list of byzantine emperors
TRANSCRIPT
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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
Non-dynastic (711–717)
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
Later in the 8th century
Isaurian dynasty (717–802)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until
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
Later in the 8th century
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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
Non-dynastic (813–820)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from
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
Non-dynastic (1056–1057)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until
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
John V Palaiologos Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος
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
John V Palaiologos Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος
Son of Andronikos III, son-in-law of John VI
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
John V Palaiologos Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος
Son of Andronikos III, son-in-law of John VI
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)
Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from
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