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'{{For|further information|History of the Byzantine Empire}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox former monarchy | royal_title = Emperor | realm = the Romans | coatofarms = Palaiologos-Dynasty-Eagle.svg | coatofarmssize = 120px | coatofarmscaption = [[Byzantine flags and insignia|Imperial insignia]] used by the<br />[[Palaiologos dynasty]] (stylized) | image = Constantine XI Palaiologos miniature.jpg | caption = [[Constantine XI]] | first_monarch = [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] | last_monarch = [[Constantine XI Palaiologos|Constantine XI]] | style = | residence = [[Great Palace of Constantinople|Great Palace]] | appointer = [[Order of succession|Hereditary]]<ref>Nicol, Donald MacGillivray, ''Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453'', Cambridge University Press, Second Edition, 1993, p. 72: "Hereditary succession to the throne was a custom or a convenience in Byzantium, not an inviolable principle. Emperors, particularly in the later period, would take pains to nominate their sons as co-emperors, for the rule of a dynasty made for stability and continuity. But in theory, the road to the throne was a ''carriere ouverte aux talents'' [career open to talents]..."</ref> | began = 11 May 330 | ended = 29 May 1453 | pretender = }} This is a '''list of the Byzantine emperors''' from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the East Roman or [[Byzantine Empire]], to its [[Fall of Constantinople|fall]] to the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as legitimate rulers and exercised sovereign authority are included, to the exclusion of junior co-emperors (''symbasileis'') who never attained the status of sole or senior ruler, as well as of the [[List of Byzantine usurpers|various usurpers or rebels]] who claimed the imperial title. Traditionally, the line of Byzantine emperors is held to begin with the [[Roman Emperor]] [[Constantine the Great]], the first Christian emperor, who rebuilt the city of [[Byzantium]] as an imperial capital, Constantinople, and who was regarded by the later Byzantine emperors as the model ruler. His predecessor [[Diocletian]] is sometimes considered the first "Byzantine" Emperor in a political sense, as he replaced the republican trappings of the [[Principate]] with the absolutist [[Dominate]], a more typically oriental and [[Hellenistic]] form of [[autocracy|autocratic]] monarchy that would characterize the Empire. It was under Constantine, however, that the major characteristics of the Byzantine state emerged: a Roman polity centered at Constantinople and culturally dominated by the [[Greek East]], with Christianity as the state religion. All Byzantine emperors regarded themselves as "Roman Emperors,"<ref>{{cite web |last=Hooker |first=Richard |title=The Byzantine Empire. Middle Ages. World Cultures |date=4 June 2007 |url=http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MA/BYZ.HTM }}{{dead link|date=March 2013}}</ref> the term "Byzantine" being coined by Western [[historiography]] in the 16th century, and in spite of the later [[Pope|Papal]] coronation of the [[Franks|Frankish]] [[Charlemagne]] as the [[Holy Roman Emperor|Roman Emperor]] (25 December 800 CE) after the coronation of [[Irene of Athens|Empress Irene]], whose claim, as a woman, was not recognized by [[Pope Leo III]]. The [[Style (manner of address)|title]] of all Emperors preceding [[Heraclius]] was officially "''[[Augustus (honorific)|Augustus]]''," although other titles such as ''[[Dominus (title)|Dominus]]'' were also used. Their names were preceded by ''[[Imperator]] [[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]'' and followed by ''Augustus''. Following Heraclius, the title commonly became the Greek ''[[Basileus]]'' (Gr. Βασιλεύς), which had formerly meant [[Monarch|sovereign]] but was then used in place of ''Augustus''. Following the establishment of the rival [[Holy Roman Empire]] in Western Europe, the title "''[[Autokrator]]''" (Gr. Αυτοκράτωρ) was increasingly used. In later centuries, the Emperor could be referred to by Western Christians as the "Emperor of the Greeks." Towards the end of the Empire, they referred to themselves as "[Emperor's name] in Christ, Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans." In the medieval period, [[dynasty|dynasties]] were common, but the principle of [[hereditary succession]] was never formalized in the Empire,<ref>p. 183, Karayannopoulous, Yanis, "State Organization, Social Structure, Economy, and Commerce," ''History of Hunamity - Scientific and Cultural Development from the Seventh to the Sixteenth Centuries, Vol. IV,'' M. A. Al-Bakhit, L. Bazin, S. M. Cissoko and M. S. Asimov, Editors, UNESCO, Paris (2000)</ref> and hereditary succession was a custom rather than an inviolable principle.<ref>Nicol, Donald MacGillivray, ''Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453'', Cambridge University Press, Second Edition, 1993, p. 72: "Hereditary succession to the throne was a custom or a convenience in Byzantium, not an inviolable principle. Emperors, particularly in the later period, would take pains to nominate their sons as co-emperors, for the rule of a dynasty made for stability and continuity. But in theory, the road to the throne was a ''carriere ouverte aux talents'' [career open to talents]..."</ref> Including the Palaiologan dynasty, claimed Byzantine Emperors in exile, there were a total of 99 Emperors of the thousand-year-old Roman Empire. ==Constantinian dynasty (306–363)== {{See also|Constantinian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Constantine Musei Capitolini.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine the Great|Constantine I "the&nbsp;Great"]]<br/>(Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Α' ο Μέγας, Latin: ''Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|19 September 324 –<br/>22 May 337||align="left"|Born at [[Naissus]] ca. 273/4 as the son of the ''[[Augustus (title)|Augustus]]'' [[Constantius Chlorus]] and [[Helena of Constantinople|Helena]]. Proclaimed ''Augustus'' of the western empire upon the death of his father on 25 July 306, he became sole ruler of the western empire after the [[Battle of the Milvian Bridge]] in 312. In 324, he defeated the eastern ''Augustus'' [[Licinius]] and re-united the empire under his rule, reigning as sole emperor until his death. Constantine completed the administrative and military reforms begun under [[Diocletian]], ushering the [[Dominate]] period. Actively interested in Christianity, he played a crucial role in its development and the Christianization of the Roman world, through his convocation of the [[First Ecumenical Council]] at [[Nicaea]]. He is said to have received baptism on his deathbed. He also reformed coinage through the introduction of the gold ''[[solidus (coin)|solidus]]'', and initiated a large-scale building program, crowned by the re-foundation the city of [[Byzantium]] as "New Rome", popularly known as [[Constantinople]]. He was regarded as the model of all subsequent Byzantine emperors.