–867)
{{Main|Byzantine Empire under the Amorian dynasty}}
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File:Michael II in the Madrid Skylitzes (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Michael II "the Amorian" | 25 December 820 – 2 October 829 | Born in 770 at Amorium, he became an army officer. A friend of Leo V, he was raised to high office but led the conspiracy that murdered him. He was sentenced to execution by Leo, but was proclaimed emperor by Leo's assassins and crowned by Patriarch Theodotus I on the same day. He survived the rebellion of Thomas the Slav, lost Crete to the Arabs, faced the beginning of the Muslim conquest of Sicily, and reinforced iconoclasm. |
File:Theophilos (cropped2).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Theophilos | 2 October 829 – 20 January 842 with Constantine ({{Circa}} 834–835)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born in 813 as the only son of Michael II. Crowned co-emperor on 12 May 821, he succeeded on his father's death. |
File:Michael iii.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Michael III "the Drunkard" | 20 January 842 – 24 September 867 with Thekla (842–856)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | His precise date of birth is uncertain, but the balance of available evidence supports a birthdate in January 840. The son of Theophilos, he succeeded on Theophilos' death. Under the regency of his mother Theodora until 856, and under the effective control of his uncle Bardas in 862–866. Ended iconoclasm. Murdered by Basil the Macedonian. A pleasure-loving ruler, he was nicknamed "the Drunkard" by later, pro-Basil chroniclers. |
Macedonian dynasty (867–1056)
{{Main|Macedonian dynasty|Lekapenos|Byzantine Empire under the Macedonian dynasty}}
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File:Roman Emperor Basil I (cropped).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Basil I "the Macedonian" | 24 September 867 – 29 August 886 with Constantine (868–879)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born in the Theme of Macedonia {{c.}} 811, he rose in prominence through palace service, becoming a favourite of Michael III, who crowned him co-emperor on 26 May 866. He overthrew Michael and established the Macedonian dynasty. He led successful wars in the East against the Arabs and the Paulicians, and recovered southern Italy for the Empire. | |
File:Emperor Leo VI detail (head).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Leo VI "the Wise" | 29 August 886 – 11 May 912 | Born on 19 September 866, either the legitimate son of Basil I or the illegitimate son of Michael III. Co-emperor since 6 January 870. Leo was known for his erudition. His reign saw a height in Saracen (Muslim) naval raids, culminating in the Sack of Thessalonica, and was marked by unsuccessful wars against the Bulgarians under Simeon I. | |
File:Emperor Alexander head.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Alexander | 11 May 912 – 6 June 913 | Son of Basil I, Alexander was born in 870 and raised to co-emperor in 879. Sidelined by Leo VI, Alexander dismissed his brother's principal aides on his accession. Died of illness, possibly testicular cancer{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|1pp=56–57|2a1=Treadgold|2y=1997|2p=471|3a1=Grierson|3p=473–476|3y=1973}} | |
File:Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine VII | 6 June 913 – 9 November 959 | Son of Leo VI, he was born on 17/18 May 905 and raised to co-emperor on 15 May 908. His early reign was dominated by successive regencies, first by his mother, Zoe Karbonopsina, and Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos, and from 919 by the admiral Romanos Lekapenos, who wedded his daughter to Constantine and was crowned senior emperor in 920. Constantine re-asserted his control by deposing Romanos's sons on 27 January 945. His reign was marked by struggles with Sayf al-Dawla in the East and an unsuccessful campaign against Crete, and pro-aristocratic policies that saw a partial reversal of Lekapenos' legislation against the dynatoi. He is notable for his promotion of the "Macedonian Renaissance", sponsoring encyclopaedic works and histories. He was a prolific writer himself, best remembered for the manuals on statecraft ({{Lang|la|De administrando imperio}}) and ceremonies (De ceremoniis) he compiled for his son.{{ODB|last=Kazhdan|first=Alexander|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos|pages=502–503}} | |
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File:Seal of Romanos I Lekapenos (detail).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Romanos I Lekapenos | 17 December 920 – 20 December 944 with Christopher (921–931), Stephen and Constantine Lekapenos (924–945)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | An admiral of lowly origin, Romanos rose to power as a protector of the young Constantine VII against the general Leo Phokas the Elder. He became emperor in 920. His reign was marked by the end of warfare with Bulgaria and the great conquests of John Kourkouas in the East.{{sfn|Gregory|2005|pp=228–230}} Romanos promoted his sons Stephen and Constantine (alongside Christopher, who died soon after) as co-emperors over Constantine VII, but was himself overthrown by them and confined to an island as a monk. He died there on 15 June 948.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=178–180}} | |
