Byzantine Emperors & Empressess.
This is a list of the emperors of the East Roman or Byzantine Empire.
All Byzantine Emperors regarded themselves as Roman Emperors, the term "Byzantine" being coined firstly by Western historiography much later, in the 16th century.
Although the barbarian West recognized the Eastern Empire's claim to the Roman legacy for several centuries, on 25 December 800, Pope Leo III crowned King of Franks Charlemagne as the Roman Emperor (which eventually led to the formation of the Holy Roman Empire). This happened after the coronation of Empress Irene, who, as a woman, was not recognised by the Pope of Rome to have a right to the throne. Cont.
Both (senior) emperors and co-emperors (junior emperors) are listed, therefore their reigns overlap in many cases. The emperors are listed in order of their coronation year, if available.
Constantinian dynasty, 306–363
- Constantine I (306–337) - wikipedia Constantine the Great
- Constantius II (337–361) - wikipedia Constantius II
- Julian (361-363) - wikipedia Julian (emperor)
Non-dynastic, 363–364
- Jovian (363-364) - wikipedia Jovian (emperor)
Valentinian dynasty, 364–379
- Valentinian I (364) - wikipedia Valentinian I
- Valens I (364-378) - wikipedia Valens
- Gratian (378-379) - wikipedia Gratian
Theodosian dynasty, 379–457
- Theodosius I (379-395) - wikipedia Theodosius I
- Arcadius (383-408) - wikipedia Arcadius
- Theodosius II (408-450) - wikipedia Theodosius II
- Marcian (450-457) - wikipedia Marcian
Leonid dynasty, 457–518
Byzantium under the Leonid dynasty began with the ascension of Leo I in the midst of the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire. Not until the reign of Zeno did the Empire gain strength, at the expense of its defunct Western brother. Numerous palatial intrigues and questions over his barbarian roots did not allow Zeno to feel comfortable in his successes.
The last of the dynasty, Anastasius I, was considered to be a man of quality and did much to restore the confidence in the imperial rule. His death ushered in the Justinian Dynasty.
- Leo l (457-474) - wikipedia Leo I (emperor)
- Leo ll (473-474) - wikipedia Leo II (emperor)
- Zeno (474-475, first reign) - wikipedia Zeno (emperor)
- Basiliscus (475-476) - wikipedia Basiliscus
- Marcus (475-476) - wikipedia Marcus (son of Basiliscus)
- Zeno (476-491, second reign)
- Anastasius l (491-518) - wikipedia Anastasius I Dicorus
Justinian dynasty, 518–602
The Justinian dynasty is a family who ruled over the Byzantine Empire from 518 to 602. It originated with Justin I and ended with Maurice. Patriarch Germanus I of Constantinople (term c. 715 - 730), whose father was named Justinian, might have been a descendant of the dynasty. The names Justinian and Germanus were common among dynasty members.
- Justin l (518-527) - wikipedia Justin l
- Justinian l (527-565) - wikipedia Justinian l
- Justin ll (565-578) - wikipedia Justin lI
- Tiberius II Constantine (578-582) - wikipedia Tiberius II Constantine
- Maurice (582-602) - wikipedia Maurice (emperor)
- Theodosius (590-602) - wikipedia Theodosius (son of Maurice)
Non-dynastic, 602–610
Phocas (602-610) - wikipedia Phocas
Heraclian dynasty, 610–695
The Heraclian dynasty was named after the general Heraclius the Younger, who in 610 sailed from Carthage, overthrew the usurper Phocas and was crowned Emperor. At the time, the Empire was embroiled in a war with the Sassanid Persian Empire, which in the next decade conquered the Empire's eastern provinces.
After a long and exhausting struggle, Heraclius managed to defeat the Persians and restore the Empire, only to lose these provinces again shortly after to the sudden eruption of the Muslim conquests. His successors struggled to contain the Arab tide. The Levant and North Africa were lost, while in 674–678, a large Arab army besieged Constantinople itself.
