list of byzantine emperors

United Roman Empire

Constantinian dynasty (306–363)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until

Death

Constantine "the Great" Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Α' Μέγας (Gaius Flavius

Valerius Aurelius Constantinus)

son of the AugustusConstantius

Chlorus

27 February

c.280

19 September 324 Proclaimed "Augustus"of the western empire upon the death ofConstantius Chlorus on 25 July 306 AD and later

united the whole empire

22 May 337

Constantius II Κωνσταντίνος Β' (Flavius

Iulius Constantius)

second son of Constantine I

7 August 317

22 May 337 Inherited Eastern third of Roman Empire upon his father's death

5 October 361 died of illness on

campaign

Julian "the Apostate" Ιουλιανός (Flavius Claudius

Iulianus)

grandson of Constantius Chlorus, cousin ofConstantius II

May 332

5 October 361 Proclaimed by his army in Gaul,

became legitimate Emperor upon the death of Constantius

28 June 363 killed on campaign against Persians

[edit]Non-dynastic (363–364)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death

Jovian Ιοβιανός ( Flavius Claudius Iovianus)

Guards' Captain amongst Julian's Eastern forces

c.332 28 June 363

Elected by the army upon Julian's death

17 February 364 Died on journey back to

Constantinople

Valentinian-Theodosian dynasty (364–457)


Valentinian I Βαλεντιανός( Flavius

Valentinianus )

Officer under Julian and Jovian

321 26 February 364

Elected by the army uponJovian's death

17 November 375 Died of cerebral haemorrhage

Valens Βάλης ( Flavius Iulius

Valens )

Minor soldier of the Roman army, brother

of Valentinian I 328

28 March 364 Appointed by his

brother

9 August 378 Killed at the Battle of Adrianople

Gratian Γρατιανός ( Flavius

Gratianus )

Son of Valentinian I, nephew of Valens

18 April/23 May 359

9 August 378 Inherited rule of the East upon the death

of Valens

19 January 379 Appointed Theodosius

I as Emperor of the East

25 August 383 Assassinated during the rebellion

of Magnus Maximus

Theodosius I "the Great"

Θεοδόσιος Α' ο Μέγας (Flavius Theodosius )

Aristocrat and military leader, brother-in-law

of Gratian

11 January

347

19 January 379 Appointed by Gratian

17 January 395 old age

Eastern Roman Empire under the Theodosian dynasty (395–457)


Arcadius Αρκάδιος ( Flavius Arcadius )

Son of Theodosius I 377/378 17 January 395 Upon the death of Theodosius I

1 May 408

Theodosius II Θεοδόσιος Β' ( Flavius Theodosius )

Son of Arcadius 10 April 401

1 May 408 Upon the death

of Arcadius

28 July 450 Riding accident

Pulcheria Πουλχερία ( Aelia Pulcheria )

Daughter of Arcadius, sister of Theodosius II

19 January 399

28 July 450 Upon the death

of Theodosius II July 453

Marcian Μαρκιανός ( Flavius Valerius

Marcianus )

Soldier, politician, husband of Pulcheria

396 450

Upon his marriage to Pulcheria

January 457 Gangrene contracted on a

journey

Leonid dynasty (457–518)


Leo I "the Thracian" Λέων Α' (Flavius

Valerius Leo ) Soldier 401 Dacia

7 February 457 Chosen by Aspar,

commander-in-chief of the army

18 January 474 Died of dysentery

Leo II Λέων Β' ( Flavius Leo )

Grandson of Leo I 467 18 January 474 Succeeded his

grandfather Leo I

17 November 474 Died of an unknown disease,

possibly poisoned

Zeno Ζήνων ( Flavius Zeno ) (Born Tarasicodissa)

Roman general of Isaurian origins; son-in-

law ofLeo I, father of Leo II

c.425Zenonopolis,Isauria

Co-emperor: 9 February 474

Appointed by his son Leo II

Sole Emperor: 17 November 474

Succeeded upon the death of Leo II

9 January 475 Deposed

by Basiliscus, brother-in-law

of Leo I

9 April 491

Basiliscus Βασιλίσκος ( Flavius

Basiliscus )

Army General; brother-in-law of Leo I

9 January 475 Seized power from Zeno

August 476 Deposed by Zeno

476/477

Zeno, restored Ζήνων ( Flavius Zeno ) (Born Tarasicodissa)

Roman general of Isaurian origins; son-in-

law ofLeo I, father of Leo II

c.425 restored August 476

Having deposed Basiliscus

9 April 491

Anastasius I Αναστάσιος Α'( Flavius Anastasius )

