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This is a list of the Emperors of the late Eastern [[Roman Empire]], called [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] by modern historians. This list does not include numerous coemperors who never attained sole or senior status as rulers.
The title of all Emperors listed preceding Heraclius was officially [[Augustus]], although various other titles such as [[Dominus]] were used as well. For official purposes, their names were preceded by [[Imperator]] [[Caesar]] [[Flavius]] and followed by Augustus. Following Heraclius, the title commonly became the Greek [[Basileus]] (Gr. ΒασιλεΒασιλε�?ς), which had formerly meant generally "king", "[[Monarch|sovereign]]" but now was used in place of Augustus. Kings were now titled by the neologism Regas (Gr. Ρήγας, from the Lat. "Rex") or by another generic term Archon (Gr. Ά�?χων, "ruler"). [[Autocrat|Autokrator]] (Gr. Αυτοκ�?άτω�?) was also frequently used, along with a plethora of more hyperbolic titles—with grandiloquence typically in inverse proportion to actual power—including Kosmokrator (Gr.Κοσμοκ�?άτω�?) ("Master of the Universe") and Chronokrator (Gr.Χ�?ονοκ�?άτω�?) ("Lord of All Time"). The emperors of the 15th century alone were often self-styled as Basileus ton Hellinon, "Emperor of the Greeks," though they still considered themselves "Roman" Emperors. [Note: See also ''[[Greek (name)#Byzantines (Βυζαντινοί)|the term "Byzantine"]]'' with regard to the late [[Roman Empire]]. This list begins with [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] the Great, the first Christian emperor reigning from [[Constantinople]], although [[Diocletian]] before him had ruled from Nicaea and replaced the pseudorepublican trappings of the office with a straightforward autocracy and Heraclius I after him replaced Latin with Greek and began the restructuring of the Empire into [[Thema|themata]].] ==[[Constantine Dynasty|Constantinian dynasty]] (306-363)==:1. St. [[Constantine I]] (''Constantinus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Pontifex Maximus Pater Patriae Proconsul''; 272 - 337; ruled 306 - 337) – son of [[Constantius Chlorus]], left the empire divided among his heirs, and was canonized by the [[Orthodox Church]]. He called the [[First Ecumenical Council]] to settle the problem of [[Arianism]].:2. [[Constantius II]] (''Flavius Iulius Constantius''; 317 - 361; ruled 337 - 361) – son of Constantine I:3. [[Julian the Apostate|Julian]] (''Flavius Claudius Iulianus''; 331 - 363; ruled 361 - 363) – Pagan son-in-law of Constantine I, brother-in-law and first cousin of Constantius II, grandson of Constantius I ===Non-dynastic===:4. [[Jovian]] (''Iovianus''; 332 - 364; ruled 363 - 364) – soldier, restored Christianity ==[[Valentinian Dynasty|Valentinian]]-[[House of Theodosius|Theodosian]] dynasty (364-457)==:5. [[Valentinian I]] (''Flavius Valentinianus''; 321 - 375; ruled 364) – soldier, redivided the empire, taking the West:6. [[Valens]] (''Flavius Iulius Valens''; 328 - 378; ruled 364 - 378) – brother of Valentinian I:7. [[Gratian]] (''Flavius Gratianus''; 359 - 383; ruled 