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File:Romanos (cropped) (cropped).JPG
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Romanos II | 9 November 959 – 15 March 963 | The only surviving son of Constantine VII, he was born on 15 March 938 and succeeded his father on the latter's death. He ruled until his own death, although the government was led mostly by the eunuch Joseph Bringas. His reign was marked by successful warfare in the East against Sayf al-Dawla and the recovery of Crete by general Nikephoros Phokas. | |
File:Nikephoros Phokas (cropped 1).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Nikephoros II Phokas | 16 August 963 – 11 December 969 | The most successful general of his generation, Nikephoros II was born {{c.}} 912 to the powerful Phokas clan. After the death of Romanos II, he rose to the throne with the support of the army and people as regent for the young emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII, marrying the empress-dowager Theophano. Throughout his reign he led campaigns in the East, conquering much of Syria. He was murdered by his nephew and one-time associate John Tzimiskes. | |
File:John I in Madrid Skylitzes2.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | John I Tzimiskes | 11 December 969 – 10 January 976 | Nephew of Nikephoros Phokas, Tzimiskes was born {{c.}} 925. A successful general, he fell out with his uncle and led a conspiracy of disgruntled generals who murdered him. Tzimiskes succeeded Nikephoros as emperor and regent for the young sons of Romanos II. As ruler, Tzimiskes crushed the Rus' in Bulgaria and ended the Bulgarian tsardom before going on to campaign in the East, where he died. | |
File:Basil II crop.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Basil II "the Bulgar-Slayer" | 10 January 976 – 15 December 1025 | Eldest son of Romanos II, Basil II was born in 958 to Romanus II.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|p=91}} The first decade of his reign was marked by rivalry with the powerful Basil Lekapenos, an unsuccessful war against Bulgaria, and rebellions by generals in Asia Minor. Basil solidified his position through a marriage alliance of his sister Anna to Vladimir I of Kiev, which was accompanied by the conversion to Christian Orthodoxy of the grand Kievian Rus' prince and his people.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|pp=92–93}} After over 20 years of war, Basil eventually succeeded in his conquest of Bulgaria, which was finally subdued in 1018, earning him the name "Bulgar-slayer".{{sfn|Morgan|2007|pp=93–94}} His conquest of Bulgar was periodically interrupted by warfare in Syria against the Fatimid Caliphate. Basil expanded Byzantine control over most of Armenia and his reign is widely considered as the apogee of medieval Byzantium.{{sfn|Skylitzes|2010|p=28}} | |
File:Constantine VIII in the Exultet roll (3).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine VIII | 15 December 1025 – 12 November 1028 | The second son of Romanos II, Constantine was born in 960 and raised to co-emperor on 30 March 962. During the rule of Basil II, he spent his time in idle pleasure. During his short reign he was an indifferent ruler, easily influenced by his courtiers and suspicious of plots to depose him, especially among the military aristocracy, many of whom were blinded and exiled.{{ODB|last=Brand|first=Charles M.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine VIII|pages=503–504}} | |
File:Romanos III in Madrid Skylitzes.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Romanos III Argyros | 12 November 1028 – 11 April 1034 | Born in 968, the elderly aristocrat Romanos—who had served in both the judiciary and civil service—was chosen by Constantine VIII on his deathbed, after being required to marry the emperor's daughter Zoe under the alternative threat of being blinded and sent to a monastery. Romanos III succeeded to the throne upon Constantine's death a few days later.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=199}} Deluded by grandeur, Romanos fashioned himself at one time as a philosopher king like Marcus Aurelius and later as a military genius like Trajan, resulting in military debacles. He initiated expensive church building projects. A subsequent affair between his wife Zoe and his chief eunuch's brother Michael, led to the pair colluding in poisoning Romanos, before ultimately resolving to having the emperor strangled and drowned in his own bath.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=199–201}} | |
