List of Byzantine emperors

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Emperor of Eastern Roman Empire
Former Monarchy
Imperial

Emblem of the Palaiologos Dynasty

Last Monarch:
Constantine XI

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Style His Imperial Majesty
Heir apparent Theodore
First monarch Constantine I
Last monarch Constantine XI
Monarchy started 330
Monarchy ended 1453
Current pretender None

This is a list of the Emperors of the 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.[1]

Although the Catholic 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) due to uneasy relations with the Orthodox East, an act which was much resented by the Byzantines. 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.

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. Following the establishment of a rival Empire in Western Europe (the Holy Roman Empire), the title Autokrator (Gr. Αυτοκράτωρ) was also increasingly used. Foreign kings were now titled by the neologism Regas (Gr. Ρήγας, from the Lat. "Rex") or by another generic term Archon (Gr. Άρχων, "ruler"). 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. Towards the end of the Empire, they referred to themselves as "[Emperor's name] in Christ, true Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans."

For previous Emperors, see List of Roman Emperors

Constantinian dynasty (306-363)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
Constantine "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
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
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
killed on campaign against Persians

Non-dynastic (363-364)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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

Valentinian-Theodosian dynasty (364-457)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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
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
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
Theodosius I
"the Great"
( 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
Arcadius
( Flavius Arcadius ) Son of Theodosius I 377/378 17 January 395
Upon the death of Theodosius I 1 May 408
Theodosius II
( Flavius Theodosius ) Son of Arcadius 10 April 401 1 May 408
Upon the death of Arcadius 28 July 450
Riding accident
Pulcheria
( Aelia Pulcheria ) Daughter of Arcadius, sister of Theodosius II 19 January 399 28 July 450
Upon the death of Theodosius II July 453
Marcian
( 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"
(Flavius Valerius Leo ) Soldier 401 7 February 457
Chosen by Aspar, commander-in-chief of the army 18 January 474
Died of dysentery
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
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
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
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
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

Justinian dynasty (518-602)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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
Justinian I the Great
(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
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
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
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

Non-dynastic (602-610)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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

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. ; Deposed Phocas c.575 5 October 610
Seized power in a rebellion against Phocas 11 February 641
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
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
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
Mezezius Usurper Emperor Unknown 668 669
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
Justinian II son of Constantine IV 669 Co-emperor in 681, sole emperor in 685. 695
Deposed by military revolt December 711
Leontios Usurper Emperor Unknown 695 698
Deposed by military revolt 705
Tiberios III Usurper Emperor Unknown 698 705
Deposed by a Bulgarian-supported revolt 705
Justinian II 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 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 a bureaucraut, imperial secretary for Philippikos Unknown June 713 November 715
Deposed by a military revolt 718
Theodosios III 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 a general from Germanikeia, Commagene c. 685 25 March 717 18 June 741 18 June 741
Constantine V Son of Leo III July, 718 Co-ruler in 720, senior ruler in 741 14 September 775 14 September 775
Artabasdos Son-in-law of Leo III, brother-in-law of Constantine V Unknown Rival emperor from June 741/2 2 November 743 Later in the 8th century
Leo IV the Khazar Son of Constantine V 25 January 750 Co-ruler in 751, senior ruler in 775 8 September 780 8 September 780
Constantine VI Son of Leo IV and Irene 771 Co-ruler in 776, sole emperor in 780 August 797 c. 797, though sources are contradictory on the subject
Irene of Athens Wife of Leo IV, mother of Constantine VI c. 752 August 797 31 October 802 9 August 803

Nikephoros' dynasty (802-813)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
Nikephoros I logothetēs tou genikou (finance minister) Unknown 31 October 802 26 July 811 26 July 811
Staurakios Son of Nikephoros I Unknown Co-ruler in 803, senior ruler in 811 2 October 811 11 January 812
Michael I Rangabe 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 Strategos of the Anatolic theme c. 775 11 July 813 25 December 820 25 December 820

Phrygian dynasty (820-867)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
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
Michael III the Drunkard (Μιχαήλ Γ' ο Μέθυσος) son of Theophilos 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 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 (Αλέξανδρος Γ') 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
Romanos II Porphyrogennetos (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) son of Constantine VII 15 March 938 November 959
15 March 963
Nikephoros II Phokas (Νικηφόρος Β' ο Φωκάς) married Theophano, Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II c. 912 16 August 963
969
John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης 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 Προφυρογέννητη) 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
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
Theodora (Θεοδώρα) daughter of Constantine VIII 984 20 April 1042
1042 after 31 August 1056
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

Non-dynastic (1056-1057)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
Michael VI Court bureaucrat, defence minister Unknown September, 1056 31 August 1057 c. 1059

Komnenid dynasty (1057-1059)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
Isaac I Komnenos commander of the field army in Anatolia c. 1005 5 June 1057 as rival emperor, sole emperor since 31 August 1057 22 November 1059 c. 1061

Doukid dynasty (1059-1081)

Picture Name Status Birth Emperor from Emperor until Death
Constantine X Doukas (Κωνσταντίνος Ι' ο Δούκας) 1006 24 November 1059
22 May 1067
Michael VII Doukas Quarter-short (Μιχαήλ Ζ' Δούκας Παραπινάκης) son of Constantine X 1050 22 May 1067
24 March 1078 1090
Romanos IV Diogenes (Ρωμανός Δ' Διογένης) married Eudokia Makrembolitissa, Constantine X's widow 1032 1067
1071 1072
Nikephoros III Botaneiates (Νικηφόρος Γ' Βοτανειάτης) Strategos claiming descent from the Fabii 1001 31 March 1078
10 December 1081

Komnenid dynasty (1081-1185)