378 - 379) – son of Valentinian I:8. [[Theodosius I]] (''Flavius Gratianus''; 346 - 395; ruled 379 - 395) – soldier, married to Valentinian I's daughter Galla, fought with [[Magnus Maximus]] at the [[Battle of the Save]] in 388:9. [[Arcadius]] (''Flavius Arcadius''; 377 - 408; ruled 395 - 408) – son of Theodosius I, brother of [[Honorius (emperor)|Honorius]]:10. [[Theodosius II]] (''Flavius Theodosius''; 401 - 450; ruled 408 - 450) – son of Arcadius:11. [[Pulcheria]] (''Aelia Purcheria''; 399 – 453; ruled 408 - 441, 450) – sister of Theodosius II; canonized:12. [[Marcian]] (''Flavius Marcianus''; 392 - 457; ruled 450 - 457) – soldier; married Pulcheria after Theodosius's death; canonized by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] church ==[[House of Leo|Leonid dynasty]] (457-518)==:13. [[Leo I (emperor)|Leo I]] the Thracian (Valerius Leo) (401-474, ruled 457 - 474) – soldier:14. [[Leo II (emperor)|Leo II]] (467 - 474, ruled 474) – grandson of Leo I, son of Zeno:15. [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]] (425 - 491, ruled 474 - 475) – son-in-law of Leo I; orig. Tarasicodissa, an Isaurian:16. [[Basiliscus]] ( ? - c. 477, ruled 475 - 476) – usurper; brother-in-law of Leo I:*[[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]] (ruled 476 - 491) – restored :17. [[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius I]] (430 - 518, ruled 491 - 518) – silentiarius; son-in-law of Leo I, elevated by selection by Zeno's widow Ariadne ==[[Justinian Dynasty|Justinian dynasty]] (518-602)==:18. [[Justin I]] (''Flavius Iustinius''; 450 - 527; ruled 518 - 527) – commander of the guard:19. [[Justinian I]] the Great (''Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus''; 482 - 565; ruled 527 - 565) – nephew and adoptive son of Justin I, canonized by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] church, built the Hagia Sophia, organized the Roman Laws, took back most of the original-old empire:20. [[Justin II]] (''Flavius Iustinius Iunior''; 520 - 578; ruled 565 - 578) – nephew of Justinian I:21. [[Tiberius II Constantine]] (''Flavius Tiberius Constantinus''; 540 - 582, ruled 574, 578 - 582) – Comes Excubitris; adopted by Justin II:22. [[Maurice (emperor)|Maurice]] (''Flavius Mauricius Tiberius''; 539 - 602, ruled 582 - 602) – son-in-law of Tiberius II ===Non-dynastic===:23. [[Phocas]] (''Flavius Phocas''; ? - 610; ruled 602 - 610) ==[[Heraclian Dynasty|Heraclian dynasty]] (610-695)==:24. [[Heraclius]] (Η�?άκλειος) (575 - 641, ruled 610 - 641) – usurper; son of the Armenian Exarch of Africa:25. [[Constantine III (emperor)|Constantine III]] (Heraclius Constantine) (Κωνσταντίνος Γ') (612 - 641, ruled 641) – son of Heraclius; coemperor with Heraklonas:26. [[Heracleonas|Heraklonas]] (Constantine Heraclius) (Η�?