File:Michael IV the Paphlagonian (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Michael IV "the Paphlagonian" | 12 April 1034 – 10 December 1041 | Born in 1010, he became a lover of Zoe even while Romanos III was alive, and succeeded him upon his death as her husband and emperor. Aided by his older brother, the eunuch John the Orphanotrophos, his reign was moderately successful against internal rebellions, but his attempt to recover Sicily failed. He died after a long illness. | |
File:Michael V in Madrid Skylitzes.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Michael V "Kalaphates" | 13 December 1041 – 21 April 1042 | Born in 1015, he was the nephew and adopted son of Michael IV. During his reign he tried to sideline Zoe, but a popular revolt forced him to restore her as empress on 19 April 1042, along with her sister Theodora. He was deposed the next day, castrated and tonsured, dying on 24 August 1042. | |
File:Zoe mosaic Hagia Sophia (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Zoë Porphyrogenita | 21 April – 11 June 1042 | The daughter of Constantine VIII, she succeeded on her father's death, as the only surviving member of the Macedonian dynasty, along with her sister Theodora. Her three husbands, Romanos III (1028–1034), Michael IV (1034–1041) and Constantine IX (1042–1050) ruled alongside her. | |
File:Theodora Porphyrogenita crown.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Theodora Porphyrogenita | 21 April – 11 June 1042 | The younger sister of Zoe, born in 984, she was raised as co-ruler on 19 April 1042. After Zoe married her third husband, Constantine IX, in June 1042, Theodora was again sidelined. After Zoe died in 1050 and Constantine in 1055, Theodora assumed full governance of the Empire and reigned until her death. She nominated Michael VI as her successor. | |
File:Emperor Constantine IX (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine IX Monomachos | 11 June 1042 – 11 January 1055 | Born {{c.}} 1000 of noble origin, he had an undistinguished life but was exiled to Lesbos by Michael IV, returning when he was chosen as Zoe's third husband. Constantine supported the mercantile classes and favoured the company of intellectuals, thereby alienating the military aristocracy. A pleasure-loving ruler, he lived an extravagant life with his favourite mistresses and endowed a number of monasteries, chiefly the Nea Moni of Chios and the Mangana Monastery. His reign was marked by invasions by the Pechenegs in the Balkans and the Seljuk Turks in the East, the revolts of George Maniakes and Leo Tornikios, and the Great Schism between the patriarchates of Rome and Constantinople.{{ODB|last=Brand|first=Charles M.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine IX Monomachos|page=504}} | |
File:Theodora Porphyrogenita crown.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Theodora Porphyrogenita | 11 January 1055 – 31 August 1056 | Claimed the throne again after Constantine IX's death as the last living member of the Macedonian dynasty. Died of natural causes{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|1p=2038|2a1=Treadgold|2y=1997|2pp=491, 590}} | |
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File:132 - Michael VI Bringas (Mutinensis - color) (cropped).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Michael VI Bringas "Stratiotikos" | name=famnames}}
| 22 August 1056 – 30 August 1057 | A court bureaucrat and stratiotikos logothetes (hence his first sobriquet). Proclaimed emperor by Theodora on her deathbed on 22 August 1056. Deposed by military revolt under Isaac Komnenos, he retired to a monastery where he died in 1059. |
File:133 - Isaac I Komnenos (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Isaac I Komnenos | 1 September 1057 – 22 November 1059 | Born {{Circa|1005}}. A successful general, he rose in revolt leading the eastern armies and was declared emperor on 8 June 1057; he was recognized after the abdication of Michael. He resigned in 1059 and died {{Circa|1061}}. |
Doukas dynasty (1059–1078)
{{Main|Doukas|Byzantine Empire under the Doukas dynasty}}
{{Legend|#F0FFFF|(§) – Varying ascribed status{{Efn|Some historians regard Eudokia as an empress regnant, while others consider her as a regent.}}}}
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File:Constantine X portrait.jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine X Doukas | 23 November 1059 – 23 May 1067 | Born in 1006, he became a general and close ally of Isaac Komnenos, and succeeded him as emperor on his abdication. Named his sons Michael, Andronikos and Konstantios as co-emperors. After his death his widow was regent until the accession of Romanus IV. |
style="background:#F0FFFF" | File:Eudokia Makrembolitissa portrait.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F0FFFF" | Eudokia Makrembolitissa | style="background:#F0FFFF" | 23 May – 31 December 1067 | Widow of Constantine X; ruler in her own right on behalf of their sons until her marriage to Romanos IV. She briefly resumed her regency in September 1071, became a nun in November 1071 and later died of natural causes{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|2a1=Treadgold|2y=1997|2p=608|1pp=739–740|3a1=Grierson|3y=1973|3pp=779–780}} |
