List of Byzantine emperors

{{{royal_title}}} of the Byzantine Empire
Coin showing the face of Constantine I
Details
Formation	306
Abolition	1453

This is a list of the Emperors of the late Eastern Roman Empire, commonly known as the Byzantine Empire by modern historians. This list does not include numerous co-emperors who never attained sole or senior status as rulers.

This list begins with Constantine I the Great, the first Christian emperor reigning from Constantinople. Diocletian before him had ruled from Nicomedia and replaced the republican trappings of the office with a straightforward autocracy. All Byzantine Emperors regarded themselves as Roman Emperors.

The Emperor Heraclius (610-641) replaced Latin with Greek as the language of the army and began the administrative restructuring of the Empire into themata. Although Greek had long been the dominant language in the Eastern Roman Empire this change represented a formal rejection of the Latin language and many aspects of traditional Roman culture. Indeed after 800 AD the Pope and later the Franks would reject the Roman Imperial authority of Constantinople partially on this basis.

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 and followed by Augustus. Following Heraclius, the title commonly became the Greek Basileus (Gr. Βασιλεύς), which had formerly meant generally "king", "sovereign" but now was used in place of Imperator. Kings were now titled by the neologism Regas (Gr. Ρήγας, from the Lat. "Rex") or by another generic term Archon (Gr. Άρχων, "ruler"). Autokrator (Gr. Αυτοκράτωρ) was also frequently used, along with a plethora of more hyperbolic titles including Kosmokrator (Gr. Κοσμοκράτωρ) ("Master of the World") and "Chronokrator" (Gr. Χρονοκράτωρ) ("Master of Time"). In the later centuries of the Empire, the emperor could be often referred to by Western Christians as the "Emperor of the Greeks," though they still considered themselves "Roman" Emperors.

Constantinian dynasty (306-363)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Constantine I "the Great" (Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus)	son of the Augustus Constantius Chlorus	27 February c.280	25 July 306 Proclaimed "Augustus" upon the death of Constantius Chlorus	22 May 337		He declared himself "Augustus" in Eboracum, Britannia (Modern York), upon the death of Constantius Chlorus, and, after a period of prolonged civil war, became sole Emperor. He famously converted to Christianity, and began imperial favour of that religion. He founded Constantinople as a capital of the Empire. Divided the Empire between his three sons upon his death. Later canonised.
File:ConstantiusII.JPG	Constantius II (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		By inheritance, he succeeded to the Eastern third; after his two brothers died, he became sole Emperor. He was responsible for the deaths of numerous family members in the wake of Constantine's death, and persecuted those remaining. His last cousin, Julian, rebelled against him in the last years of his life.
	Julian "the Apostate" (Flavius Claudius Iulianus)	grandson of Constantius Chlorus, cousin of Constantius II	May 332	5 October 361 Proclaimed by his army in Gaul, became legitimate Emperor upon the death of Constantius	28 June 363 Mortally wounded in battle		The son of Constantine I's half brother, Julius Constantius, he was early orphaned by the death of his mother of childbed fever, and the murder of his father by the sons of Constantine I. Raised by Constantius II to the rank of Caesar, he ruled and defended Gaul very ably. He eventually rebelled, being proclaimed Augustus by his army, and seized control of Italy. He succeeded to the entire empire after Constantius' fortuitous death of illness. He died on campaign against the Sassanids. He is more famous, however, for his rejection of Christianity, and his doomed attempts to rejuvenate Paganism.
Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes

Non-dynastic (363-364)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Jovian ( 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		A non-entity, chosen by the army to succeed following Julian's intestate death. His only deeds worth mentioning were to secure the escape of the Roman army from Persia by signing a peace treaty; this treaty signed away Rome's furthest Eastern provinces to the Persians. He died before reaching his capital.
Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes