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Gregory|first1=Timothy E.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine I the Great|pages=498–500|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[File:ConstantiusII.jpg|80px]]||align=center| [[Constantius II]] <br/> (Κωνστάντιος [Β'], ''Flavius Iulius Constantius'')|| style="text-align:center;"|22 May 337 –<br/>5 October 361||align="left"|Born on 7 August 317, as the second son of Constantine I. He inherited the eastern third of Roman Empire upon his father's death, sole Roman Emperor from 353, after the overthrow of the western usurper [[Magnentius]]. Constantius' reign saw military activity on all frontiers, and dissension between [[Arianism]], favoured by the emperor, and the "Orthodox" supporters of the [[Nicene Creed]]. In his reign, Constantinople was accorded equal status to Rome, and the original [[Hagia Sophia]] was built. Constantius appointed [[Constantius Gallus]] and [[Julian the Apostate|Julian]] as ''[[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]es'', and died on his way to confront Julian, who had risen up against him.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|title=Constantius II|page=524|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[File:Emperor Constans Louvre Ma1021.jpg|80px]]||align=center| [[Constans|Constans I]] <br/> (Κώνστας Α', ''Flavius Iulius Constans'')|| style="text-align:center;"|22 May 337 –<br/>January 350||align="left"|Born c. 323, the third son of Constantine I. ''Caesar'' since 333, he inherited the central third of Roman Empire upon his father's death, and became sole emperor in the west following the death of [[Constantine II (emperor)|Constantine II]] in 348. An ardent supporter of [[Athanasius of Alexandria]], he opposed Arianism. Constans was assassinated during the coup of [[Magnentius]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|title=Constans|page=496|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[File:JulianusII-antioch(360-363)-CNG.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Julian the Apostate|Julian "the Apostate"]] <br/> (Ιουλιανός "ο Παραβάτης", ''Flavius Claudius Iulianus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|5 October 361 –<br/>28 June 363||align="left"|Born in May 332, grandson of Constantius Chlorus and cousin of Constantius II. Proclaimed by his army in Gaul, became legitimate Emperor upon the death of Constantius. Killed on campaign against [[Sassanid Persia]] |} ==Non-dynastic (363–364)== {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Jovian1.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Jovian (Emperor)|Jovian]]<br/> (Ιοβιανός, ''Flavius Iovianus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|28 June 363 –<br/>17 February 364||align="left"|Born c. 332. Captain of the guards under Julian, elected by the army upon Julian's death. Died on journey back to Constantinople |} ==Valentinian dynasty (364–379)== {{See also|Valentinian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:ValentinianI.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Valentinian I]] <br/> (Ουαλεντιανός, ''Flavius Valentinianus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|26 February 364 –<br/>17 November 375||align="left"|Born in 321. An officer under Julian and Jovian, he was elected by the army upon Jovian's death. He soon appointed his younger brother Valens as Emperor of the East. Died of [[cerebral haemorrhage]] |- |align=center|[[File:Valens1.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Valens]] <br/> (Ουάλης, ''Flavius Iulius Valens'')|| style="text-align:center;"|28 March 364 –<br/>9 August 378||align="left"|Born in 328. A soldier of the Roman army, he was appointed Emperor of the East by his elder brother Valentinian I. Killed at the [[Battle of Adrianople]] |- |align=center|[[File:158 Gratianus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Gratian]] <br/> (Γρατιανός, ''Flavius Gratianus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|9 August 378 –<br/>19 January 379||align="left"|Born on 18 April/23 May 359, the son of Valentinian I. Emperor of the West, he inherited rule of the East upon the death of Valens and appointed Theodosius I as Emperor of the East. Assassinated on 25 August 383 during the rebellion of [[Magnus Maximus]] |} ==Theodosian dynasty (379–457)== {{See also|Theodosian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Theod1.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Theodosius I|Theodosius I "the Great"]] <br/> (Θεοδόσιος Α' ο Μέγας, ''Flavius Theodosius'')|| style="text-align:center;"|19 January 379 –<br/>17 January 395||align="left"|Born on 11 January 347. Aristocrat and military leader, brother-in-law of Gratian, who appointed him as emperor of the East. From 392 until his death sole Roman Emperor. |- |align=center|[[File:Arcadius Istanbul Museum.PNG|80px]]||align=center|[[Arcadius]] <br/> (Αρκάδιος, ''Flavius Arcadius'')|| style="text-align:center;"|17 January 395 –<br/>1 May 408||align="left"|Born in 377/378, the eldest son of Theodosius I. Succeeded upon the death of his father. Note: In 395, the [[Roman Empire]] was permanently divided between the [[West Roman Empire]] and the [[East Roman Empire]]. |- |align=center|[[File:Theodosius II Louvre Ma1036.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Theodosius II]] <br/> (Θεοδόσιος Β', ''Flavius Theodosius'')|| style="text-align:center;"|1 May 408 –<br/>28 July 450||align="left"|Born on 10 April 401, the only son of Arcadius. Succeeded upon the death of his father. As a minor, the praetorian prefect [[Anthemius (praetorian prefect)|Anthemius]] was regent in 408–414. He died in a riding accident. |- |align=center|[[File:Marcian.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Marcian]] <br/> (Μαρκιανός, ''Flavius Valerius Marcianus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|450 – January 457||align="left"|Born in 396. A soldier and politician, he became emperor after being wed by the ''Augusta'' [[Pulcheria]], sister of Theodosius II, following the latter's death. Died of [[gangrene]]. |} ==Leonid dynasty (457–518)== {{See also|Leonid dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Leo I Louvre Ma1012.