File:Romanus IV coin crop.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Romanos IV Diogenes | 1 January 1068 – 26 August 1071 with Leo and Nikephoros Diogenes ({{Circa}} 1070–71)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}}{{Efn|Unattested in coinage; Leo is only called emperor in a singular letter, while his brother's status can only be deduced from the fact that he was born in the purple and that he also used the "imperial tokens".{{Sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://pbw2016.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/person/156691/ Leon 15005.]}}}} | Born in 1032, a successful general he married empress-dowager Eudokia Makrembolitissa and became senior emperor as guardian of her sons by Constantine X. Deposed by the Doukas partisans after the Battle of Manzikert, blinded in June 1072 and exiled. He died soon after. |
File:Michael VII Doukas on the Holy Crown (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Michael VII Doukas "Parapinakes" | 1 October 1071 – 24/31 March 1078 with Konstantios (1060–1078), Andronikos (1068–1070s) and Constantine Doukas (1074–78; 1st time)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born in 1050 as the eldest son of Constantine X. Co-emperor since 1059, he succeeded on his father's death. Due to his minority he was under the regency of his mother, Eudokia Makrembolitissa, in 1067–1068, and relegated to junior emperor under her second husband Romanos IV Diogenes in 1068–71. Senior emperor in 1071–78, he named his son Constantine co-emperor alongside his brothers. He abdicated before the revolt of Nikephoros Botaneiates, retired to a monastery and died {{Circa|1090}}. His reign saw the devaluation of the Byzantine currency by 25%, hence his nickname "minus-a-quarter". |
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File:Nikephoros III (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Nikephoros III Botaneiates | 3 April 1078 – 1 April 1081 | Born in 1001, he was the strategos of the Anatolic Theme. He was proclaimed emperor on 7 January and crowned on 27 March or 3 April. He weathered several revolts, but was overthrown by the Komnenos clan. He retired to a monastery where he died in the same year. |
Komnenos dynasty (1081–1185)
{{Main|Komnenos|Byzantine Empire under the Komnenos dynasty}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Komnenos dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Alexios I Komnenos (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Alexios I Komnenos | 1 April 1081 – 15 August 1118 with Constantine Doukas (1081–1087; 2nd time)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born in 1056, a nephew of Isaac I Komnenos. A distinguished general, he overthrew Nikephoros III. His reign was dominated by wars against the Normans and the Seljuk Turks, as well as the arrival of the First Crusade and the establishment of independent Crusader states. He retained Constantine Doukas as co-emperor until 1087 and named his eldest son John co-emperor in 1092. |
File:John II head.png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | John II Komnenos | 15 August 1118 – 8 April 1143 with Alexios Komnenos, son of John II (1119–1142)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born on 13 September 1087 as the eldest son of Alexios I. Co-emperor since 1092, he succeeded upon his father's death. His reign was focused on wars with the Turks. A popular, pious and frugal ruler, he was known as "John the Good". Named his eldest son Alexios co-emperor in 1122, but the son predeceased his father. |
File:Manuel I Comnenus (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Manuel I Komnenos | 8 April 1143 – 24 September 1180 | Born on 28 November 1118 as the fourth and youngest son of John II, he was chosen as emperor over his elder brother Isaac by his father on his deathbed. An energetic ruler, he launched campaigns against the Turks, humbled Hungary, achieved supremacy over the Crusader states, and tried unsuccessfully to recover Italy and Egypt. His extravagance and constant campaigning, however, depleted the Empire's resources. |
File:Alexios II Komnenos (Vat.gr.1851 folio 2v) (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Alexios II Komnenos | 24 September 1180 – c. September 1183 | Born on 14 September 1169 as the only son of Manuel I. In 1180–1182 under the regency of his mother, Maria of Antioch. She was overthrown by Andronikos I Komnenos, who became co-emperor and had Alexios II, aged 14, strangled and his body thrown in the sea{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|2a1=Treadgold|2y=1997|2pp=650–653|1pp=64, 1289|3a1=Schreiner|3p=176}} |