Valentinian-Theodosian dynasty (364-457)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Valentinian I (Flavius Valentinianus)	Officer under Julian and Jovian	321	26 February 364 Elected by the army upon Jovian's death	17 November 375 Died of cerebral haemorrhage		Shortly after his accession, he chose his brother Valens to rule alongside him. The pair then partitioned the Empire between themselves. Valentinian thereafter ruled in the West only. During his reign, the Empire was repeatedly ravaged by barbarians. His anger at the invasion of the Quadi caused his fatal haemorrhage.
	Valens ( 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		Called "The Last True Roman", he was chosen to rule the East by his brother, Valentinian I. His reign was ineffective, and at one point he came close to abdication and suicide following the proclamation of an imperial pretender, Procopius. He was killed in the disastrous Battle of Adrianople, in which most of his armies were destroyed by Gothic invaders.
File:158 Gratianus.jpg	Gratian ( 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	He inherited the rule of the East upon Valens' death. He appointed one of his generals, Theodosius, as Emperor in the East in the following year. He was also Emperor in the West (with Valentinian II) 375-383
	Theodosius I ( 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		He was appointed Emperor in the East by Gratian, who needed a loyal ally to deal with the effects of Adrianople. He restored the Eastern armies by taking many barbarian mercenaries into Roman service. After the deaths of Gratian and Valentinian II, he took control of the Western half of the Empire. He was the last Emperor to de facto rule the entire Empire. Made Christianity the official religion of the Empire.
	Arcadius ( Flavius Arcadius )	Son of Theodosius I	377/378	17 January 395 Upon the death of Theodosius I	1 May 408		A weak Emperor, dominated by his wife Aelia Eudoxia and ministers. Brother of the Western Emperor Honorius
	Theodosius II ( Flavius Theodosius )	Son of Arcadius	10 April 401	1 May 408 Upon the death of Arcadius	28 July 450 Riding accident		He was heavily influenced by his sister, Pulcheria, who declared herself "Augusta" in 414. During his reign, her Christian views led to persecution of non-Christians in the Empire. However, the period also saw the construction of Constantinople's near-impregnable Theodosian Walls, and the publication of the Codex Theodosianus. He died in 450, leaving his sister as his heir.
	Pulcheria ( Aelia Pulcheria )	Daughter of Arcadius, sister of Theodosius II	19 January 399	28 July 450 Upon the death of Theodosius II	July 453		After the death of her father, Arcadius, she became politically prominent. She was responsible for appointing the barbarian Aspar as Eastern Roman "Master of Soldiers", a position he would use to his own ends. Strongly Christian, she encouraged her brother to rule according to Christian values. She became a nun after being forced from the court in 441, but returned after her brother's death. She then married Marcian, and the pair ruled together until 453. She was later canonised by the Eastern Orthodox Church
File:Marcian.JPG	Marcian ( Flavius Marcianus )	Soldier, politician, husband of Pulcheria	396	450 Upon his marriage to Pulcheria	January 457 Gangrene contracted on a journey		He was elevated to the imperial throne by his marriage to Pulcheria. He was supported by Aspar. Under his rule, the Eastern Empire recovered from the political and military vicissitudes of the past 3/4 of a century, and faced down Attila the Hun. The West, however, he left to fend for itself. He was canonised after his death by the Eastern Orthodox Church
Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes