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Leo I the Thracian|Leo I "the Thracian"]] <br/> (Λέων Α' ο Θράξ, ο Μακέλλης, ο Μέγας, ''Flavius Valerius Leo'')|| style="text-align:center;"|7 February 457 –<br/>18 January 474||align="left"|Born in [[Dacia Aureliana|Dacia]] ca. 400, and of [[Bessian]] origin, Leo became a low-ranking officer and served as an attendant of the Gothic commander-in-chief of the army, [[Aspar]], who chose him as emperor on Marcian's death. He was the first emperor to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople. His reign was marked by the pacification of the Danube frontier and peace with Persia, which allowed him to intervene in the affairs of the [[Western Roman Empire|western empire]], supporting candidates for the throne and dispatching an [[Battle of Cape Bon (468)|expedition]] to recover [[Carthage]] from the [[Vandals]] in 468. Initially a puppet of Aspar, Leo began promoting the [[Isaurians]] as a counterweight to Aspar's Goths, marrying his daughter [[Ariadne (empress)|Ariadne]] to the Isaurian leader [[Tarasicodissa]] (Zeno). With their support, in 471 Aspar was murdered and Gothic power over the army was broken.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Gregory|first1=Timothy E.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Leo I|pages=1206–1207|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Leo II the Little.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Leo II (emperor)|Leo II "the Little"]] <br/> (Λέων Β' ο Μικρός, ''Flavius Leo'')|| style="text-align:center;"|18 January –<br/>17 November 474||align="left"|Born ca. 467, he was the grandson of Leo I by Leo's daughter Ariadne and her Isaurian husband, Zeno. Raised to ''Caesar'' and then co-emperor in autumn 473, soon after his accession Leo II crowned his father Zeno as co-emperor and effective regent. Died shortly after, possibly poisoned.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Kazhdan|first=Alexander P.|title=Leo II|pages=1207–1208|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[File:Zeno.png|80px]]||align=center|[[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]] <br/> (Ζήνων, ''Flavius Zeno'') || style="text-align:center;"|17 November 474 –<br/>9 April 491||align="left"|Born ca. 425 in [[Isauria]], originally named Tarasicodissa. As the leader of Leo I's Isaurian soldiers, he rose to ''[[comes domesticorum]]'', married the emperor's daughter Ariadne and took the name Zeno, and played a crucial role in the elimination of [[Aspar]] and his Goths. He was named co-emperor by his son on 9 February 474, and became sole ruler upon the latter's death, but had to flee to his native country before [[Basiliscus]] in 475, regaining control of the capital in 476. Zeno concluded peace with the [[Vandals]], saw off challenges against him by [[Illus]] and [[Verina]], and secured peace in the [[Balkans]] by enticing the [[Ostrogoths]] under [[Theodoric the Great]] to migrate to Italy. Zeno's reign also saw the end of the [[Western Roman Empire|western line of emperors]]. His pro-[[Monophysite]] stance made him unpopular and his promulgation of the [[Henotikon]] resulted in the [[Acacian Schism]] with the papacy.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|title=Zeno|page=2223|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[File:Basiliscus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Basiliscus]] <br/> (Βασιλίσκος, ''Flavius Basiliscus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|9 January 475 –<br/>August 476||align="left"|General and brother-in-law of Leo I, he seized power from Zeno but was again deposed by him. Died in 476/477 |- |align=center|[[File:Anastasius I (emperor).jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius I Dicorus]] <br/> (Αναστάσιος Α' ο Δίκορος, ''Flavius Anastasius'')|| style="text-align:center;"|11 April 491 –<br/>9 July 518||align="left"|Born ca. 430 at [[Dyrrhachium]], he was a palace official (''[[silentiarius]]'') when he was chosen as her husband and Emperor by Empress-dowager [[Ariadne (empress)|Ariadne]]. He was nicknamed "''Dikoros''" (Latin: Dicorus), because of his [[Heterochromia iridum|heterochromia]]. Anastasius reformed the tax system and the [[Byzantine coinage]] and proved a frugal ruler, so that by the end of his reign he left a substantial surplus. His Monophysite sympathies led to wideaspread opposition, most notably the [[Revolt of Vitalian]] and the [[Acacian Schism]]. His reign was also marked by the first [[Bulgars|Bulgar]] raids into the [[Balkans]] and by a [[Anastasian War|war]] with Persia over the foundation of [[Dara (Mesopotamia)|Dara]]. He died childless.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Gregory|first=Timothy E.|title=Anastasios I|pages=86–87|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |} ==Justinian dynasty (518–602)== {{See also|Justinian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:JustinI.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Justin I]] <br/> (Ιουστίνος Α', ''Flavius Iustinus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|July 518 –<br/>1 August 527||align="left"|Born c. 450 at Bederiana ([[Justiniana Prima]]), [[Dardani#Byzantine Dardania|Dardania]]. Officer and commander of the [[Excubitors]] bodyguard under Anastasius I, he was elected by army and people upon the death of Anastasius I. |- |align=center|[[File:Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Justinian I|Justinian I "the Great"]] <br/> (Ιουστινιανός Α' ο Μέγας, ''Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|1 August 527 –<br/>13/14 November 565||align="left"| Born in 482/483 at [[Tauresium]] (Taor), [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]]. Nephew of Justin I, possibly raised to co-emperor on 1 April 527. Succeeded on Justin I's death. |- |align=center|[[File:Justin II.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Justin II]] <br/> (Ιουστίνος Β', ''Flavius Iustinus Iunior'')|| style="text-align:center;"|14 November 565 –<br/>5 October 578||align="left"|Born c. 520. Nephew of Justinian I, he seized the throne on the death of Justinian I with support of army and Senate. Became insane, hence in 573–574 under the regency of his wife [[Sophia (empress)|Sophia]], and in 574–578 under the regency of Tiberius Constantine. |- |align=center|[[File:Tiberius II.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Tiberius II Constantine]] <br/> (Τιβέριος Β', ''Flavius Tiberius Constantinus'')|| style="text-align:center;"|5 October 578 –<br/>14 August 582||align="left"|Born c. 535, commander of the [[Excubitors]], friend and adoptive son of Justin. Was named ''[[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]'' and regent in 574. Succeeded on Justin II's death. |- |align=center|[[File:Emperor Maurice.