This article provides a complete but concise list of those individuals who claimed the title of 'Emperor' between the inception of the imperial period (27 BC) and the end of the empire on 29 May 1453.
Those individuals who have historically been accepted as the 'official' emperors are in bold; usurpers or other claimants generally excluded from regnal lists are in italics. Unless otherwise stated, the succession to the title was from an emperor to his nominated heir, and death was by natural causes.
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| February/March 235 to March/April 238 |
Maximinus Thrax |
Proclaimed emperor by the army; murdered by Praetorian Guard |
| earlyJanuary/March 238 to lateJanuary/April 238 |
Gordian I |
Proclaimed emperor in Africa; committed suicide after Gordian II's death |
| earlyJanuary March 238 to lateJanuary/April 238 |
Gordian II |
Proclaimed emperor with Gordian I, killed in battle |
| earlyFebruary 238 to earlyMay 238 |
Pupienus |
Proclaimed joint emperor by senate; murdered by Praetorian Guard |
| earlyFebruary 238 to earlyMay 238 |
Balbinus |
Proclaimed joint emperor by senate; murdered by Praetorian Guard |
| May 238 to February 244 |
Gordian III |
Nephew of Gordian II; death unclear, probably murdered |
| 240 |
Sabinianus |
Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor; defeated in battle |
| February 244 to September/October 249 |
Philip the Arab |
Proclaimed emperor after death of Gordian III; killed in battle by Decius |
| 248 |
Pacatianus |
Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor; murdered by his own soldiers |
| 248 to 249 |
Jotapianus |
Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor in the east; murdered by his own soldiers |
| 248? or 253? |
Silbannacus |
Usurper; details essentially unknown |
| 249 to June 251 |
Decius |
Killed in battle |
| 249 to 252 |
Priscus |
Proclaimed himself emperor in the east in opposition to Decius |
| 250 to 250 |
Licinianus |
Usurper; proclaimed emperor in Rome; rebellion suppressed |
| early251 to June 251 |
Herennius Etruscus |
Junior co-emperor under Decius; killed in battle |
| 251 |
Hostilian |
Son of Decius; died of plague |
| June 251 to August 253 |
Gallus |
Proclaimed emperor by his troops after Decius's death; murdered by them in favour of Aemilianus |
| July 251 to August 253 |
Volusianus |
Junior co-emperor under Gallus; murdered by army |
| August 253 to October 253 |
Aemilian |
Proclaimed emperor by his troops; murdered by them in favour of Valerian |
| 253 to June 260 |
Valerian |
Proclaimed emperor by his troops; captured in battle by the Persians; died in captivity |
| 253 to September 268 |
Gallienus |
Junior co-emperor under Valerian to 260; probably murdered by his generals |
| 260 |
Saloninus |
Son of Gallienus; proclaimed emperor by army; murdered shortly after by troops of Postumus |
| June 260 (or 258) |
Ingenuus |
Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor after Valerian's capture; defeated in battle |
| 260 |
Regalianus |
Usurper; proclaimed emperor after Ingenuus's defeat; fate unclear |
| 260 to 261 |
Macrianus Major |
Usurper; proclaimed emperor by eastern army; defeated and killed in battle |
| 260 to 261 |
Macrianus Minor |
Usurper; son of Macrianus Major; defeated and killed in battle |
| 260 to 261 |
Quietus |
Usurper; son of Macrianus Major; defeated and killed in battle |
| 261 to 261 or 262 |
Mussius Aemilianus |
Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor after the defeat of the Macriani; defeated and executed |
| 268 to 268 |
Aureolus |
Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor after Gallienus's death; surrendered to Claudius II Gothicus; murdered by Praetorian Guard |
| 268 to August 270 |
Claudius Gothicus |
Proclaimed emperor by the army |
| August 270 to September 270 |
Quintillus |
Proclaimed himself emperor; cause of death unclear |
| August 270 to 275 |
Aurelian |
Proclaimed emperor by army; murdered by the Praetorian Guard |
| 271 to 271 |
Septimius |
Usurper; proclaimed emperor in Dalmatia; killed by his own soldiers |
| November/December 275 to July 276 |
Tacitus |