File:143 - Andronikos I Komnenos (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Andronikos I Komnenos | c. September 1183 – 12 September 1185 with John Komnenos, son of Andronikos I (1183–1185)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born {{Circa|1118}}, a nephew of John II by his brother Isaac. A general, he was imprisoned for conspiring against John II, but escaped and spent 15 years in exile in various courts in eastern Europe and the Middle East. He seized the regency from Maria of Antioch in 1182 and subsequently throne from his nephew Alexios II. An unpopular ruler, he was overthrown by Isaac II, tortured and mutilated in the imperial palace, then slowly dismembered alive by a mob in the Hippodrome{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|2a1=Treadgold|2y=1997|2pp=653–656|1pp=64, 94, 1012|3a1=Lascaratos|3y=1999|3p=73}} |
Angelos dynasty (1185–1204)
{{Main|Angelos|Byzantine Empire under the Angelos dynasty}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Angelos dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:144 - Isaac II Angelos (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Isaac II Angelos | 12 September 1185 – 8 April 1195 | Born in September 1156, Isaac came to the throne at the head of a popular revolt against Andronikos I. His reign was marked by revolts and wars in the Balkans, especially against a resurgent Bulgaria. He was deposed, blinded and imprisoned by his elder brother, Alexios III. He was later restored to the throne by the Crusaders and Alexios IV. Due to their failure to deal with the Crusaders' demands, he was deposed by Alexios V Doukas in January 1204 and died in January 1204, perhaps of poison. |
File:145 - Alexios III Angelos (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Alexios III Angelos | 8 April 1195 – 17/18 July 1203 | Born in 1153, Alexios was the elder brother of Isaac II. His reign was marked by misgovernment and the increasing autonomy of provincial magnates. He was deposed by the Fourth Crusade and fled Constantinople, roaming Greece and Asia Minor, searching for support to regain his throne. He died in Nicaean captivity (confined to a monastery) in 1211. |
File:146 - Alexios IV Angelos (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Alexios IV Angelos | 19 July 1203 – 27 January 1204 | Born in 1182, the son of Isaac II. He enlisted the Fourth Crusade to return his father to the throne, and reigned alongside his restored father from 19 July 1203. Due to their failure to deal with the Crusaders' demands, he was deposed by Alexios V Doukas in January 1204, and was strangled in prison on 8 February. |
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File:Alexius V (cropped).JPG
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Alexios V Doukas "Mourtzouphlos" | 27/28 January – 12 April 1204 | Born in 1140, the son-in-law of Alexios III and a prominent aristocrat, he deposed Isaac II and Alexios IV in a palace coup. He tried to repel the Crusaders, but they captured Constantinople forcing Mourtzouphlos to flee. He joined the exiled Alexios III, but was later blinded by the latter. Captured by crusader Thierry de Loos, he was thrown from the Column of Theodosius{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|2a1=Treadgold|2y=1997|1p=66|2pp=265–266, 665|3a1=Schreiner|3pp=185–186}} |
Laskaris dynasty (1205–1261)
{{Main|Laskaris|Empire of Nicaea}}
:{{Small|Note: Roman rule in Constantinople was interrupted with the capture and sack of the city by the crusaders in 1204, which led to the establishment of the Frankokratia. Though the crusaders created a new line of Latin emperors in the city, modern historians recognize the line of emperors of the Laskaris dynasty, reigning in Nicaea, as the legitimate Roman emperors during the struggle for Constantinople because the Nicene Empire eventually retook the city.{{Sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=734}} For other lines of claimant emperors, see List of Trapezuntine emperors and List of Thessalonian emperors.}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Laskaris dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:148 - Theodore I Laskaris (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Theodore I Laskaris |{{Circa}} May 1205 – November 1221 with Nicholas Laskaris (1208–1210)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Born {{Circa|1174}}, he rose to prominence as a son-in-law of Alexios III. His brother Constantine Laskaris (or Theodore himself, it is uncertain) was elected emperor by the citizens of Constantinople on the day before the city fell to the Crusaders; Constantine only remained for a few hours before the sack of the city and later fled to Nicaea, where Theodore organized the Greek resistance to the Latins. Proclaimed emperor after Constantine's death in 1205, Theodore was crowned only in Easter 1208. He managed to stop the Latin advance in Asia and to repel Seljuk attacks, establishing the Empire of Nicaea as the strongest of the Greek successor states. |
File:149 - John III Doukas Vatatzes (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | John III Vatatzes | c. December 1221 – 3 November 1254 | Born {{Circa|1192}}, he became the son-in-law and successor of Theodore I in 1212. A capable ruler and soldier, he expanded his state in Bithynia, Thrace, and Macedonia at the expense of the Latin Empire, Bulgaria, and the rival Greek state of Epirus. |