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Maurice (emperor)|Maurice]] <br/> (Μαυρίκιος, ''Flavius Mauricius Tiberius'')|| style="text-align:center;"|14 August 582 –<br/>22 November 602||align="left"|Born in 539 at [[Arabissus]], [[Cappadocia]]. Became an official and later a general. Married the daughter of Tiberius II and succeeded him upon his death. Named his son [[Theodosius (son of Maurice)|Theodosius]] as co-emperor in 590. Deposed by Phocas and executed on 27 November 602 at [[Chalcedon]]. |} ==Non-dynastic (602–610)== {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Phocas (emperor).jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Phocas]] <br/> (Φωκάς, ''Flavius Phocas'')|| style="text-align:center;"|23 November 602 –<br/>4 October 610||align="left"|Subaltern in the Balkan army, he led a rebellion that deposed Maurice. Increasingly unpopular and tyrannical, he was deposed and executed by Heraclius. |} ==Heraclian dynasty (610–695)== {{See also|Heraclian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Tremissis of Heraclius.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Heraclius]] <br/> (Ηράκλειος, ''Flavius Heraclius'')|| style="text-align:center;"|5 October 610 –<br/>11 February 641||align="left"|Born c. 575 as the eldest son of the [[Exarch of Africa]], [[Heraclius the Elder]]. Began a revolt against Phocas in 609 and deposed him in October 610. Brought the [[Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602–628]] to successful conclusion but was unable to stop the [[Muslim conquest of Syria]]. |- |align=center|[[File:Heraclius and sons.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine III (Byzantine emperor)|Constantine III]]<br/><small>formally Heraclius New Constantine <br/> (Ηράκλειος νέος Κωνσταντίνος, ''Heraclius Novus Constantinus'')</small>|| style="text-align:center;"|11 February –<br/>24/26 May 641||align="left"|Born on 3 May 612 as the eldest son of Heraclius by his first wife [[Fabia Eudokia]]. Named co-emperor in 613, he succeeded to throne with his younger brother Heraklonas following the death of Heraclius. Died of tuberculosis, allegedly poisoned by Empress-dowager [[Martina (empress)|Martina]]. |- |align=center|[[File:Heraclius and sons.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Heraklonas]] <br/> (Ηρακλωνάς, ''Heraclianus'')<br/><small>formally Constantine Heraclius <br/> (Κωνσταντίνος Ηράκλειος, ''Constantinus Heraclius'')</small>|| style="text-align:center;"|11 February 641 –<br/>September 641||align="left"|Born in 626 to Heraclius' second wife [[Martina (empress)|Martina]], 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, but was forced to name [[Constans II]] co-emperor by the army, and was deposed by the [[Byzantine Senate|Senate]] in September 641. |- |align=center|[[File:Tremissis of Constans II Pogonatus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constans II]] <br/> (Κώνστας Β', ''Constantus II'')<br/><small>formally Constantine "the Bearded", <br/> (Κωνσταντίνος ο Πωγωνάτος)</small>||align=center|September 641 –<br/>15 September 668||align="left"|Born on 7 November 630, the son of Constantine III. Raised to co-emperor in summer 641 after his father's death due to army pressure, he became sole emperor after the forced abdication of his uncle Heraklonas. Baptized Heraclius, he reigned as Constantine. "Constans" is his nickname. Moved his seat to [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], where he was assassinated, possibly on the orders of [[Mezezius]]. |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Constantine IV.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine IV|Constantine IV "the Bearded"]] <br/> (Κωνσταντίνος Δ' ο Πωγωνάτος) || style="text-align:center;"|15 September 668 –<br/>September 685||align="left"|Born in 652, he succeeded following the murder of his father Constans II. Erroneously called "Constantine the Bearded" by historians through confusion with his father. He repelled the [[First Arab Siege of Constantinople]], and died of dysentery. |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus-Justinian II-reverse.JPG|80px]]||align=center| [[Justinian II|Justinian II "the Slit-nosed"]] <br/> (Ιουστινιανός Β' ο Ρινότμητος)|| style="text-align:center;"|September 685 –<br/>695||align="left"|Born in 669, he was named co-emperor in 681 and became sole emperor upon Constantine IV's death. Deposed by military revolt in 695, mutilated (hence his surname) and exiled to [[Cherson (theme)|Cherson]], whence he recovered his throne in 705. |} ==Twenty Years' Anarchy (695–717)== {{main|Twenty Years' Anarchy}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Leontius.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Leontios]] <br/> (Λεόντιος)|| style="text-align:center;"|695–698||align="left"|General from [[Isauria]], he deposed Justinian II and was overthrown in another revolt in 698. He was executed in February 706. |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Tiberius Apsimar.jpg|80px]] ||align=center| [[Tiberios III|Tiberius III Apsimar]] <br/> (Τιβέριος Γ' Αψίμαρος)|| style="text-align:center;"|698–705||align="left"|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. |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus-Justinian II-reverse.JPG|80px]]||align=center| [[Justinian II|Justinian II "the Slit-nosed"]] <br/> (Ιουστινιανός Β' ο Ρινότμητος)|| style="text-align:center;"|August 705 –<br/>December 711||align="left"|Returned on the throne with [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgar]] support. Named son [[Tiberius (son of Justinian II)|Tiberius]] as co-emperor in 706. Deposed and killed by military revolt. |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Philippicus Bardanes.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Philippikos Bardanes]]<br/>(Φιλιππικός Βαρδάνης)|| style="text-align:center;"|December 711 –<br/>3 June 713||align="left"|A general of [[Armenians|Armenian]] origin, he deposed Justinian II and was in turn overthrown by a revolt of the [[Opsician]] troops. |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Anastasius II.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Anastasios II]]<br/>(Αναστάσιος Β')|| style="text-align:center;"|June 713 –<br/>November 715||align="left"|Originally named Artemios. A bureaucrat and secretary under Philippikos, he was raised to the purple by the soldiers who overthrew Philippikos. Deposed by another military revolt, he led an abortive attempt to regain the throne in 718 and was killed. |- |align=center|[[File:Theodosius iii coin.