Palace official ("Silentiarius"); son-in-

law of Leo I c.430 Durres,Albania

11 April 491 Chosen by Ariadne,

widow of Zeno 9 July 518

Justinian dynasty (518–602)


Death

Justin I Ιουστίνος Α' (Flavius

Iustinus )

General, commander of the City Guards under Anastasius I

c.450 Bederiana(Justiniana Prima), Serbia

July 518 Elected by army and people upon

the death of Anastasius I

1 August 527

Justinian I the Great Ιουστινιανός Α' (Flavius Petrus

Sabbatius Iustinianus)

Nephew and heir of Justin I 482/483Tauresium(Taor),Macedonia

1 August 527 Inherited the throne on the

death ofJustin I

13/14 November 565

Justin II Ιουστίνος Β' (Flavius

Iustinus Iunior)

Nephew and heir of Justinian I

c.520

14 November 565 Inherited the throne on the

death ofJustinian I

5 October 578

Tiberius II Constantine Τιβέριος Β' (Flavius

Tiberius Constantinus)

"Comes" of the Excubitors, friend and adoptive son of Justin

II

c.520

5 October 578 Became full

Emperor on the death ofJustin II

14 August 582 possibly poisoned

by Maurice

Maurice Μαυρίκιος (Flavius Mauricius

Tiberius)

Commander-in-chief of Cappadocian

origins; son-in-law of Tiberius II

539 Arabissus,Cappadocia

14 August 582 Succeeded upon the death of his

father-in-law Tiberius II

November 602

Forced to abdicate

by Phocas

27 November

602 Executed byPhocas

Non-dynastic (602–610)


Death

Phocas Φωκάς (Flavius

Phocas )

sub-altern in the Balkan army, leader of rebellion; deposed Maurice

? November 602

Seized power in a rebellion against Maurice

610 Executed

by Heraclius

Heraclian dynasty (610–711)


Herakleios (Ηράκλειος, Hērakleios) Heraclius (Flavius

Heraclius)

son of Exarch of Africa Heraclius the Elder, who

were of Armenian Origin. ;

DeposedPhocas

c.575 5 October 610

Seized power in a rebellion against Phocas

11 February 641

Constantine III (Ηράκλειος (νέος) Κωνσταντίνος, Herakleios

Néos Kōnstantinos) Constantine III ( Heraclius Novus Constantinus )

eldest son of Herakleios

3 May 612

11 February 641 Succeeded to throne

withHeraklonas following death ofHerakleios

24/26 May 641 Tuberculosis, allegedly poisoned by Martina

Heraklonas (Κωνσταντίνος Ηράκλειος, Kōnstantinos Herakleios)Heraclianus (Constantinus

Heraclius)

younger son of Herakleios 626

11 February 641 Succeeded to throne

withConstantine III following death

of Herakleios

September 641

Deposed by Senate

c.641 Presumed to have died in exile

Constans II (Κώνστας Β', Kōnstas II);

born Herakleios Constantine (Ηράκλειος Κωνσταντίνος, Herakleios

Kōnstantinos ); called "Constantine the Bearded"

(Κωνσταντίνος Πωγωνάτος, Kōnstantinos Pogonatos) Constans II

(Constantus II); born Heraclius Constantine ( Heraclius Constantinus );

called "Constantine the Bearded"

son of Constantine III

7 November

630

641 Made co-Emperor byHereklonas, sole

emperor in that same year

15 September 668 Assassinated, possibly

on the orders of Mezezius

Mezezius Usurper Emperor Unknown 668 669

Constantine IV (Κωνσταντίνος ∆', Kōnstantinos) Constantine

(Constantinos) son of Constans II 652

15 September 668 succeeded following

murder ofConstans II

September 685 Died of dysentery

Justinian II Ιουστινιανός Β' son

of Constantine IV 669

Co-emperor in 681, sole emperor in 685.