Leonid dynasty (457-518)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Leo I "the Thracian" (Flavius Valerius Leo )	Soldier	401	7 February 457 Chosen by Aspar, commander-in-chief of the army	18 January 474 Died of dysentery		He was chosen by Aspar, who attempted to rule through him; Leo resisted and broke Aspar's power. In order to do this, he was forced to ally with the Isaurians, whose leader Tarasicodissa married Leo's daughter Ariadne and took the Roman name "Zeno". He raised Theodoric the Great in his court. He was the first Emperor to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople.
	Leo II ( 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		He was the son of Ariadne (daughter of Leo I) by Zeno. He inherited the throne upon his grandfather's death. It was rumoured that his mother had poisoned him to allow Zeno to take the throne.
File:Zeno.PNG	Zeno ( Flavius Zeno ) (Born Tarasicodissa)	Roman general of Isaurian origins; son-in-law of Leo I, father of Leo II	c.425	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	An Isaurian chieftain, he gave his support to Leo I to overthrow Aspar. In exchange, he was allowed to marry Leo I's daughter Ariadne, by whom he had a son, Leo II. After the latter's death, he took the throne. Unpopular due to his barbarian origins, he was deposed by his mother-in-law, Verina, and her brother Basiliscus.
File:Basiliscus.JPG	Basiliscus ( Flavius Basiliscus )	Army General; brother-in-law of Leo I		9 January 475 Seized power from Zeno	August 476 Deposed by Zeno	476/477	The brother of Leo I's wife, Verina. He was favoured by Leo I, who made him the leader of an expedition against Carthage. The expedition failed, however, Initially popular, Basiliscus alienated the Constantinopolitan population, and his own followers, partly through misfortunes of chance, partly through callous treatment of his allies and his support for the Monophysite Heresy. He was betrayed by his allies, and defeated when Zeno returned to the city with an army. He was then starved to death.
File:Zeno.PNG	Zeno, restored ( Flavius Zeno ) (Born Tarasicodissa)	Roman general of Isaurian origins; son-in-law of Leo I, father of Leo II	c.425	restored August 476 Having deposed Basiliscus	9 April 491		He rallied an army and restored himself by force. Shortly afterwards, he formally reunited the Roman Empire upon the deposition of the Western Emperor Romulus Augustulus, although in reality the West fell under barbarian control. He ruled laxly, but he left the East stronger than he had found it.
File:Anastasius I.JPG	Anastasius I ( Flavius Anastasius )	Palace official ("Silentiarius"); son-in-law of Leo I	c.430	11 April 491 Chosen by Ariadne, widow of Zeno	9 July 518		He was a reputable palace official chosen by Ariadne (daughter of Leo I, widow of Zeno) to succeed; the pair then married. He was at first popular due to his lowering of taxation; he lost popularity when he adopted a strong monophysite policy in his final years. His leadership in war led to an exhaustive conflict between the Romans and the Persians, resulting in little benefit; he also faced ravaging of the Balkans by Slavic and Bulgar invasions.
Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes

Justinian dynasty (518-602)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
File:JustinI.JPG	Justin I (Flavius Iustinus )	General, commander of the City Guards under Anastasius I	c.450	July 518 Elected by army and people upon the death of Anastasius I	1 August 527		He was an illiterate Illyrian peasant, who rose to become commander of the city guards. Through this position and lavish bribery, he secured the throne upon the death of Anastasius I. His reign was marked mainly by conflict with the Ostrogoths and Persians.
	Justinian I (Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus)	Nephew and heir of Justin I	482/483	1 August 527 Inherited the throne on the death of Justin I	13/14 November 565		The son of Justin I's sister, Vigilantia, he was adopted by his uncle, then a rising officer of the army, and brought to Constantinople where he was given a good education. He married in 525 Theodora, a shrewd and capable courtesan who acted as the power behind the throne whilst she lived. Often referred to as the last "Roman" emperor Justinian reconquered large swathes of territory in Italy and the Adriatic coastline, North Africa, and Spain, destroying many of the conquered territories in the process. Justinian also ordered the construction of the Hagia Sophia patriarchal basilica in 532. This "Renewal of the Empire", however, was ended by an outbreak of the so-called Plague of Justinian across Europe, killing much of the Empire's population, and seriously weakening it. Against Justinian's credit of restoring Roman rule in parts of the west, and his work on creating the "Corpus Juris Civilis", must be set the dire legacy he left his heir, Justin II: a hugely reduced army, a crippled economy, and over-stretched resources.
File:Justin II.JPG	Justin II (Flavius Iustinus Iunior)	Nephew and heir of Justinian I	c.520	14 November 565 Inherited the throne on the death of Justinian I	5 October 578		The son of Justinian I's sister, Vigilantia, he inherited the throne upon his uncle's death. He proved a dismal successor to Justinian: in 568, Italy was overrun by the Lombards; his refusal to pay tribute to the Avars led to a number of unsuccessful campaigns against them; and he lost Syria to the Persians. The stresses of his duties proved too much, and, after making his friend and general Tiberius co-Emperor, he lapsed into insanity.
File:Tiberius II.JPG	Tiberius II Constantine (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 of Justin II	14 August 582 possibly poisoned by Maurice		A friend of Justin II, he was adopted and made co-emperor in 574, upon the advice of the Empress Sophia. He thereafter ruled with the Empress until Justin's death in 578. During his reign, the Persians were defeated in Armenia, whilst the Roman territories in Spain and Africa were secured. However, he was unable to prevent Slavic invasions of the Balkans. He named his son-in-law, Maurice, heir when he became ill in 582; his death shortly afterwards was attributed by rumour to poison.
File:Emperor Maurice.JPG	Maurice (Flavius Mauricius Tiberius)	Commander-in-chief of Cappadocian origins; son-in-law of Tiberius II	539	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 by Phocas	One of Constantinople's outstanding generals, he successfully defeated the Persians in 581. He married Constantina, the daughter of Tiberius II in 582, and in the same year became Emperor upon Tiberius' death. He continued the Persian war until 591, when he secured peace by placing the exiled Sassanid heir Khosrau II on the Persian throne. He also warred mostly successfuly with the Avars and Slavs, and instituted the system of the "Exarchates" in Italy and Africa, allowing greater competence in defending Roman territory there. A refusal to pay a ransom demanded by the Avars in exchange for several thousand captured Roman soldiers led to the rebellion of Phocas, who had Maurice executed. His reign saw the last flowering of Roman power, and a weakening of both the Empire and Persia.
Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes