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Theodosios III]]<br/>(Θεοδόσιος Γ')|| style="text-align:center;"|May 715 –<br/>25 March 717||align="left"|A fiscal official, he was proclaimed emperor by the rebellious Opsician troops. Entered Constantinople in November 715. Abdicated following the revolt of Leo the Isaurian and became a monk. |} ==Isaurian dynasty (717–802)== {{See also|Isaurian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Leo III the Isaurian.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Leo III the Isaurian|Leo III "the Isaurian"]]<br/>(Λέων Γ΄ ο Ίσαυρος)|| style="text-align:center;"|25 March 717 –<br/>18 June 741||align="left"|Born c. 685 in [[Kahramanmaraş|Germanikeia]], [[Commagene]], he became a general. Rose in rebellion and secured the throne in spring 717. Repelled the [[Second Arab Siege of Constantinople]] and initiated the [[Byzantine Iconoclasm]]. |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Constantine V Copronymus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine V|Constantine V "the Dung-named"]]<br/>(Κωνσταντίνος Ε΄ ο Κοπρώνυμος)|| style="text-align:center;"|18 June 741 –<br/>14 September 775||align="left"|Born in July 718, the only son of Leo III. Co-emperor since 720, he succeeded upon his father's death. After overcoming the usurpation of Artabasdos, he continued his father's iconoclastic policies and won several victories against the Arabs and the Bulgars. He is given the surname "the Dung-named" in hostile later chroniclers. |- |align=center| ||align=center|[[Artabasdos]]<br/>(Αρτάβασδος)|| style="text-align:center;"|June 741/742 –<br/>2 November 743||align="left"|General and son-in-law of Leo III, [[Opsikion|Count of the Opsician Theme]]. Led a revolt that secured Constantinople, but was defeated and deposed by Constantine V, who blinded and tonsured him. |- | style="text-align:center;"|[[File:Solidus of Leo IV the Khazar & Constantine VI.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Leo IV the Khazar|Leo IV "the Khazar"]]<br>(Λέων Δ΄ ο Χάζαρος)|| style="text-align:center;"|14 September 775 –<br/>8 September 780||align="left"|Born on 25 January 750 as the eldest son of Constantine V. Co-emperor since 751, he succeeded upon his father's death. |- | style="text-align:center;"|[[File:Solidus of Leo IV the Khazar & Constantine VI.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine VI]]<br>(Κωνσταντίνος ΣΤ΄)|| style="text-align:center;"|8 September 780 –<br/>August 797||align="left"|Born in 771, the 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. |- |align=center|[[File:Irina ( Pala d'Oro).jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Irene of Athens]]<br>(Ειρήνη η Αθηναία)|| style="text-align:center;"|August 797 –<br/>31 October 802||align="left"|Born c. 752 in [[Athens]], she married Leo IV. Regent for her son Constantine VI in 780–790, she overthrew him in 797 and became empress-regnant. Deposed in a palace coup in 802, she was exiled and died on 9 August 803. |} ==Nikephorian dynasty (802–813)== {{main|Nikephorian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- | style="text-align:center;"|[[File:Nicephorus I Logothetes.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Nikephoros I|Nikephoros I "the Logothete"]]<br>(Νικηφόρος Α΄ ο Λογοθέτης)|| style="text-align:center;"|31 October 802 –<br/>26 July 811||align=left|[[General Logothete]] (finance minister) under Irene, led initially successful campaigns against the Bulgars but was killed at the [[Battle of Pliska]]. |- | style="text-align:center;"|[[File:Stauracius.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Staurakios]]<br>(Σταυράκιος)|| style="text-align:center;"|2 October 811 –<br/>11 January 812||align=left|Only son of Nikephoros I, crowned co-emperor in December 803. Succeeded on his father's death; however, he had been heavily wounded at Pliska and left paralyzed. He was forced to resign, and retired to a monastery where he died soon after. |- |align=center|[[File:Michael I Rangabe.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Michael I Rangabe]]<br>(Μιχαήλ Α΄ Ραγγαβέ)|| style="text-align:center;"|11 January 812 –<br/>22 June 813||align=left|Son-in-law of Nikephoros I, he succeeded Staurakios on his abdication. Resigned after the revolt under Leo the Armenian and retired to a monastery, where he died on 11 January 844. Reigned with eldest son [[Theophylact (son of Michael I)|Theophylact]] as co-emperor. |} ==Non-dynastic (813–820)== {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Leo V the Armenian.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Leo V the Armenian|Leo V "the Armenian"]]<br>(Λέων Ε' ο Αρμένιος)|| style="text-align:center;"|11 July 813 –<br/>25 December 820||align=left|General of Armenian origin, born c. 775. He rebelled against Michael I and became emperor. Appointed his son Symbatios co-emperor under the name of [[Constantine (son of Leo V)|Constantine]] on Christmas 813. Revived [[Byzantine Iconoclasm]]. Murdered by a conspiracy led by Michael the Amorian. |} ==Amorian dynasty (820–867)== {{See also|Byzantium under the Amorian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Michael II the Amorian.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Michael II|Michael II "the Amorian"]]<br>(Μιχαήλ Β΄ ὁ ἐξ Ἀμορίου)|| style="text-align:center;"|25 December 820 –<br/>2 October 829||align="left"|Born in 770 at [[Amorium]], he became an army officer. A friend of Leo V, he was raised to high office but led the conspiracy that murdered him. Survived the rebellion of [[Thomas the Slav]], lost [[Crete]] to the Arabs and faced the beginning of the [[Muslim conquest of Sicily]], reinforced iconoclasm. |- |align=center|[[File:Solidus of Theophilus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]]<br>(Θεόφιλος)|| style="text-align:center;"|2 October 829 –<br/>20 January 842||align="left"|Born in 813, as the only son of Michael II. Co-emperor since 821, he succeeded on his father's death. |- |align=center|[[File:Michael iii.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Michael III|Michael III "the Drunkard"]]<br>(Μιχαήλ Γ΄ ο Μέθυσος)<br>|| style="text-align:center;"|20 January 842 –<br/>23 September 867||align="left"|Born on 19 January 840, he succeeded on Theophilos' death. Under the regency of his mother [[Theodora (wife of Theophilos)|Theodora]] until 856, and under the effective control of his uncle [[Bardas]] in 862–866. Ended iconoclasm. Murdered by Basil the Macedonian. A pleasure-loving ruler, he was nicknamed "the Drunkard" by later, pro-Basil chroniclers . |} ==Macedonian dynasty (867–1056)== {{See also|Macedonian dynasty|Byzantine Empire under the Macedonian dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Basil&leo.