Appointed emperor by the Senate; possibly assassinated |
| July 276 to September 276 |
Florianus |
Brother of Tacitus, proclaimed emperor by the western army; murdered by his troops |
| July 276 to lateSeptember 282 |
Probus |
Proclaimed emperor by the eastern army; murdered by his own soldiers in favour of Carus |
| 280 |
Julius Saturninus |
Usurper; proclaimed emperor by his troops; then killed by them |
| 280 |
Proculus |
Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor at the request of the people of Lugdunum; executed by Probus |
| 280 |
Bonosus |
Usurper; proclaimed himself emperor; defeated by Probus and committed suicide |
| September 282 to July/August 283 |
Carus |
Proclaimed emperor by Praetorian guard |
| spring 283 to summer 285 |
Carinus |
Son of Carus; co-emperor with Numerian; fate unclear |
| July/August 283 to November 284 |
Numerian |
Son of Carus; co-emperor with Carinus; probably murdered |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 7 February 457 to 18 January 474 |
Leo I |
A common soldier, he was chosen by Aspar, commander-in-chief of the army. Died of dysentery. |
| 18 January 474 to 17 November 474 |
Leo II |
Succeeded upon the death of Leo I. Died of an unknown disease, possibly poisoned. |
| 17 November 474 to 9 April 491 |
Zeno |
Named co-emperor by his son on 9 February 474, he succeeded upon the death of Leo II. Deposed by Basiliscus, brother-in-law of Leo, he fled to his native country and regained the throne in August 476. |
| 9 January 475 to August 476 |
Basiliscus |
General and brother-in-law of Leo I, he seized power from Zeno but was again deposed by him. |
| 479 |
Marcian |
Leo I's son–in–law, who resented the accession of Zeno. Captured the imperial palace but was in turn captured. Spent the rest of his life imprisoned in a fortress in Isauria. |
| 484 to 488 |
Leontius |
An Isaurian commander who was called on to put down the rebel Illus but declared himself emperor instead. He died after a four-year siege of the fortress of Papurius. |
| 11 April 491 to 9 July 518 |
Anastasius I |
A palace official (silentiarius) and son-in-law of Leo I, he was chosen as Emperor by Empress-dowager Ariadne |
| 491 to 492 |
Longinus |
Brother of the Emperor Zeno, he launched a rebellion to enforce his claim to the throne but was defeated and fled to Egypt where he died. |
| 512 |
Areobindus |
Proclaimed emperor during a riot at Constantinople, but refused to accept the nomination. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| July 518 to 1 August 527 |
Justin I |
Officer and commander of the Excubitors bodyguard under Anastasius I, he was elected by army and people upon the death of Anastasius I. |
| 518 |
Theocritus |
The comes domesticorum who attempted to buy support for the throne on the death of Anastasius I. |
| 1 August 527 to 13/14 November 565 |
Justinian I |
Nephew of Justin I, possibly raised to co-emperor on 1 April 527. Succeeded on Justin I's death. |
| 529 |
Julianus ben Sabar |
Leader of a Samaritan revolt, proclaimed "King of Israel". Managed to control the entire Samaria before being defeated. |
| 532 |
Hypatius |
A nephew of Anastasius I who was acclaimed emperor during the Nika riots. |
| 536–545 |
Stotzas |
A Byzantine soldier who was elected the leader of rebel troops in the recently conquered Vandal Kingdom of Africa. Aiming to establish a new kingdom, he was defeated on a number of occasions before finally being defeated and mortally wounded in 545. |
| 537 |
John Cottistis |
Usurper in Mesopotamia, he was an infantry soldier who was acclaimed emperor by his troops, but was killed after four days by imperial forces at Dara. |
| 14 November 565 to 5 October 578 |
Justin II |
Nephew of Justinian I, he seized the throne on the death of Justinian I with support of army and Senate. |
| 5 October 578 to 14 August 582 |
Tiberius II Constantine |
Succeeded on Justin II's death. |
| 14 April 582 to 22 November 602 |
Maurice |
Married the daughter of Tiberius II and succeeded him upon his death. Named his son Theodosius as co-emperor in 600. Deposed by Phocas and executed on 27 November 602 at Chalcedon. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 5 October 610 to 11 February 641 |