Non-dynastic (602-610)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
File:Phocas.JPG	Phocas (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		A minor soldier in the Roman army, he led a rebellion against Maurice after the latter ordered the exhausted forces to winter on the unprotected side of the Danube, and then tried to send them on a winter campaign. In the ensuing rebellion, Maurice abdicated; Phocas had himself crowned Emperor, and then executed the ex-emperor and his children. He was initially popular due to his lowering of taxes and his reforms. However, under his rule, the traditional Roman borders in the east began to collapse, whilst the Persians supported rebellions on their border and advanced their control westwards. Eventually, his authority crumbled, and Heraclius proclaimed himself as Emperor and seized control, executing Phocas.

Heraclian dynasty (610-711)

• Heraclius (Ηράκλειος) (575–641, ruled 610–641): usurper; son of the Armenian Exarch of Africa; defeated Chosroes II in final Sassanid-Byzantine War; lost Palestine,Syria and Egypt to Arab Expansion
• Constantine III (Heraclius Constantine) (Κωνσταντίνος Γ') (612–641, ruled 641): son of Heraclius; coemperor with Heraklonas
• Heraklonas (Constantine Heraclius) (Ηρακλωνάς) (626–641?, ruled 641): son of Herakleios; mutilated and deposed
• Constans II (Herakleios, later Constantine, called Πωγωνάτος, the Bearded) (Κώνστας Β') (630–668, ruled 641–668): son of Constantine III; assassinated by chamberlain
• Mezezius (668–669): Usurper
• Constantine IV (Κωνσταντίνος Δ') (649–685, ruled 668–685): son of Constans II
• Justinian II the Slit-nosed (Ιουστινιανός Β' ο Ρινότμητος) (668–711, ruled 685–695): son of Constantine IV; mutilated, deposed, and exiled
• Leontios (Λεόντιος) (ruled 695–698): Usurper; Strategos (general); mutilated, deposed, and imprisoned—later executed
• Tiberios III (Τιβέριος Γ' ο Αψίμαρος) (ruled 698–705): Usurper; German originally named Apsimar; deposed and executed
• Justinian II the Slit-nosed (Ιουστινιανός Β' ο Ρινότμητος) (ruled 705–711): restored; deposed and executed