ακλωνάς) (626 - 641?, ruled 641) – son of Herakleios; mutilated and deposed:27. [[Constans II]] (Herakleios, later Constantine, called Πωγώνατος, ''the Bearded'') (Κώνστας Β') (630 - 668, ruled 641 - 668) – son of Constantine III; assassinated by chamberlain:28. [[Mezezius]] (668 - 669) – Usurper:29. [[Constantine IV]] (Κωνσταντίνος Δ') (649 - 685, ruled 668 - 685) – son of Constans II:30. [[Justinian II]] the Slit-nosed (Ιουστινιανός Β' ο Ρινότμητος) (668 - 711, ruled 685 - 695) – son of Constantine IV; mutilated, deposed, and exiled ===Non-dynastic (695-705)===:31. [[Leontius (emperor)|Leontios]] (Λεόντιος) (ruled 695 - 698) – Strategos (general); mutilated, deposed, and imprisoned - later executed:32. [[Tiberius III|Tiberios III]] (Τιβέ�?ιος Γ' ο Αψίμα�?ος) (ruled 698 - 705) – German orig. named Apsimar; deposed and executed ==Heraclian dynasty (705-711)==:*[[Justinian II]] the Slit-nosed (Ιουστινιανός Β' ο Ρινότμητος) (ruled 705 - 711) – restored; deposed and executed ===Non-dynastic (711-717)===:33. [[Philippicus|Philippikos]] Bardanes (Φιλιππικός Βα�?δάνης) (ruled 711 - 713) – Armenian soldier; deposed and mutilated:34. [[Anastasius II (emperor)|Anastasios II]] (Αναστάσιος Β') ( ? - 721, ruled 713 - 715) – orig. Artemios; secretary of Philippikos; deposed & entered monastery, later revolted & was executed:35. [[Theodosius III|Theodosios III]] (Θεοδόσιος Γ' ο Αδ�?αμμυττηνός) (ruled 715 - 717) – tax-collector; abdicated and entered monastery ==[[Isaurian Dynasty|Isaurian dynasty]] (717-802)==:36. [[Leo III the Isaurian|Leo III]] the Isaurian (Λέων Γ' ο Ίσαυ�?ος) (675 - 741, ruled 717 - 741) – Strategos:37. [[Constantine V]] Kopronymos (the Dung-named) (Κωνσταντίνος Ε' ο Κοπ�?ώνυμος ή Καβαλίνος) (718 - 745, ruled 741) – son of Leo III; deposed:38. [[Artabasdus]] the Icon-lover (Α�?τάβασδος ο Εικονόφιλος) (ruled 741 - 743) – Leo III's chamberlain and son-in-law:*[[Constantine V]] Kopronymos (the Dung-named) (Κωνσταντίνος Ε' ο Κοπ�?ώνυμος ή Καβαλίνος) (ruled 743 - 775) – restored:39. [[Leo IV the Khazar|Leo IV]] the Khazar (Λέων Δ' o Χαζά�?ος) (750 - 780, ruled 775 - 780) – son of Constantine V:40. [[Constantine VI]] the Blinded (Κωνσταντίνος ΣΤ') (771 - 797, ruled 780 - 797) – son of Leo IV; deposed and mutilated by mother:41. St. [[Irene (empress)|Irene]] the Athenian (Ει�?ήνη η Αθηναία) (755 - 803, ruled 797 - 802) – wife of Leo IV, mother of Constantine VI; canonized by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] church; deposed and exiled to [[Lesbos Island|Lesbos]] ==Nikephoros' dynasty (802-813)==:42. [[Nicephorus I|Nikephoros I]] (�?ικηφό�?ος Α') ( ? - 811, ruled 802 - 811) – [[Megas Logothetes]]; died in battle, skull used as wine cup:43. [[Stauracius|Staurakios]] (Σταυ�?άκιος Φωκάς) ( ? - 812, ruled 811) – son of Nikephoros I; paralyzed:44. [[Michael I Rhangabes|Michael I Rangabe]] (Μιχαήλ Α' Ραγκαβής) (ruled 811 - 813) – son-in-law of Nikephoros I and master of the palace; deposed and entered monastery ===Non-dynastic===:45. [[Leo V the Armenian|Leo V]] the Armenian (Λέων Ε' ο Α�?μένιος) (775 - 820, ruled 813 - 820) – Strategos; assassinated ==Phrygian dynasty (820-867)==:46. [[Michael II]] the Stammerer or the Amorian (Μιχαήλ Β' ο Τ�?αυλός η Ψηλλος) (770 - 829, ruled 820 - 829) – Strategos, son-in-law of Constantine VI:47. [[Theophilus (emperor)|Theophilos]] (Θεόφιλος) (813 - 842, ruled 829 - 842) – son of Michael II:48. [[Theodora (9th century)|Theodora]] (Θεοδώ�?