Heraclius |
Began a revolt against Phocas in 609 and deposed him in October 610. |
| 610 to 611 |
Comentiolus |
The brother of Phocas, he refused to acknowledge Heraclius' accession and planned to enforce his claim to the throne. He was eventually assassinated. |
| 617 |
John of Conza |
Described as a tyrannus (a term meaning usurper), he captured Naples but was defeated and killed by Eleutherius, the Exarch of Ravenna. |
| 619 |
Eleutherius |
The Exarch of Ravenna, he was a eunuch who set up his capital at Rome, but was murdered by his own troops. |
| 635 |
John Athalarichos |
The illegitimate son of Heraclius, he plotted to overthrow his father, but the scheme was uncovered prior to execution. He was mutilated and exiled. |
| 11 February 641 to 24/26 May 641 |
Constantine III |
Named co-emperor in 613. Succeeded to throne with Heraklonas following the death of Heraclius. Died of tuberculosis, allegedly poisoned by Empress-dowager Martina. |
| 11 February 641 to September 641 |
Heraklonas |
Named co-emperor in 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. Forced to name Constans II co-emperor by the army, and was deposed by the Senate in September 641. |
| September 641 to 15 September 668 |
Constans II |
Raised to co-emperor 641 after his father's death due to army pressure. Became sole emperor after the forced abdication of Heraklonas. Assassinated, possibly on the orders of Mezezius. |
| 642 |
Maurikios Chartoularios |
The dux of Rome, he attempted to establish an independent state in Italy. Executed by the Exarch of Ravenna. |
| 644 |
Valentinus |
The father–in–law of Constans II, he appeared at Constantinople with a contingent of troops, and demanded to be crowned emperor. He was overwhelmed by a hostile crowd and murdered. |
| 646 to 647 |
Gregory |
The Exarch of Carthage, his support of Chalcedonian orthodoxy pushed him into conflict with Constans. Killed in battle against the Arabs. |
| 650 to 652 |
Olympius |
The Exarch of Ravenna, he supported the Pope against Constans' religious policies. Marching into Sicily, he died of plague. |
| 651 to 652 |
Theodoros Pasagnathes |
A patrikios who rebelled in Armenia. |
| 665 to 666 |
Eleutherios |
The leader of a local rebellion that overthrew the exarch Gennadius in Carthage. |
| 667 to 668 |
Saborios |
The strategos of the theme of the Armeniacs, he raised a revolt in Anatolia, but died when his out of control horse smashed his head against a city gate. |
| 15 September 668 to September 685 |
Constantine IV |
Died of dysentery. |
| 668 to 669 |
Mezezius |
Commander of the Opsikion theme, he was chosen by the court at Sicily to replace the murdered Constans II. He was eventually executed by forces loyal to Constantine IV. |
| September 685 to 695 |
Justinian II |
Named co-emperor in 681 and became sole emperor upon Constantine IV's death. Deposed by military revolt in 695. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 695 to 698 |
Leontios |
General from Isauria, he deposed Justinian II and was overthrown in another revolt in 698. Executed in February 706. |
| 698 to 705 |
Tiberius III |
Admiral of Germanic origin, originally named Apsimar. He rebelled against Leontios after a failed expedition. Reigned under the name of Tiberius until deposed by Justinian II in 705. Executed in February 706. |
| August 705 to December 711 |
Justinian II |
Returned on the throne with Bulgar support. Named son Tiberius as co-emperor in 706. Deposed and killed by military revolt. |
| December 711 to 3 June 713 |
Philippikos Bardanes |
A general of Armenian origin, he deposed Justinian II and was in turn overthrown by a revolt of the Opsician troops. |
| June 713 to November 715 |
Anastasios II |
Bureaucrat and secretary under Philippikos, he was raised to the purple by Opsician troops. Deposed by a military revolt. |
| May 715 to 25 March 717 |
Theodosios III |
Fiscal official, he was proclaimed emperor by the Opsician troops. Abdicated following the revolt of Leo the Isaurian and became a monk. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 25 March 717 to 18 June 741 |