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
File:Heraclius and sons.JPG	Herakleios (Ηράκλειος, Hērakleios) Heraclius (Flavius Heraclius)	son of Exarch Heraclius the Elder; deposed Phocas	c.575	5 October 610 Seized power in a rebellion against Phocas	11 February 641		He rebelled against Phocas and seized power. After a long war with the Sassanid Empire and the Avars, he emerged victorious, fatally weakening both opponents. He was unable to prevent the loss of Syria, Palestine and Egypt to the newly emergent Arab Caliphate towards the end of his reign. He is credited with organising the system of Themata to defend the Empire, and with making Greek rather than Latin the official language of the Empire. He left the Empire to be ruled jointly by his two sons Constantine III and Heraklonas
File:Heraclius and sons.JPG	Constantine III (Ηράκλειος (νέος) Κωνσταντίνος, Herakleios Novos Kōnstantinos) Constantine III ( Heraclius Novus Constantinus )	eldest son of Herakleios	3 May 612	11 February 641 Succeeded to throne with Heraklonas following death of Herakleios	24/26 May 641 Tuberculosis, allegedly poisoned by Martina		He was made co-Emperor with his father in 613, but did not fully accede until his father's death. He died shortly after his accession, his sole noteworthy act being bribing the army to safeguard the rights of his son, Constans II. The rumour that his stepmother, Martina, had poisoned him led to the downfall of herself and her son, Heraklonas
File:Heraclius and sons.JPG	Heraklonas (Κωνσταντίνος Ηράκλειος, Kōnstantinos Herakleios) Heraclianus (Constantinus Heraclius)	younger son of Herakleios	626	11 February 641 Succeeded to throne with Constantine III following death of Herakleios	September 641 Deposed by Senate	c.641 Presumed to have died in exile	He was made co-Emperor with his father in 638, but did not fully accede until his father's death. After his brother's death, he ruled briefly as co-emperor, then made his nephew, Constans II, co-emperor, to quell an army revolt. The people of Constantinople, however, mistrusted him, believing that he and his mother Martina had murdered Constantine III; in September, the Senate deposed him and his mother, subjected both to ritual mutilation (Heraklonas lost his nose, Martina lost her tongue), and exiled them to Rhodes.
	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 by Hereklonas, sole emperor in that same year	15 September 668 Assassinated, possibly on the orders of Mezezius		His uncle, Heraklonas, made him co-emperor to quell a revolt; the revolt continued, and Heraklonas was deposed. Constans then ruled as sole emperor. In his reign, Egypt was lost completely by the Empire, whilst Carthage was also lost for a time. He stabilised the border in the Balkans. His religious attitudes led him to bring Pope Martin I to trial in Constantinople for his criticism of Constans. After executing his brother, Theodosius, he became hated by the people of Constantinople, and left for Syracuse; he spent the rest of his life in Italy. Rumours that he intended to establish Syracuse as his capital led to his being assassinated in his bath. A noble of the court, Mezesius, then established a military regime in Sicily for several months.
	Constantine IV (Κωνσταντίνος, Kōnstantinos) Constantine (Constantinos)	son of Constans II	652	15 September 668 succeeded following murder of Constans II	September 685 Died of dysentery		He became Emperor following the murder of his father; immediately, he was forced to suppress a revolt in Sicily, led by the imperial pretender Mezezius. In his reign, Constantinople was attacked by an Arab fleet between 672 and 678; Greek fire was used to drive them off. However, several coastal cities, including Smyrna and Cyzicus, were conquered by the Arabs, whilst the Bulgars took advantage of the situation to establish a state in Moesia, to which Constantine was forced to pay tribute. His reign also saw the formal condemnation of monothelitism by the Sixth Oecumenical Council.
Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes

Non-dynastic (711-717)

• Philippikos Bardanes (Φιλιππικός Βαρδάνης) (ruled 711–713): Armenian soldier; deposed and mutilated
• Anastasios II (Αναστάσιος Β') ( ?–721, ruled 713–715): orig. Artemios; secretary of Philippikos; deposed & entered monastery, later revolted & was executed
• Theodosios III (Θεοδόσιος Γ' ο Αδραμμυττηνός) (ruled 715–717): tax-collector; abdicated and entered monastery

Isaurian dynasty (717-802)

• Leo III the Isaurian (Λέων Γ' ο Ίσαυρος) (675–741, ruled 717–741): Strategos
• Constantine V Kopronymos (the Dung-named) (Κωνσταντίνος Ε' ο Κοπρώνυμος ή Καβαλίνος) (718–775, ruled 741): son of Leo III; deposed
• Artabasdus the Icon-lover (Αρτάβασδος ο Εικονόφιλος) (ruled 741–743): Leo III's chamberlain and son-in-law
• Constantine V Kopronymos (Κωνσταντίνος Ε' ο Κοπρώνυμος ή Καβαλίνος) (ruled 743–775): restored
• Leo IV the Khazar (Λέων Δ' o Χαζάρος) (750–780, ruled 775–780): son of Constantine V
• Constantine VI the Blinded (Κωνσταντίνος ΣΤ') (771–797, ruled 780–797): son of Leo IV; deposed and mutilated by mother, dying from wounds
• Irene the Athenian (Ειρήνη η Αθηναία) (755–803, ruled 797–802): wife of Leo IV, mother of Constantine VI; canonized by the Orthodox church; deposed and exiled to Lesbos

Nikephoros' dynasty (802-813)