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Basil I the Macedonian|Basil I "the Macedonian"]]<br>(Βασίλειος Α΄ ο Μακεδών)||align=center|867 –<br/>2 August 886||align="left"|Born in the [[Macedonia (theme)|Theme of Macedonia]] ca. 811, he rose in prominence through palace service, becoming a favourite of Michael III. He overthrew Michael and established the Macedonian dynasty. He led successful wars in the East against the Arabs and the [[Paulicians]], and recovered southern Italy for the Empire. |- |align=center|[[File:Detail of the Imperial Gate mosaic in Hagia Sophia showing Leo VI the Wise.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Leo VI the Wise|Leo VI "the Wise"]]<br>(Λέων ΣΤ΄ ο Σοφός)|| style="text-align:center;"|886 –<br/>11 May 912||Born on 19 September 866, likely either son of Basil I or Michael III, Leo was known for his erudition. His reign saw a height in Saracen naval raids, culminating in the [[Sack of Thessalonica (904)|Sack of Thessalonica]], and was marked by unsuccessful wars against the Bulgarians under [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon I]]. |- |align=center|[[File:Alexander of Constantinople.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Alexander (Byzantine emperor)|Alexander]]<br>(Αλέξανδρος)|| style="text-align:center;"|11 May 912 –<br/>6 June 913||align="left"|Son of Basil I, Alexander was born in 870 and raised to co-emperor in 879. Sidelined by Leo VI, Alexander dismissed his brother's principal aides on his accession. He died of exhaustion after a polo game. |- |align=center|[[File:Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine VII|Constantine VII "the Purple-born"]]<br>(Κωνσταντίνος Ζ΄ ο Πορφυρογέννητος)|| style="text-align:center;"|6 June 913 –<br/>9 November 959||align="left"|The son of Leo VI, he was born on 17/18 May 905 and raised to co-emperor on 15 May 908. His early reign was dominated by successive regencies, first by his mother, [[Zoe Karbonopsina]], and Patriarch [[Nicholas Mystikos]], and from 919 by the admiral Romanos Lekapenos, who wedded his daughter to Constantine and was crowned senior emperor in 920. Constantine was sidelined during the Lekapenos regime, but asserted his control by deposing Romanos's sons in early 945. His reign was marked by struggles with [[Sayf al-Dawla]] in the East and an unsuccessful campaign against Crete, and pro-aristocratic policies that saw a partial reversal of Lekapenos' legislation against the ''[[dynatoi]]''. He is notable for his promotion of the "[[Macedonian Renaissance]]", sponsoring encyclopaedic works and histories. He was a prolific writer himself, best remembered for the manuals on statecraft (''[[De administrando imperio]]'') and ceremonies (''[[De ceremoniis]]'') he compiled for his son, Romanos II.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Kazhdan|first1=Alexander|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos|pages=502–503|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[File:Romanus I with Christopher, solidus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Romanos I Lekapenos]]<br>(Ρωμανός Α΄ Λεκαπηνός)|| style="text-align:center;"|17 December 920 –<br/>16 December 944||align="left"|An admiral of lowly origin, Romanos rose to power as a protector of the young Constantine VII against the general [[Leo Phokas the Elder]]. After becoming the emperor's father-in-law, he successively assumed higher offices until he crowned himself senior emperor. His reign was marked by the end of warfare with Bulgaria and the great conquests of [[John Kourkouas]] in the East. Romanos promoted his sons [[Christopher Lekapenos|Christopher]], [[Stephen Lekapenos|Stephen]] and [[Constantine Lekapenos|Constantine]] as co-emperors over Constantine VII, but was himself overthrown by the latter two and confined to an island as a monk. He died there on 15 June 948. |- |align=center|[[File:Constantine VII and Romanos II solidus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Romanos II|Romanos II "the Purple-born"]]<br>(Ρωμανός Β΄ ο Πορφυρογέννητος)|| style="text-align:center;"|9 November 959 –<br/>15 March 963||align="left"|The only surviving son of Constantine VII, he was born on 15 March 938 and succeeded his father on the latter's death. He ruled until his own death, although the government was led mostly by the eunuch [[Joseph Bringas]]. His reign was marked by successful warfare in the East against [[Sayf al-Dawla]] and the recovery of Crete by general [[Nikephoros II Phokas|Nikephoros Phokas]]. |- |align=center|[[Image:Nikiphoros Phokas.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Nikephoros II Phokas]]<br>(Νικηφόρος Β΄ Φωκάς)|| style="text-align:center;"|16 August 963 –<br/>11 December 969||align="left"|The most successful general of his generation, Nikephoros II was born ca. 912 to the powerful [[Phokas (Byzantine family)|Phokas]] clan. After the death of Romanos II, he rose to the throne with the support of the army and people as regent for the young emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII, marrying the empress-dowager [[Theophano (10th century)|Theophano]]. Throughout his reign he led campaigns in the East, conquering much of Syria. He was murdered by his nephew and one-time associate John Tzimiskes. |- |align=center|[[File:John I Tzimiskes 8.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John I Tzimiskes]]<br>(Iωάννης Α΄ Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής)|| style="text-align:center;"|11 December 969 –<br/>10 January 976||align="left"|Nephew of Nikephoros Phokas, Tzimiskes was born ca. 925. A successful general, he fell out with his uncle and led a conspiracy of disgruntled generals who murdered him. Tzimiskes succeeded Nikephoros as emperor and regent for the young sons of Romanos II. As ruler, Tzimiskes [[Rus'–Byzantine War (970–971)|crushed]] the [[Rus' (people)|Rus']] in Bulgaria and ended the Bulgarian tsardom before going on to campaign in the East, where he died. |- |align=center|[[Image:Basilios II.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Basil II|Basil II "the Bulgar-Slayer"]]<br>(Βασίλειος Β΄ ο Βουλγαροκτόνος)|| style="text-align:center;"|10 January 976 –<br/>15 December 1025||align="left"|Eldest son of Romanos II, Basil was born in 958. The first decade of his reign was marked by rivalry with the powerful [[Basil Lekapenos]], an unsuccessful war against Bulgaria, and rebellions by generals in Asia Minor. Basil solidified his position through a marriage alliance with [[Vladimir I of Kiev]], and after suppressing the revolts, he embarked on his [[Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria|conquest of Bulgaria]]. Bulgaria was finally subdued in 1018 after over 20 years of war, interrupted only by sporadic warfare in Syria against the [[Fatimids]]. Basil also expanded Byzantine control over most of Armenia. His reign is widely considered as the apogee of medieval Byzantium. |- |align=center|[[Image:Histamenon nomisma-Constantine VIII-sb1776.