Leo III |
A general. Rose in rebellion and secured the throne. |
| 18 June 741 to 14 September 775 |
Constantine V |
Only son of Leo III. Co-emperor since 720, he succeeded upon his father's death. |
| June 741/742 to 2 November 743 |
Artabasdos |
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. |
| 14 September 775 to 8 September 780 |
Leo IV |
Eldest son of Constantine V. Co-emperor since 751, he succeeded upon his father's death. |
| 8 September 780 to August 797 |
Constantine VI |
Only child of Leo IV. Co-emperor in 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. |
| August 797 to 31 October 802 |
Irene of Athens |
Overthrew her son in 797 and became empress-regnant. Deposed in a palace coup in 802. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 867 to 2 August 886 |
Basil I |
Succeeded to the throne after murdering Michael III. |
| 886 to 11 May 912 |
Leo VI |
Son of Basil I (possibly the son of Michael III). |
| 912 to 913 |
Alexander III |
Son of Basil I. |
| 15 May 908 to 9 November 959 |
Constantine VII |
Son of Leo VI, until 945 he reigned under regents or senior co-emperors. |
| 17 December 920 to 16 December 944 |
Romanos I |
Admiral and father-in-law of Constantine VII, became senior emperor in 920 until his abdication in 944. |
| November 959 to 15 March 963 |
Romanos II |
Son of Constantine VII. |
| 16 August 963 to 969 |
Nikephoros II |
Married Theophano, Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II. |
| 11 December 969 to 10 January 976 |
John I |
Brother-in-law of Romanos II. |
| 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025 |
Basil II |
Son of Romanos II. |
| 15 December 1025 to 15 November 1028 |
Constantine VIII |
Son of Romanos II. |
| 15 November 1028 to June 1050 |
Zoe |
Daughter of Constantine VIII. |
| 15 November 1028 to 11 April 1034 |
Romanos III |
Zoe's first husband. |
| 11 April 1034 to 10 December 1041 |
Michael IV |
Zoe's second husband. |
| 10 December 1041 to 20 April 1042 |
Michael V |
Michael IV's nephew. |
| 20 April 1042 to 11 January 1055 |
Theodora |
Daughter of Constantine VIII. Period of co-rule. |
| 11 June 1042 to 11 January 1055 |
Constantine IX |
Zoe's third husband. |
| 11 January 1055 to 31 August 1056 |
Theodora |
Daughter of Constantine VIII. Period of sole rule. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 5 June 1057 to 22 November 1059 |
Isaac I Komnenos |
Successful general; he rose in revolt leading the eastern armies and was declared Emperor; he was recognized after Michael VI's abdication. Resigned in 1059. |
| 24 November 1059 to 22 May 1067 |
Constantine X Doukas |
General and close ally of Isaac Komnenos, and succeeded him as emperor on his abdication. |
| 22 May 1067 to 24 March 1078 |
Michael VII Doukas |
Eldest son of Constantine X. Co-emperor since 1059, he succeeded on his father's death. He was under the regency of his mother, Eudokia, from 1067–1068, and was junior emperor under her second husband Romanos IV from 1068–1071. Senior emperor in 1071–1078. He abdicated before the revolt of Nikephoros Botaneiates. |
| 1 January 1068 to 24 October 1071 |
Romanos IV (Doukas) |
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. |
| 31 March 1078 to 4 April 1081 |
Nikephoros III (Botaneiates) |
He rebelled against Michael VII and was welcomed into the capital. Overthrown by the Komnenos clan. |
| 4 April 1081 to 15 August 1118 |
Alexios I Komnenos |
Nephew of Isaac I Komnenos. A distinguished general, he overthrew Nikephoros III. He retained Constantine Doukas as co-emperor until 1087 and named his eldest son John co-emperor in 1092. |
| 15 August 1118 to 8 April 1143 |
John II Komnenos |
Eldest son of Alexios I. Co-emperor since 1092, he succeeded upon his father's death. Named his eldest son Alexios co-emperor in 1122, but he died before him. |
| 1143 to 24 September 1180 |
Manuel I Komnenos |
Youngest son of John II, he was chosen as emperor over his elder brother Isaac by his father on his deathbed. |
| 24 September 1180 to October 1183 |
Alexios II Komnenos |
Only son of Manuel I. In 1180–1182 was under the regency of his mother, Maria of Antioch. She was overthrown by Andronikos I Komnenos, who became co-emperor and finally had Alexios II deposed and killed. |