• Nikephoros I (Νικηφόρος Α') ( ?–811, ruled 802–811): Megas Logothetes; died in battle, skull used as wine cup
• Staurakios (Σταυράκιος Φωκάς) ( ?–812, ruled 811): son of Nikephoros I; paralyzed
• 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 (813-820)

• Leo V the Armenian (Λέων Ε' ο Αρμένιος) (775–820, ruled 813–820): Strategos; assassinated

Phrygian dynasty (820-867)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Michael II the Stammerer or the Amorian (Μιχαήλ Β' ο Τραυλός ή Ψελλός)	Strategos, son-in-law of Constantine VI	770	25 December 820	2 October 829
	Theophilus (Θεόφιλος)	son of Michael II	813	2 October 829	20 January 842
	Theodora (Θεοδώρα)	wife of Theophilus	c. 815	842	855	867	deposed and entered monastery; canonized by the Orthodox church
	Michael III the Drunkard (Μιχαήλ Γ' ο Μέθυσος)	son of Theophilos	19 January 840	842	23 September 867		assassinated

Macedonian dynasty (867-1056)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Basil I the Macedonian (Βασίλειος Α')	married Michael III's widow	c. 811	867	2 August 886		died in hunting accident
	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 (Αλέξανδρος Γ' του Βυζαντίου)	son of Basil I; regent for nephew	870	912	913
	Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (Κωνσταντίνος Ζ' ο Πορφυρογέννητος)	son of Leo VI	9 September 905	15 May 908	9 November 959
	Romanos I Lekapenos (Ρωμανός Α' ο Λεκαπηνός)	father-in-law of Constantine VII	c. 870	17 December 920	16 December 944	15 June 948	deposed by his sons; entered monastery
	Romanos II Porphyrogennetos (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πορφυρογέννητος)	son of Constantine VII	15 March 938	November 959	15 March 963
File:Nikifor.jpg	Nikephoros II Phokas (Νικηφόρος Β' Φωκάς)	married Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II	c. 912	16 August 963	969		Strategos; assassinated
	John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής)	brother-in-law of Romanus II	c. 925	11 December 969	10 January 976		lover of Nicephorus's wife but banned from marriage; regent for Basil
	Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer (Βασίλειος Β' ο Βουλγαροκτόνος)	son of Romanos II	958	10 January 976	15 December 1025
	Constantine VIII (Κωνσταντίνος Η')	son of Romanos II	960	15 December 1025	15 November 1028		coemperor with Basil II
	Zoe (Ζωή)	daughter of Constantine VIII	c. 978	15 November 1028	June 1050
	Romanos III Argyros (Ρωμανός Γ' ο Αργυρός)	Zoe's first husband	968	15 November 1028	11 April 1034		eparch of Constantinople; murdered
	Michael IV the Paphlagonian (Μιχαήλ Δ' 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	deposed, blinded, and castrated
	Theodora (Θεοδώρα)	daughter of Constantine VIII	984	20 April 1042	1042	after 31 August 1056	deposed
	Constantine IX Monomachos (Κωνσταντίνος Θ' ο 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		restored

Non-dynastic (1056-1057)

• Michael VI the General (Μιχαήλ ΣΤ' ο Στρατιωτικός) (ruled 1056–1057): chosen by Theodora; deposed & entered monastery

Komnenid dynasty (1057-1059)

• 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)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Constantine X Doukas (Κωνσταντίνος Ι' ο Δούκας)		1006	24 November 1059	22 May 1067		selected by Michael Psellus
	Michael VII Doukas Quarter-short (Μιχαήλ Ζ' Δούκας Παραπινάκης)	son of Constantine X	1050	22 May 1067	24 March 1078	1090	originally coemperor with two brothers and Romanus; deposed & entered monastery
	Romanos IV Diogenes (Ρωμανός Δ' Διογένης)	married Constantine X's widow	1032	1067	1071	1072	coemperor, deposed & mutilated to death
	Nikephoros III Botaneiates (Νικηφόρος Γ' Βοτανειάτης)	Strategos claiming descent from the Fabii	1001	31 March 1078	10 December 1081		bigamously married Michael VII's wife; deposed & forced into monastery