695 Deposed

by military revolt

December 711

Leontios Λεόντιος Usurper Emperor Unknown 695

698 Deposed

by military revolt

705

Tiberios III Τιβέριος Usurper Emperor Unknown 698

705 Deposed

by a Bulgarian-supported

revolt

705

Justinian II Ιουστινιανός Β' son

of Constantine IV 669 705

711 Deposed

by military revolt

December 711


Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from

Emperor until Death

Philippikos Φιλιππικός

A general of Armenian origins; deposed Justinian II

Unknown December,

711

3 June 713 Deposed by a military revolt

Later in the 8th century

Anastasios II Αναστάσιος Β'

a bureaucraut, imperial secretary for Philippikos

Unknown June 713 November 715 Deposed by a military revolt

718

Theodosios III Θεοδόσιος Γ'

a financial officer, tax collector in the Opsikian Theme

Unknown May 715 25 March 717 Deposed by a military revolt


Isaurian dynasty (717–802)


Death

Leo III the Isaurian Λέων Γ΄ ο Ίσαυρος

General from Germanikeia,Commagene

c. 685 25 March 717 18 June 741 18 June 741

Constantine V "the Dung-

named" Κωνσταντίνος Ε΄ ο Κοπρώνυµος

Son of Leo III July, 718 Co-emperor in 720, sole

emperor in 741

14 September

775 14 September 775

Artabasdos Αρτάβασδος

Son-in-law of Leo III, Count of the Opsician Theme

Unknown Rival emperor from June

741/742

2 November

743


Leo IV the Khazar

Λέων ∆΄ ο Χάζαρος

Son of Constantine V 25 January

750 Co-emperor in 751, sole

emperor in 775

8 September

780 8 September 780

Constantine VI Κωνσταντίνος

ΣΤ΄ Son of Leo IV and Irene 771

Co-emperor in 776, sole emperor in 780, until 790 under the regency of his mother, Irene of Athens

August 797

c. 797, though sources are

contradictory on the subject

Irene of Athens Ειρήνη η Αθηναία

Wife of Leo IV, mother of Constantine VI

c. 752 Regent in 780–790, empress

(styled "emperor") in her own right from August 797

31 October 802

9 August 803

Nikephoros' dynasty (802–813)


Nikephoros I the Logothete

Νικηφόρος Α΄ ο Λογοθέτης

General Logothete (finance minister) Unknown 31 October 802 26 July 811 26 July 811

Staurakios Σταυράκιος

Son of Nikephoros I Unknown Co-ruler in 803, senior

ruler in 811 2 October

811 11 January

812

Michael I Rangabe Μιχαήλ Α΄ Ραγκαβέ

Son-in-law of Nikephoros I, brother-in-law of Staurakios

Unknown 2 October 811 11 July 813 11 January

844



Emperor until Death

Leo V the Armenian Λέων Ε'

Strategos of the Anatolic theme c. 775 11 July 813 25 December

820 25 December

820

Constantine Κωνσταντίνος

Son of Leo V the Armenian, originally named Symbatios, co-emperor

c. 800–810

25 December 813

25 December 820

Unknown

Phrygian dynasty (820–867)


Emperor until Death

Michael II the Stammerer or the Amorian

Μιχαήλ Β΄ ο Τραυλός/Ψελλός ο εξ Αµορίου

Strategos, son-in-law of Constantine VI 770 25 December

820 2 October 829

Theophilos Θεόφιλος

son of Michael II 813 2 October 829 20 January 842

Michael III Μιχαήλ Γ΄

son of Theophilos, until 855 under the regency of his mother and Theoktistos

19 January 840

842 23 September 867

Macedonian dynasty (867–1056)


Emperor until Death

Basil I the Macedonian Βασίλειος Α΄ ο Μακεδών

Imperial officer of Armenian origin, born in the Theme of Macedonia

c. 811 867 2 August 886

Leo VI the Wise Λέων ΣΤ΄ ο Σοφός

likely either son of Basil I or Michael III 19

September 866

886 11 May 912

Alexander (III) Αλέξανδρος Γ΄

son of Basil I 870 912 913

Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos Κωνσταντίνος Ζ΄ ο Πορφυρογέννητος

son of Leo VI, until 945 he reigned under regents or senior co-emperors

9 September 905

15 May 908 9 November 959

Romanos I Lekapenos Ρωµανός Α΄ Λεκαπηνός

Admiral and father-in-law of Constantine VII, became senior emperor in 920 until his abdication in