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine VIII|Constantine VIII "the Purple-born"]]<br>(Κωνσταντίνος Η΄ ο Πορφυρογέννητος)|| style="text-align:center;"|15 December 1025 –<br/>15 November 1028||align="left"|The second son of Romanos II, Constantine was born in 960 and raised to co-emperor in March 962. During the rule of Basil II, he spent his time in idle pleasure. During his short reign he was an indifferent ruler, easily influenced by his courtiers and suspicious of plots to depose him, especially among the military aristocracy, many of whom were blinded and exiled. On his deathbed, he chose Romanos Argyros as husband for his daughter Zoe.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Brand|first1=Charles M.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine VIII|pages=503–504|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[Image:Zoe mosaic Hagia Sophia.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Zoe Porphyrogenita|Zoe "the Purple-born"]]<br>(Ζωή Πορφυρογέννητη)|| style="text-align:center;"|15 November 1028 –<br/>June 1050||align="left"|The daughter of Constantine VIII, she succeeded on her father's death, as the only surviving member of the Macedonian dynasty, along with her sister Theodora. Her three husbands, Romanos III (1028–1034), Michael IV (1034–1041) and Constantine IX (1042–1050) ruled alongside her. |- |align=center|[[Image:Miliaresion-Romanus III-sb1822.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Romanos III Argyros]]<br>(Ρωμανός Γ΄ Αργυρός)|| style="text-align:center;"|15 November 1028 –<br/>11 April 1034||align="left"|Born in 968, the elderly aristocrat Romanos was chosen by Constantine VII on his deathbed as Zoe's husband and succeeded on the throne after Constantine's death a few days later. |- |align=center|[[File:Michael IV histamenon.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Michael IV the Paphlagonian|Michael IV "the Paphlagonian"]]<br>(Μιχαήλ Δ΄ ο Παφλαγών)|| style="text-align:center;"|11 April 1034 –<br/>10 December 1041||align="left"|Born in 1010, he became a lover of Zoe even while Romanos III was alive, and succeeded him upon his death as her husband and emperor. Aided by his older brother, the eunuch [[John the Orphanotrophos]], his reign was moderately successful against internal rebellions, but his attempt to recover [[Sicily]] failed. He died after a long illness. |- |align=center|[[Image:Histamenon nomisma-Micael V-sb1776.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Michael V Kalaphates|Michael V "the Caulker"]]<br>(Μιχαήλ Ε΄ ο Καλαφάτης)|| style="text-align:center;"|10 December 1041 –<br/>20 April 1042||align="left"|Born in 1015, he was the nephew and adopted son of Michael IV. During his reign he tried to sideline Zoe, but a popular revolt forced him to restore her as empress on 19 April 1042, along with her sister [[Theodora (11th century)|Theodora]]. He was deposed the next day, castrated and tonsured, dying on 24 August 1042. |- |align=center|[[Image:Tetarteron-Theodora-sb1838.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Theodora (11th century)|Theodora]]<br>(Θεοδώρα)|| style="text-align:center;"|19 April 1042 –<br/>after 31 August 1056||align="left"|The younger sister of Zoe, born in 984, she was raised as co-ruler on 19 April 1042. After Zoe married her third husband, Constantine IX, in June 1042, Theodora was again sidelined. After Zoe died in 1050 and Constantine in 1055, Theodora assumed full governance of the Empire and reigned until her death. She nominated [[Michael VI]] as her successor. |- |align=center|[[File:Emperor Constantine IX.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine IX Monomachos]]<br>(Κωνσταντίνος Θ΄ Μονομάχος)|| style="text-align:center;"|11 June 1042 –<br/>7/8 or 11 January 1055||align="left"|Born ca. 1000 of noble origin, he had an undistinguished life but was exiled to [[Lesbos]] by Michael IV, returning when he was chosen as Zoe's third husband. Constantine supported the mercantile classes and favoured the company of intellectuals, thereby alienating the military aristocracy. A pleasure-loving ruler, he lived an extravagant life with his favourite mistresses and endowed a number of monasteries, chiefly the [[Nea Moni of Chios]] and the [[Mangana Monastery]]. His reign was marked by invasions by the [[Pechenegs]] in the [[Balkans]] and the [[Seljuk Turks]] in the East, the revolts of [[George Maniakes]] and [[Leo Tornikios]], and the [[East–West Schism|Great Schism]] between the patriarchates of Rome and Constantinople.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Brand|first1=Charles M.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine IX Monomachos|page=504|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |} ==Non-dynastic (1056–1057)== {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Michael VI tetarteron.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Michael VI Bringas|Michael VI Bringas, "''Stratiotikos''" or "the Old"]]<br>(Μιχαήλ ΣΤ΄ Βρίγγας, ο Στρατιωτικός, ο Γέρων)|| style="text-align:center;"|September 1056 –<br/>31 August 1057||align="left"|A court bureaucrat and [[military logothete]] (hence his first sobriquet). Deposed by military revolt under Isaac Komnenos, he retired to a monastery where he died in 1059. |} ==Komnenid dynasty (1057–1059)== {{See also|Komnenos|Byzantine Empire under the Komnenos dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Histamenon nomisma-Isaac I-sb1776.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Isaac I Komnenos]]<br>(Ισαάκιος Α΄ Κομνηνός)|| style="text-align:center;"|5 June 1057 –<br/>22 November 1059||align="left"|Born c. 1005. A successful general, he rose in revolt leading the eastern armies and was declared Emperor; he was recognized after the abdication of Michael VI on 31 August 1057. He resigned in 1059 and died c. 1061. |} ==Doukid dynasty (1059–1081)== {{See also|Doukid dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Costantino X - histamenon - Sear 1847v.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine X Doukas]]<br>(Κωνσταντίνος Ι΄ Δούκας)|| style="text-align:center;"|24 November 1059 –<br/>22 May 1067||align="left"|Born in 1006, he became a general and close ally of Isaac Komnenos, and succeeded him as emperor on his abdication. Named his sons [[Michael VII Doukas|Michael]], [[Andronikos Doukas (co-emperor)|Andronikos]] and [[Konstantios Doukas|Konstantios]] as co-emperors |- |align=center|[[File:NomismaMikaelVIIDoukas.