- Heraclius (610-641) - wikipedia Heraclius
- Konstantinos III (613-641) - wikipedia Heraclius Constantine
- Heraclius (638-641) - wikipedia Heraclonas
- Tiberius (641) - wikipedia David (son of Heraclius)
- Constans ll (641-668) - wikipedia Constans ll
- Constantine lV (654-685) - wikipedia Constantine lV
- Heraclius (659-681) - wikipedia Heraclius (son of Constans II
- Tiberius (659-681) - wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_(son_of_Constans_II) Tiberius (son of Constans II]
- Justinian ll (685-695, first reign) - wikipedia Justinian ll
Twenty Years' Anarchy, 695–717
- Leontius (695-698) - wikipedia Leontius
- Tiberius lll (698-705) - wikipedia Tiberius III
- Justinian ll (705-711, second reign)
- Tiberius (706-711) - wikipedia Tiberius (son of Justinian ll)
- Philippicus (711-713) - wikipedia Philippicus
- Anastasius II (713-715) - wikipedia Anastasius II (emperor)
- Theodosius III (715-717) - wikipedia Theodosius III
Isaurian dynasty, 717–802
The East Roman or Byzantine Empire was ruled by the Isaurian or Syrian dynasty from 711 to 802. The Isaurian emperors were successful in defending and consolidating the Empire against the Caliphate after the onslaught of the early Muslim conquests, but were less successful in Europe, where they suffered setbacks against the Bulgars, had to give up the Exarchate of Ravenna and lose influence over Italy and the Papacy to the growing power of the Franks.
The dynasty however is chiefly associated with Byzantine Iconoclasm, an attempt to restore divine favour by purifying the Christian faith from excessive adoration of icons, which resulted in considerable internal turmoil.
- Leo III (717–741) - wikipedia Leo lll the Isaurian
- Constantine V (720–775) - wikipedia Constantine V
- Artabasdos (741–743) - wikipedia Artabasdos
- Nikephoros (741–743) - wikipedia Nikephoros (son of Artabasdos)
- Leo IV (775–780) - wikipedia Leo lV the Khazar
- Constantine VI (776–797) - wikipedia Constantine Vl
- Irene (792–802) - wikipedia Irene of Athens
Nikephorian dynasty, 802–813
- Nikephoros I (802-811) - wikipedia Nikephoros I
- Staurakios (803-811) - wikipedia Staurakios
- Michael I Rangabe (811-813) - wikipedia Michael I Rangabe
- Theophylactos Rangabe (811-813) - wikipedia Theophylact (son of Michael I)
- Staurakios Rangabe (811-?) - wikipedia Staurakios (son of Michael I)
Non-dynastic, 813–820
- Leo V (813-820) - wikipedia Leo V the Armenian
- Constantine (813-820) - wikipedia Constantine (son of Leo V)
Amorian dynasty, 820–867
- Michael II (820-829) - wikipedia Michael II
- Theophilos (821-842) - wikipedia Theophilos (emperor)
- Constantine (830’s) - wikipedia Constantine (son of Theophilos)
- Michael III (840-867) - wikipedia Michael III
Macedonian dynasty, 867–1056
- Basil I (866-886) - wikipedia Basil I
- Constantine (868-879) - wikipedia Constantine (son of Basil I)
- Leo VI (870-912) - wikipedia Leo VI the Wise
- Alexandros III (879-913) - wikipedia Alexander (Byzantine emperor)
- Constantine VII (908-959) - wikipedia Constantine VII
- Romanos I (920-944) - wikipedia Romanos I Lekapenos
- Christopher Lekapenos (921-931) - wikipedia Christopher Lekapenos
- Stephanos Lekapenos (924-945) - wikipedia Stephen Lekapenos
- Constantine Lekapenos (924-945) - wikipedia Constantine Lekapenos