944 c. 870

17 December 920

16 December

944 15 June 948

Romanos II Porphyrogennetos Ρωµανός Β΄ ο

Πορφυρογέννητος

son of Constantine VII 15 March

938 November

959 15 March 963

Nikephoros II Phokas Νικηφόρος Β΄ Φωκάς

married Theophano, Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II

c. 912 16 August

963 969

John I Tzimiskes Iωάννης Α΄ Κουρκούας ο

Τσιµισκής brother-in-law of Romanus II c. 925

11 December 969

10 January 976

Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer Βασίλειος Β΄ ο Βουλγαροκτόνος

son of Romanos II 958 10 January

976 15 December 1025

Constantine VIII Κωνσταντίνος Η΄ ο Πορφυρογέννητος

son of Romanos II 960 15 December

1025 15 November 1028

Zoe Ζωή η Πορφυρογέννητη

daughter of Constantine VIII c. 978 15 November

1028 June 1050

Romanos III Argyros Ρωµανός Γ΄ Αργυρός

Zoe's first husband 968 15 November

1028 11 April 1034

Michael IV the Paphlagonian

Μιχαήλ ∆΄ ο Παφλαγών Zoe's second husband 1010 11 April 1034 10 December 1041

Michael V the Caulker Μιχαήλ Ε΄ ο Καλαφάτης

Michael IV's nephew 1015 10 December

1041 20 April

1042 24 August 1042

Theodora Θεοδώρα

daughter of Constantine VIII 984 20 April 1042 1042 after 31 August 1056

Constantine IX Monomachos

Κωνσταντίνος Θ΄ Μονοµάχος

Zoe's third husband c. 1000 11 June 1042 11 January 1055

Theodora Θεοδώρα

daughter of Constantine VIII 984 11 January

1055 after 31 August 1056



Michael VI Bringas or Stratiotikos Μιχαήλ ΣΤ΄ Βρίγγας ο Στρατιωτικός

Court bureaucrat, military logothete Unknown September, 1056 31 August 1057 c. 1059

Komnenid dynasty (1057–1059)


Isaac I Komnenos Ισαάκιος Α΄ Κοµνηνός

commander of the field army in Anatolia

c. 1005

5 June 1057 as rival emperor, sole emperor since 31 August 1057, abdicated in 1059

22 November 1059

c. 1061

Doukid dynasty (1059–1081)


Death

Constantine X Doukas Κωνσταντίνος Ι΄

∆ούκας General, nominated as his successor by Isaac I Komnenos 1006

24 November 1059

22 May 1067

Michael VII Doukas Μιχαήλ Ζ΄ ∆ούκας

Son of Constantine X, co-emperor in 1059, until 1071 under regents or senior co-emperors

1050 22 May 1067 24 March

1078 1090

Romanos IV Diogenes Ρωµανός ∆΄ ∆ιογένης

General, married Eudokia Makrembolitissa, Constantine X's widow 1032 1067 1071 1072

Nikephoros III Botaneiates Νικηφόρος Γ΄ Βοτανειάτης

Strategos of the Anatolic Theme 1001 31 March 1078 10 December 1081

Komnenid dynasty (1081–1185)


Emperor until Death

Alexios I Komnenos (Αλέξιος Α' Κοµνηνός) Nephew of Isaac I, military

commander 1048 4 April 1081 15 August 1118

John II Komnenos (Ιωάννης Β' Κοµνηνός o Καλοϊωάννης)

son of Alexios I 13 September

1087 1118 8 April 1143

Manuel I Komnenos (Μανουήλ Α' Κοµνηνός ο Μέγας)

son of John II 28 November

1118 1143 24 September 1180

Alexios II Komnenos (Αλέξιος B' Κοµνηνός) son of Manuel I 14 September

1169 1180 October 1183

Andronikos I Komnenos (Ανδρόνικος Α' Κοµνηνός)

nephew of John II c. 1118 1183 2 September 1185

Angelid dynasty (1185–1204)


Isaac II Angelos (Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος) great-grandson of Alexios I September 1156 1185 1195 January 1205

Alexios III Angelos (Αλέξιος Γ' Άγγελος) brother of Isaac II 1153 1195 1203 1211

Isaac II Angelos (Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος) great-grandson of Alexios I September 1156 1203 1204 January 1205

Alexios IV Angelos (Αλέξιος ∆' Άγγελος) son of Isaac II 1182 1203 1204

Nikolaos Kanabos (Νικόλαος Καναβός) 25 January 1204 5 February 1204

Alexios V Doukas (Αλέξιος Ε' ∆ούκας) son-in-law of Alexios III 1140 5 February 1204 12 April 1204 December 1205

Laskarid dynasty (Empire of Nicaea, 1204–1261)