Komnenid dynasty (1081-1185)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Alexios I Komnenos (Αλέξιος Α' Κομνηνός)	Nephew of Isaac I, military commander	1048	4 April 1081	15 August 1118		married Constantine X's grandniece
	John II Komnenos (Ιωάννης Β' Κομνηνός o Καλός)	son of Alexios I	13 September 1087	1118	8 April 1143		died of a hunting accident
	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		murdered with garrotte
	Andronikos I Komnenos (Ανδρόνικος Α' Κομνηνός)	nephew of John II	c. 1118	1183	2 September 1185		deposed, tortured, and executed

Angelid dynasty (1185-1204)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Isaac II Angelos (Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος)	great-grandson of Alexios I	September 1156	1185	1195	January 1205	deposed and blinded
	Alexios III Angelos (Αλέξιος Γ' Άγγελος)	brother of Isaac II	1153	1195	1203	1211	deposed by the Fourth Crusade and eventually forced into monastery
	Isaac II Angelos (Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος)	great-grandson of Alexios I	September 1156	1203	1204	January 1205	restored after Alexios III had fled as coemperor with Alexius IV, deposed by Alexios V
	Alexios IV Angelos (Αλέξιος Δ' Άγγελος)	son of Isaac II	1182	1203	1204		deposed and killed by Alexios V
	Nikolaos Kanabos			25 January 1204	5 February 1205		refused to accept the election, strangled by Alexius V
	Alexios V Doukas (Αλέξιος Ε' Δούκας)	son-in-law of Alexios III	1140	5 February 1204	12 April 1204	December 1205

Laskarid dynasty (Empire of Nicaea, 1204-1261)

• Constantine Laskaris (ruled 1204): not officially crowned
• Theodore I Laskaris (Θεόδωρος Α' Λάσκαρης) (1174–1222, ruled 1204–1222): son-in-law of Alexios III
• John III Doukas Vatatzes (Ιωάννης Γ' Δούκας Βατάτζης) (1192–1254, ruled 1222–1254): son-in-law of Theodore I; epileptic
• Theodore II Doukas Laskaris (Θεόδωρος Β' Δούκας Λάσκαρης) (1221–1258, ruled 1254–1258): son of John III
• John IV Doukas Laskaris (Ιωάννης Δ' Δούκας Λάσκαρης) (1250–1305, ruled 1258–1261): son of Theodore II, deposed, blinded, and imprisoned by Michael VIII

Palaiologan Dynasty (restored to Constantinople, 1259-1453)

• Michael VIII Palaiologos (Μιχαήλ Η' Παλαιολόγος) (1224–1282, ruled 1259–1282): Strategos, regent for John IV Lascaris; great-grandson of Alexios III Angelos
• Andronikos II Palaiologos the Elder (Ανδρόνικος Β' ο Γέρος) (1258–1332, ruled 1282–1328): son of Michael VIII; abdicated
• Andronikos III Palaiologos the Younger (Ανδρόνικος Γ' Παλαιολόγος ο Νέος) (1297–1341, ruled 1328–1341): grandson of Andronikos II
• John V Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (1332–1391, ruled 1341–1347): son of Andronikos III, deposed by John VI
• 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
• Andronikos IV Palaiologos (Ανδρόνικος 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 VII Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος) (1370-1408, co-emperor 1376-1379), deposed
• John V Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1379–1390): restored, deposed
• John VII Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1390)
• John V Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1390–1391): restored
• Manuel II Palaiologos (Μανουήλ Β' Παλαιολόγος) (1350–1425, ruled 1391–1425): son of John V
• John VII Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος) (regent 1399–1402)
• John VIII Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Η' Παλαιολόγος) (1392–1448, ruled 1425–1448): son of Manuel II
• Constantine XI Palaiologos Dragases (Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Παλαιολόγος Δραγάσης) (1405–1453, ruled 1449–1453): son of Manuel II, not crowned in Constantinople, died during the Fall of Constantinople.

Palaiologan Dynasty (claimants in exile)

• Thomas Palaiologos (Θωμάς Παλαιολόγος) (1409 or 1410–1465): Despot of Morea, brother of Constantine XI; died in exile in Rome.
• Andrew Palaiologos (Ανδρέας Παλαιολόγος) (1453–1502): son of Thomas; created Despot by Pope Pius II, self-styled Imperator Constantinopolitanus sold his titles to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. See List of titles and honours of the Spanish Crown.

See also

• List of Roman Emperors
• Byzantine Empire
• Latin Empire
• List of Byzantine Empire-related topics