α) (ruled 842 - 855) – wife of Theophilus; empress and regent for Michael III; canonized by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] church; deposed and entered monastery:49. [[Michael III]] the Drunkard (Μιχαήλ Γ' ο Μέθυσος) (840 - 867, ruled 842 - 867) – son of Theophilos; assassinated ==[[Macedonian dynasty]] (867-1056)==:50. [[Basil I]] the Macedonian (Βασίλειος Α') (811 - 886, ruled 867 - 886) - married Michael III's widow; died in hunting accident:51. [[Leo VI the Wise]] (Λέων ΣΤ' ο Σοφός) (866 - 912, ruled 886 - 912) – likely either son of Basil I or Michael III; :52. [[Alexander III (emperor)|Alexander]] (Αλέξανδ�?ος Γ' του Βυζαντίου) (870 - 913, ruled 912 - 913) – son of Basil I, regent for nephew:53. [[Constantine VII]] the Purple-born (Κωνσταντίνος Ζ' ο Πο�?φυ�?ογέννητος) (905-959, ruled 913 - 959) – son of Leo VI:54. [[Romanus I|Romanos I]] Lekapenos (Ρωμανός Α' ο Λεκαπηνός) (870 - 948, ruled 919 - 944) – father-in-law of Constantine VII; coemperor, deposed by his sons and entered monastery:55. [[Romanus II|Romanos II]] the Purple-born (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πο�?φυ�?ογέννητος) (939 - 963, ruled 959 - 963) – son of Constantine VII:56. [[Nicephorus II|Nikephoros II]] Phokas (�?ικηφό�?ος Β' Φωκάς) (912 - 969, ruled 963 - 969) – Strategos; married Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II; assassinated:57. [[John I Tzimisces|John I Tzimiskes]] (Ιωάννης Α' Κου�?κο�?ας ο Τσιμισκής) (925 - 976, ruled 969 - 976) – brother-in-law of Romanus II, lover of Nicephorus's wife but banned from marriage, regent for Basil:58. [[Basil II]] the Bulgar-slayer (Βασίλειος Β' ο Βουλγα�?οκτόνος) (958 - 1025, ruled 976 - 1025) – son of Romanos II:59. [[Constantine VIII]] (Κωνσταντίνος Η')(960-1028, ruled 1025 - 1028) – son of Romanos II; coemperor with Basil II:60. [[Zoe (empress)|Zoe]] (Ζωή) ((c. 978 - 1050, ruled 1028 - 1050) – daughter of Constantine VIII:61. [[Romanus III|Romanos III]] Argyros (Ρωμανός Γ' ο Α�?γυ�?ός) (968 - 1034, ruled 1028 - 1034) – eparch of Constantinople; Zoe's first husband, arranged by Constantine VIII; murdered:62. [[Michael IV]] the Paphlagonian (Μιχαήλ Δ' ο Παφλαγών) (1010 - 1041, ruled 1034 - 1041) – Zoe's second husband:63. [[Michael V]] the Caulker (Μιχαήλ Ε' ο Καλαφάτης) (1015 - 1042, ruled 1041 - 1042) – Michael IV's nephew, Zoe's adopted son:64. [[Theodora (11th century)|Theodora]] (Θεοδώ�?α) (980 - 1056, ruled 1042) – daughter of Constantine VIII, coempress with Zoe:65. [[Constantine IX]] Monomachos (Κωνσταντίνος Θ' ο Μονομάχος) (1000 - 1055, ruled 1042 - 1055) – Zoe's third husband:*[[Theodora (11th century)|Theodora]] (Θεοδώ�?α) (ruled 1055 - 1056) – restored ===Non-dynastic===:66. [[Michael VI]] the General (Μιχαήλ ΣΤ' ο Στ�?ατιωτικός) (ruled 1056 - 1057) – chosen by Theodora; deposed & entered monastery ==[[Comnenus|Comnenid dynasty]]==:67. [[Isaac I Comnenus|Isaac I Komnenos]] (Ισαάκιος Α' ο Κομνηνός) (c. 1007 - 1060, ruled 1057 - 1059) – soldier; abdicated in a fit of illness & entered monastery ==Doukid dynasty (1059-1081)==:68. [[Constantine X]] Doukas (Κωνσταντίνος Ι' ο Δο�?κας) (1006 - 1067, ruled 1059 - 1067) – selected by Michael Psellus the Younger:69. [[Michael VII]] Doukas Quarter-short (Μιχαήλ Ζ' Δο�?