| 1183 to 11 September 1185 |
Andronikos I Komnenos |
Nephew of John II by his brother Isaac. A general, he seized the regency from Maria of Antioch in 1182 and subsequently the throne from his nephew Alexios II. He was overthrown and lynched in a popular uprising. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 1185 to 1195 |
Isaac II |
Came to the throne at the head of a popular revolt against Andronikos I. He was deposed, blinded and imprisoned by his elder brother, Alexios III. |
| 1195 to 17/18 July 1203 |
Alexios III |
Elder brother of Isaac II. He was deposed by the Fourth Crusade. |
| 18 July 1203 to 27/28 January 1204 |
Isaac II |
Restored to his throne by the Crusaders, actual rule fell to his son Alexios IV. He was deposed by Alexios V. |
| 1 August 1203 to 27/28 January 1204 |
Alexios IV |
Son of Isaac II. He enlisted the Fourth Crusade to return his father to the throne, and reigned alongside his restored father. He was deposed by Alexios V. |
| 5 February 1204 to 13 April 1204 |
Alexios V |
Son-in-law of Alexios III and a prominent aristocrat, he deposed Isaac II and Alexios IV in a palace coup. He fled to Thrace after an invasion by crusaders which ended his rule. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 1204 to 1205 |
Contantine (XI) |
Elected emperor by the citizens of Constantinople on the day the city fell to the crusaders. He later fled to Nicaea and died shortly thereafter. |
| 1205 to December 1221/1222 |
Theodore I |
Son-in-law of Alexios III. Proclaimed emperor after his brother Constantine's death in 1205. |
| 15 December 1221/1222 to 3 November 1254 |
John III |
Son-in-law of Theodore I. |
| 3 November 1254 to 18 August 1258 |
Theodore II |
Only son of John III, he succeeded on his father's death. |
| 18 August 1258 to 25 December 1261 |
John IV |
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, Palaiologos deposed him, had him blinded and imprisoned. |
| Reign |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| 1 January 1259 to 11 December 1282 |
Michael VIII |
Great-grandson of Alexios III, grandnephew of John III by marriage. Co-emperor in 1259. Senior emperor since 25 December 1261. |
| September 1261 to 24 May 1328 |
Andronikos II |
Son of Michael VIII. Nominal co-emperor in September 1261, crowned in 1272. Senior emperor on 11 December 1282. |
| 1281 to 12 October 1320 |
Michael IX |
Son of Andronikos II. Co-emperor in 1281, crowned in 1294/1295. |
| 1316 to 15 June 1341 |
Andronikos III |
Son of Michael IX. Co-emperor in 1316, rival emperor since July 1321. Senior emperor on 24 May 1328. |
| 15 June 1341 to 8 February 1347 |
John V |
Son of Andronikos III. Emperor. |
| 26 October 1341 to 4 December 1354 |
John VI |
Maternal relative of the Palaiologoi. Rival emperor on 26 October 1341. Senior emperor on 8 February 1347. |
| 15 April 1351 to December 1357 |
Matthew |
Son of John VI, brother-in-law of John V. Co-emperor on 15 April 1353. Rival emperor since 4 December 1354. |
| 1347 to 12 August 1376 |
John V |
Son of Andronikos III, son-in-law of John VI. Co-emperor in 1347. Rival emperor in 1352. Senior Emperor on 4 December 1354. |
| 1352 to 1 July 1379 |
Andronikos IV |
Son of John V, grandson of John VI. Co-emperor c. 1352. Senior Emperor on 12 August 1376. |
| 1 July 1379 to 14 April 1390 |
John V |
Son of Andronikos III, son-in-law of John VI. Senior Emperor. |
| 1376 to 17 September 1390 |
John VII |
Son of Andronikos IV. Co-emperor from 1376 to 1379. Senior emperor on 14 April 1390. |
| 17 September 1390 to 16 February 1391 |
John V |
Son of Andronikos III, son-in-law of John VI. Senior Emperor. |
| 1373 to 21 July 1425 |
Manuel II |
Son of John V, grandson of John VI, brother of Andronikos IV. Co-emperor in 1373. Senior Emperor on 16 February 1391. |
| 1403 to 1407 |
Andronikos V |
Son of John VII. Co-emperor c. 1403. |
| 1416 to 31 October 1448 |
John VIII |
Son of Manuel II. Co-emperor c. 1416. Sole emperor on 21 July 1425. |
| 6 January 1449 to 29 May 1453 |
Constantine XI |
Son of Manuel II, brother of John VIII. |