File:Theodoros II Laskaris (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Theodore II Laskaris | 3 November 1254 – 16 August 1258 | Born in 1221/1222 as the only son of John III, he succeeded on his father's death. His reign was marked by his hostility towards the major houses of the aristocracy, and by his victory against Bulgaria and the subsequent expansion into Albania. |
File:151 - John IV Laskaris (Mutinensis - color) (cropped).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | John IV Laskaris | 16 August 1258 – 25 December 1261 | Born on 25 December 1250 as the only son of Theodore II, he succeeded on his father's death. Due to his minority, the regency was exercised at first by George Mouzalon until his assassination, and then by Michael Palaiologos, who within months was crowned senior emperor. After the recovery of Constantinople in August 1261, Palaiologos sidelined John IV completely, had him blinded and imprisoned. John IV died in captivity several decades later, {{Circa|1305}}.{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|1pp=1048–1049|2a1=Macrides|2y=2013|2p=303|3a1=Angelov|3y=2019|3p=305|4a1=PLP|4p=2663 (#14534)}} |
Palaiologos dynasty (1259–1453)
{{Main|Palaiologos|Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty}}
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|+ {{Sronly|Palaiologos dynasty}} ! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait ! scope=col width="17%" | Name ! scope=col width="26%" | Reign ! scope=col width="50%" | Notes |
File:Miniature of Michael VIII (cropped).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Michael VIII Palaiologos | 1 January 1259 – 11 December 1282 | Born in 1223, great-grandson of Alexios III, grandnephew of John III by marriage. Senior emperor alongside John IV in 1259. His forces reconquered Constantinople on 25 July 1261, thus restoring the Empire. He entered the city and was crowned on 15 August. Became sole emperor after deposing John IV on 25 December 1261. |
File:Miniature of Andronikos II (cropped).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Andronikos II Palaiologos | 11 December 1282 – 24 May 1328 with Irene (1303–1317, in Thessalonica)}} | Son of Michael VIII, Andronikos II was born on 25 March 1259. Named co-emperor in 1261, crowned in 1272, he succeeded as sole emperor on Michael's death. Favouring monks and intellectuals, he neglected the army by significantly reducing military spending, and his reign saw the collapse of the Byzantine position in Asia Minor.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=296}} He named his son Michael IX co-emperor. In a protracted civil war, he was first forced to recognize his grandson Andronikos III as co-emperor and was then deposed outright.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=298–300}} He became a monk and died peacefully in 1332.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=301}} |
style="background:#F0FFFF" | File:154 - Michael IX Palaiologos (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F0FFFF" | Michael IX Palaiologos (§) | style="background:#F0FFFF" | 21 May 1294 – 12 October 1320 | Son and co-ruler of Andronikos II, named co-emperor in 1281 but not crowned until 21 May 1294. Allegedly died of grief due to the accidental murder of his second son.{{ODB|last1=Talbot|first1=Alice-Mary|author-link=Alice-Mary Talbot |last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Michael IX Palaiologos|pages=1367–1368}} |
File:Андроник III Палеолог (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Andronikos III Palaiologos | 24 May 1328 – 15 June 1341 | Son of Michael IX, he was born on 25 March 1297 and named co-emperor in 1316. Rival emperor since July 1321, he deposed his grandfather Andronikos II in 1328 and ruled as sole emperor until his death. Supported by John Kantakouzenos, his reign saw defeats against the Ottoman emirate but successes in Europe, where Epirus and Thessaly were recovered. |
File:Restored mosaic of John V Palaiologos (head cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | John V Palaiologos | | titlestyle = background-color:transparent; text-align:right; font-weight:normal | title = Details | expand = |
}} with Anna (1351–1365, in Thessalonica)}} | While the only son of Andronikos III, John V was not crowned or declared heir at his father's death—partly due to being only 10-years old at the time—which contributed to the outbreak of a destructive civil war between his regents and his father's closest aide, John VI Kantakouzenos, who was instead crowned co-emperor.{{sfn|Reinert|2002|pp=265–267}} The conflict ended in 1347 with Kantakouzenos recognized as senior emperor, but he was deposed by John V during another civil war.{{sfn|Reinert|2002|pp=267–268}} After successful Turkish incursions and their seizure of Adrianople, John V appealed to the West for aid against the Ottomans, even going so far as to seek religious union and journeying to Rome to convert to Catholicism.{{sfn|Reinert|2002|p=269}} Despite his efforts otherwise, John V was forced to recognize Ottoman suzerainty in 1371.{{sfn|Reinert|2002|pp=269–270}} |