κας Πα�?απινάκης) (1050 - 1090, ruled 1067 - 1078) – son of Constantine X, originally coemperor with two brothers and Romanus; deposed & entered monastery:70. [[Romanos IV]] Diogenes (Ρωμανός Δ' Διογένης) (1032 - 1072, ruled 1068 - 1071) – married Constantine X's widow; coemperor, deposed & mutilated to death:71. [[Nikephoros III]] Botaneiates (�?ικηφό�?ος Γ' Βοτανειάτης) (1001 - 1081, ruled 1078 - 1081) – Strategos claiming descent from the [[Fabii]], bigamously married Michael VII's wife; deposed & forced into monastery ==Comnenid dynasty (restored, 1081-1185)==:72. [[Alexios I Komnenos]] (Αλέξιος Α' Κομνηνός) (1057 - 1118, ruled 1081 - 1118) – nephew of Isaac I, married Constantine X's grandniece:73. [[John II Komnenos]] the Handsome (Ιωάννης Β' Κομνηνός o Καλός) (1087 - 1143, ruled 1118 - 1143) – son of Alexios I, died of a hunting accident:74. [[Manuel I Komnenos]] the Great (Μανουήλ Α' Κομνηνός ο Μέγας) (1118 - 1180, ruled 1143 - 1180) – son of John II:75. [[Alexios II Komnenos]] (Αλέξιος B' Κομνηνός) (1169 - 1183, ruled 1180 - 1183) – son of Manuel I; murdered with garrotte:76. [[Andronikos I Komnenos]] (Ανδ�?όνικος Α' Κομνηνός) (1118 - 1185, ruled 1183 - 1185) – nephew of John II; married Alexios II's widow; deposed, tortured, and executed; ancestor of the Komnenian line in [[Trebizond]] ==Angelid dynasty (1185-1204)==:77. [[Isaac II Angelos]] (Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος) (1156 - 1204, ruled 1185 - 1195) – great-grandson of Alexios I, deposed & blinded:78. [[Alexios III Angelos]] (Αλέξιος Γ' Άγγελος) (1153 - 1211, ruled 1195 - 1203) – brother of Isaac II, deposed by [[Fourth Crusade|IV Crusade]] & eventually forced into monastery:*[[Isaac II Angelos]] (Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος) (ruled 1203 - 1204) – largely witless, restored as coemperor with Alexius IV, deposed:79. [[Alexios IV Angelos]] (Αλέξιος Δ' Άγγελος) (1182 - 1204, ruled 1203 - 1204) – son of Isaac II, deposed & executed:80. [[Nikolaos Kanabos]] (usurper proclaimed emperor in Hagia Sophia, ruled 1204):81. [[Alexios V]] Doukas the Bushy-eyebrowed (Αλέξιος Ε' Δο�?κας ο Μο�?�?τζουφλος) (1140 - 1204, ruled 1204) – son-in-law of Alexios III ==Laskarid dynasty (in exile, [[Empire of Nicaea]], 1204-1261)== [[Image:Laskarid eagle.jpg|thumb|180px|The Great Seal of the Laskarid dynasty]]:82. [[Constantine Laskaris]] (ruled 1204) – not officially crowned:83. [[Theodore I Laskaris]] (Θεόδω�?ος Α' Λάσκα�?ης) (1174 - 1222, ruled 1204 - 1222) – son-in-law of Alexios III:84. [[John III Doukas Vatatzes]] (Ιωάννης Γ' Δο�?κας Βατάτζης) (1192 - 1254, ruled 1222 - 1254) – son-in-law of Theodore I; epileptic:85. [[Theodore II Laskaris|Theodore II Doukas Laskaris]] (Θεόδω�?ος Β' Δο�?κας Λάσκα�?ης) (1221 - 1258, ruled 1254 - 1258) – son of John III:86. [[John IV Laskaris|John IV Doukas Laskaris]] (Ιωάννης Δ' Δο�?κας Λάσκα�?ης) (1250 - 1305, ruled 1258 - 1261) – son of Theodore II, deposed, blinded, and imprisoned by Michael VIII ==[[Palaeologus|Palaiologan Dynasty]] (restored to Constantinople, 1259-1453)==:87. [[Michael VIII Palaiologos]] (Μιχαήλ Η' Παλαιολόγος) (1224 - 1282, ruled 1259 - 1282) – Strategos, regent for [[John IV Lascaris]]; great-grandson of [[Alexios III Angelos]]:88. [[Andronikos II Palaiologos]] the Elder (Ανδ�?