- Romanos II (945-963) - wikipedia Romanos II
- Basil II (960-1025) - wikipedia Basil II
- Constantine VIII (962-1028) - wikipedia Constantine VIII
- Nikephoros II (963-969) - wikipedia Nikephoros II Phokas
- John I (969-976) - wikipedia John I Tzimiskes
- Romanos III (1028-1034) - wikipedia Romanos III Argyros
- Michael IV (1034-1041) - wikipedia Michael IV the Paphlagonian
- Michael V (1041-1042) - wikipedia Michael V Kalaphates
- Zoe (1042-1050) - wikipedia Zoe Porphyrogenita
- Theodora (1042-1056) - wikipedia Theodora Porphyrogenita
- Constantine IX (1042-1055) - wikipedia Constantine IX Monomachos
Non-dynastic, 1056–1057
- Michael VI (1056-1057) - wikipedia Michael VI Bringas
Komnenos dynasty, 1057–1059
- Isaac I (1057-1059) - wikipedia Isaac I Komnenos
Doukid dynasty, 1059–1081
- Constantine X (1059-1067) - wikipedia Constantine X Doukas
- Michael VII (1060-1078) - wikipedia Michael VII Doukas
- Konstantios Doukas (1060-1078) - wikipedia Konstantios Doukas
- Romanos IV (1068-1071) - wikipedia Romanos IV Diogenes
- Andronikos Doukas (1068-1070s) - wikipedia Andronikos Doukas (co-emperor)
- Leo Diogenes (c. 1069-1071) - wikipedia Leo Diogenes
- Nikephoros Diogenes (c. 1069-1071) - wikipedia Nikephoros Diogenes
- Constantine Doukas (c. 1074-1078, first reign) - wikipedia Constantine Doukas (co-emperor)
- Nikephoros III (1078-1081) - wikipedia Nikephoros III Botaneiates
Komnenos dynasty, 1081–1185
- Alexios I (1081-1118) - wikipedia Alexios I Komnenos
- Constantine Doukas (c. 1081-1087, second reign)
- John II (1098-1143) - wikipedia John II Komnenos
- Alexios Komnenos (1119-1142) - wikipedia Alexios Komnenos (co-emperor)
- Manuel I (1143-1180) - wikipedia Manuel I Komnenos
- Alexios II (1171-1183) - wikipedia Alexios II Komnenos
- Andronikos I (1183-1185) - wikipedia Andronikos I Komnenos
- John Komnenos (1183-1185) - wikipedia John Komnenos (son of Andronikos I)
Angelos dynasty, 1185–1204
- Isaac II (1185-1195, first reign) - wikipedia Isaac II Angelos
- Alexios III (1195-1203) - wikipedia Alexios III Angelos
- Isaac II (1203-1204, second reign)
- Alexios IV (1203-1204) - wikipedia Alexios IV Angelos
- Alexios V (1204) - wikipedia Alexios V Doukas
Latin Empire, 1204–1261
Empire of Nicaea, 1204–1261
Despotate of Epirus, 1205–1337; 1356–1479 and Empire of Thessalonica, 1204–1261
Empire of Trebizond, 1204–1461
Byzantine Empire restored, 1261–1453
Palaiologan dynasty, 1261–1453
- Michael VIII (1261-1282) - wikipedia Michael VIII Palaiologos
- Andronikos II (1272-1328) - wikipedia Andronikos II Palaiologos
- Michael IX (1294-1320) - wikipedia Michael IX Palaiologos
- Andronikos III (1325-1341) - wikipedia Andronikos III Palaiologos
- John V (1341-1376, first reign) - wikipedia John V Palaiologos
- John VI (1347-1354) - wikipedia John VI Kantakouzenos
- Matthew Kantakouzenos (1353-1357) - wikipedia Matthew Kantakouzenos
- Andronikos IV (1352-1379) - wikipedia Andronikos IV Palaiologos
- Manuel II (1373-1425) - wikipedia Manuel II Palaiologos
- John V (1379-1390, second reign)
- John VII (1377-1390) - wikipedia John VII Palaiologos
- John V (1390-1391, third reign)
- John VIII (1421-1448) - wikipedia John VIII Palaiologos
- Constantine XI (1449-1453) - wikipedia Constantine XI Palaiologos