File:Johannes VI. Cantacuzenos (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | John VI Kantakouzenos | 8 February 1347 – 10 December 1354 with Matthew Kantakouzenos (1353–1357)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | A maternal relative of the Palaiologoi, he was declared co-emperor on 26 October 1341, and was recognized as senior emperor for ten years after the end of the civil war on 8 February 1347. Deposed by John V in 1354, he became a monk, dying on 15 June 1383. |
File:158 - Andronikos IV Palaiologos (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Andronikos IV Palaiologos | 12 August 1376 – 1 July 1379 | Son of John V and grandson of John VI, he was named co-emperor and heir in 1352, but imprisoned and partially blinded after a failed rebellion in May 1373. He rebelled again and successfully deposed his father in 1376. Deposed by John V in 1379, he fled to Galata in exile but was restored as co-emperor and heir in May 1381, ruling over Selymbria and the coast of Marmara. Rebelled again in June 1385 but died shortly thereafter{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|2a1=Mladenov|2y=2003|2p=190|1p=95|3a1=Schreiner|3pp=312–321|4a1=PLP|4p=3893 (#21438)}} |
File:159 - John VII Palaiologos (Mutinensis - color).png
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | John VII Palaiologos | 1385 – 1403 with Andronikos V Palaiologos (1403–1407, in Thessalonica)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}} | Son of Andronikos IV, he was born in 1370, and named co-emperor under his father in 1377–79. He usurped the throne from his grandfather John V for five months in 1390, but with Ottoman mediation he was reconciled with John V and his uncle, Manuel II. As regent, he held Constantinople against the Ottomans in 1399–1402, and was then given Thessalonica as an appanage, which he governed until his death on 22 September 1408. |
File:Manuel II Paleologus (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Manuel II Palaiologos | 1382 – 1387 | Second son of John V, he was born on 27 June 1350. Raised to co-emperor in 1373, he became senior emperor on John V's death and ruled until his death. He journeyed to the West European courts seeking aid against the Turks, and was able to use the Ottoman defeat in the Battle of Ankara—thanks largely to the fact that Timur and the Tartars attacked the Turks when they were besieging Constantinople, which forced the Turks' retreat—to regain some territories and throw off his vassalage to them.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|pp=121–122}} Manuel II died in 1425 and was succeeded by his son, John VIII.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|p=122}} |
File:Palaio (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | John VIII Palaiologos | 21 July 1425 – 31 October 1448 | Eldest surviving son of Manuel II, he was born on 18 December 1392. Raised to co-emperor around 1416 and named full autokrator in 1425, he succeeded his father on his death. Seeking aid against the resurgent Ottomans, he ratified the Union of the Churches in 1439, a move to reunite the Orthodox and Catholic churches that proved very unpopular in Constantinople.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|p=122}} |
File:Konstantinos XI Palaiologos fresco (less edited) (cropped).jpg
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | Constantine XI Palaiologos | 6 January 1449 – 29 May 1453 | The fourth son of Manuel II and Serbian princess Helena Dragaš, he was born on 8 February 1405. As Despot of the Morea since 1428, he distinguished himself in campaigns that annexed the Principality of Achaea and brought the Duchy of Athens under temporary Byzantine suzerainty, but was unable to repel Turkish attacks under Turahan Bey. As the eldest surviving brother, he succeeded John VIII after the latter's death. Facing the designs of the new sultan, Mehmed II, on Constantinople, Constantine acknowledged the Union of the Churches and made repeated appeals for help to the West, but in vain. Refusing to surrender the city, he was killed in battle during the Fall of Constantinople on 29 May 1453.{{ODB|last=Talbot|first=Alice-Mary|title=Constantine XI Palaiologos|page=505}} |
See also
{{Portal|Byzantine Empire|Lists}}
- Family tree of Byzantine emperors
- List of Roman emperors
- List of Trapezuntine emperors
- List of Roman usurpers
- List of Byzantine usurpers
- Succession to the Byzantine Empire
- List of Roman and Byzantine empresses
- List of Byzantine emperors of Armenian origin
- Family tree of Roman emperors
- History of the Byzantine Empire
References
= Notes =
{{Notelist}}
= Citations =
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
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{{refend}}
{{Epochs of Roman Emperors}}
{{Byzantine Empire topics}}
{{Roman emperors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byzantine Emperors}}