όνικος Β' ο Γέ�?ος) (1258 - 1332, ruled 1282 - 1328) – son of Michael VIII; abdicated:89. [[Andronikos III Palaiologos]] the Younger (Ανδ�?όνικος Γ' Παλαιολόγος ο �?έος) (1297 - 1341, ruled 1328 - 1341) – grandson of Andronikos II:90. [[John V Palaiologos]] (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (1332 - 1391, ruled 1341 - 1347) – son of Andronikos III, deposed by John VI:91. [[John VI Kantakouzenos]] (Ιωάννης Στ' Καντακουζηνός) (1295 - 1383, ruled outright 1347 - 1354) – father-in-law of John V; deposed, and entered monastery as Ioasaph Christodoulus:*[[John V Palaiologos]] (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1354 - 1376) – restored, deposed by Andronikos IV:92. [[Andronikos IV Palaiologos]] (Ανδ�?όνικος Δ' Παλαιολόγος) (1348 - 1385, ruled 1376 - 1379) – son of John V, half-blinded following revolt, later succeeded and was deposed, revolted a third time:*[[John V Palaiologos]] (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1379 - 1390) – restored, deposed:93. [[John VII Palaiologos]] (Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος) (1370 - 1408, ruled 1390) – son of Andronikos IV:*[[John V Palaiologos]] (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1390 - 1391) – restored:94. [[Manuel II Palaiologos]] (Μανουήλ Β' Παλαιολόγος) (1350 - 1425, ruled 1391 - 1425) – son of John V:*[[John VII Palaiologos]] (Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1399 - 1402) – restored as regent:95. [[John VIII Palaiologos]] (Ιωάννης Η' Παλαιολόγος) (1392 - 1448, ruled 1425 - 1448) – son of Manuel II:96. [[Constantine XI]] Palaiologos Dragases (Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Παλαιολόγος Δ�?αγάσης) (1405 - 1453, ruled 1449 - 1453) – son of Manuel II, not crowned in Constantinople, died on the walls ===Ottomans===In 1453 [[Mehmed II]] overthrew the Byzantine Empire and claimed the title of [[Caesar (title)|Kaisar]]; his successors continued this claim. See [[Ottomans]] for the complete list of Ottoman sultans. ==[[Palaeologus|Palaiologan Dynasty]] (in exile)==*[[Thomas Palaeologus|Thomas Palaiologos]] (Θωμάς Παλαιολόγος) (1409 or 10 - 1465) – brother of Constantine XI; died in exile in Rome*[[Andreas Palaeologus|Andrew Palaiologos]] (Ανδ�?έας Παλαιολόγος) (1453 - 1502) – son of Thomas; created [[despotism|Despot]] by [[Pope Pius II]], self-styled <small>imperator Constantinopolitanus</small>; sold titles to [[Charles VIII of France|Charles VIII]] in 1494 and granted the remainder to King [[Ferdinand II of Aragon|Ferran II]] of Aragon and Queen [[Isabella of Castile|Isabel]] of Castille in his will. ==See also==*[[List of Roman Emperors|Early Roman Emperors]]*[[Byzantine Empire]]*[[Latin Empire]]*[[List of Byzantine Empire-related topics]] {{Epochs of Roman Emperors}} [[Category:Byzantine emperors| ]][[Category:Emperors and kings]][[Category:Lists of office-holders|Byzantine Empire]][[Category:Ancient Roman titles]] <!-- interwiki -->