Death

Constantine Laskaris Κωνσταντίνος

Defender of Constantinople Unknown Claimant emperor in 1204 c. 1205 c. 1205

Λάσκαρης

Theodore I Laskaris Θεόδωρος Α΄ Λάσκαρης

Brother of Constantine Laskaris, son-in-law of Alexios III

c. 1174 proclaimed 1205, crowned

1208 1221 1221

John III Doukas VatatzesΙωάννης Γ' ∆ούκας Βατάτζης

son-in-law of Theodore I c. 1192 December, 1221 3 November

1254 3 November

1254

Theodore II Laskaris Θεόδωρος Β' Λάσκαρης

son of John III, grandson of Theodore I

1221/1222 proclaimed 4 November

1254 crowned 1255 18 August

1258 18 August

1258

John IV Laskaris Ιωάννης ∆' Λάσκαρης

son of Theodore II 25 December

1250 18 August 1258

25 December 1261

c. 1305

Palaiologan Dynasty (restored to Constantinople, 1261–1453)


Death

Michael VIII Palaiologos Μιχαήλ Η' Παλαιολόγος

Great-grandson of Alexios III, grandnephew of John III by

marriage 1223

1 January 1259 as co-emperor, senior emperor since 25 December

1261

11 December 1282

11 December 1282

Andronikos II PalaiologosΑνδρόνικος

Παλαιολόγος Son of Michael VIII

25 March 1259

nominal co-emperor in September, 1261, crowned in 1272. Senior emperor on 11 December 1282

24 May 1328 13 February

1332

Michael IX Palaiologos Μιχαήλ Θ' Παλαιολόγος

Son of Andronikos II 17 April

1277 co-emperor in 1281, crowned in

1294/1295. 12 October

1320 12 October

1320

Andronikos III

PalaiologosΑνδρόνικος Γ' Παλαιολόγος

Son of Michael IX 25 March

1297

co-emperor in 1316, rival emperor since July, 1321. Senior emperor on

24 May 1328. 15 June 1341 15 June 1341

John V Palaiologos Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος

Son of Andronikos III 18 June 1332

Emperor in 15 June 1341 8 February

1347 16 February

1391

John VI Kantakouzenos Ιωάννης ΣΤ' Καντακουζηνός

A maternal relative of the Palaiologoi

c. 1292 rival emperor on 26 October 1341, senior emperor on 8 February 1347.

4 December 1354

15 June 1383

Matthew Kantakouzenos Ματθαίος

Καντακουζηνός Son of John VI, brother-in-law

of John V c. 1325

co-emperor on 15 April 1353, rival emperor since 4 December 1354.

December, 1357

between 1383 and 1391


Son of Andronikos III, son-in-law of John VI

18 June 1332

co-emperor in 1347, rival emperor in 1352. Senior Emperor on 4

December 1354

12 August 1376

16 February 1391

Andronikos IV PalaiologosΑνδρόνικος ∆΄

Παλαιολόγος

Son of John V, grandson of John VI

2 April 1348 co-emperor c. 1352, Senior Emperor

on 12 August 1376 1 July 1379 28 June 1385



18 June 1332

Senior Emperor on 1 July 1379 14 April

1390 16 February

1391

John VII Palaiologos Ιωάννης Ζ'

Παλαιολόγος Son of Andronikos IV 1370

Co-emperor from 1376 to 1379, senior emperor on 14 April 1390.

17 September

1390

22 September 1408



18 June 1332

Senior Emperor on 17 September 1390

16 February 1391

16 February 1391

Manuel II Palaiologos Μανουήλ Β' Παλαιολόγος

Son of John V, grandson of John VI, brother of

Andronikos IV

27 June 1350

Co-emperor in 1373, Senior Emperor on 16 February 1391

21 July 1425 21 July 1425

Andronikos V

PalaiologosΑνδρόνικος Ε' Παλαιολόγος

Son of John VII c. 1400 co-emperor c. 1403 c. 1407 c. 1407

John VIII Palaiologos Ιωάννης Η' Son of Manuel II 18

December 1392

Co-emperor c. 1416, sole emperor on 21 July 1425

31 October 1448

31 October 1448

Constantine XI PalaiologosΚωνσταντίνος ΙΑ'

Παλαιολόγος

Son of Manuel II, brother of John VIII

8 February 1405

6 January 1449 29 May 1453 29 May 1453

Palaiologan Dynasty (claimants in exile)


Emperor until

Death

Demetrios Palaiologos ∆ηµήτριος

Παλαιολόγος Son of Manuel II, brother of John VIII and

Constantine XI c.

1407 1453 1460 1470

Thomas Palaiologos Θωµάς Παλαιολόγος Son of Manuel II, brother of John VIII and

Constantine XI c.

1409 1453 12 May 1465

12 May 1465

Andreas Palaiologos Ανδρέας Παλαιολόγος Son of Thomas c.

1453 12 May 1465 1502 1502

list of byzantine emperors

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