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Michael VII Doukas]]<br>(Μιχαήλ Ζ΄ Δούκας)|| style="text-align:center;"|22 May 1067 –<br/>24 March 1078||align="left"|Born in 1050 as the eldest son of Constantine X. Co-emperor since 1059, he succeeded on his father's death. Due to his minority he was under the regency of his mother, [[Eudokia Makrembolitissa]], in 1067–1068, and relegated to junior emperor under her second husband Romanos IV Diogenes in 1068–1071. Senior emperor in 1071–1078, he named his son [[Constantine Doukas (co-emperor)|Constantine]] co-emperor alongside his brothers. He abdicated before the revolt of Nikephoros Botaneiates, retired to a monastery and died c. 1090. |- |align=center|[[File:Romanos et Eudoxie.JPG|80px]] ||align=center| [[Romanos IV Diogenes]]<br>(Ρωμανός Δ΄ Διογένης)|| style="text-align:center;"|1 January 1068 –<br/>24 October 1071||align="left"|Born in 1032, a 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]], blinded in June 1072 and exiled. He died soon after. |- |align=center|[[File:Meister der Predigtsammlung des Heiligen Johannes Chrysostomus 001.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Nikephoros III Botaneiates]]<br>(Νικηφόρος Γ΄ Βοτανειάτης)|| style="text-align:center;"|31 March 1078 –<br/>4 April 1081||align="left"|Born in 1001, he was the ''[[strategos]]'' of the [[Anatolic Theme]]. He rebelled against Michael VII and was welcomed into the capital. He weathered several revolts, but was overthrown by the [[Komnenos]] clan. He retired to a monastery where he died on 10 December of the same year (1081). |} ==Komnenid dynasty (1081–1185)== {{See also|Komnenos|Byzantine Empire under the Komnenos dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Alexios I Komnenos.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Alexios I Komnenos]]<br>(Αλέξιος Α' Κομνηνός)|| style="text-align:center;"|4 April 1081 –<br/>15 August 1118||align=left|Born in 1048, a nephew of Isaac I Komnenos. A distinguished general, he overthrew Nikephoros III. His reign was dominated by wars against the [[Normans]] and the [[Seljuk Turks]], as well as the arrival of the [[First Crusade]] and the establishment of independent [[Crusader states]]. He retained Constantine Doukas as co-emperor until 1087 and named his eldest son John co-emperor in 1092. |- |align=center|[[File:Jean II Comnene.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John II Komnenos]]<br>(Ιωάννης Β' Κομνηνός)|| style="text-align:center;"|15 August 1118 –<br/>8 April 1143||align=left|Born on 13 September 1087 as the eldest son of Alexios I. Co-emperor since 1092, he succeeded upon his father's death. His reign was focused on wars with the Turks. A popular and frugal ruler, he was known as "John the Good". Named his eldest son [[Alexios Komnenos (co-emperor)|Alexios]] co-emperor in 1122, but he died before him. |- |align=center|[[File:Manuel I Comnenus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Manuel I Komnenos]]<br>(Μανουήλ Α' Κομνηνός)|| style="text-align:center;"|1143 –<br/>24 September 1180||align=left|Born on 28 November 1118 as the third and youngest son of John II, he was chosen as emperor over his elder brother [[Isaac Komnenos (son of John II)|Isaac]] by his father on his deathbed. An energetic ruler, he launched campaigns against the Turks, humbled [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]], achieved supremacy over the Crusader states and tried unsuccessfully to recover Italy. His extravagance and constant campaigning however depleted the Empire's resources. |- |align=center|[[File:Alexios II - komnenos.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Alexios II Komnenos]]<br>(Αλέξιος B' Κομνηνός)|| style="text-align:center;"|24 September 1180 –<br/>October 1183||align=left|Born on 14 September 1169 as the only son of Manuel I. In 1180–1182 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. |- |align=center|[[File:ByzantineBillonTrachy.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Andronikos I Komnenos]]<br>(Ανδρόνικος Α' Κομνηνός)|| style="text-align:center;"|1183 –<br/>11 September 1185||align=left|Born c. 1118, a nephew of John II by his brother [[Isaac Komnenos (son of Alexios I)|Isaac]]. A general, he was imprisoned for conspiring against John II, but escaped and spent 15 years in exile in various courts in eastern Europe and the Middle East. He seized the regency from Maria of Antioch in 1182 and subsequently throne from his nephew Alexios II. An unpopular ruler, he was overthrown and lynched in a popular uprising. |} ==Angelid dynasty (1185–1204)== {{See also|Angelos|Byzantine Empire under the Angelos dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:IsaacIIAnge.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Isaac II Angelos]]<br>(Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος)|| style="text-align:center;"|1185–1195||align=left|Born in September 1156, Isaac came to the throne at the head of a popular revolt against Andronikos I. His reign was marked by revolts and wars in the Balkans, especially against a resurgent [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]]. He was deposed, blinded and imprisoned by his elder brother, Alexios III. |- |align=center|[[File:Alexios III -Angelos.jpg|80px]]||align=center| [[Alexios III Angelos]]<br>(Αλέξιος Γ' Άγγελος)|| style="text-align:center;"|1195 –<br/>17/18 July 1203||align=left|Born in 1153, Alexios was the elder brother of Isaac II. His reign was marked by misgovernment and the increasing autonomy of provincial magnates. He was deposed by the [[Fourth Crusade]] and fled Constantinople, roaming Greece and Asia Minor, searching for support to regain his throne. He died in [[Empire of Nicaea|Nicaean]] captivity in 1211. |- |align=center|[[File:IsaacIIAnge.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Isaac II Angelos]]<br>(Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος)|| style="text-align:center;"|18 July 1203 –<br/>27/28 January 1204||align=left|Restored to his throne by the Crusaders, actual rule fell to his son Alexios IV. Due to their failure to deal with the Crusaders' demands, he was deposed by Alexios V Doukas in January 1204 and died on 28 January 1204, perhaps of poison. |- |align=center|[[File:Alexius4.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Alexios IV Angelos]]<br>(Αλέξιος Δ' Άγγελος)|| style="text-align:center;"|1 August 1203 –<br/>27/28 January 1204||align=left|Born in 1182, the son of Isaac II. He enlisted the Fourth Crusade to return his father to the throne, and reigned alongside his restored father. Due to their failure to deal with the Crusaders' demands, he was deposed by Alexios V Doukas in January 1204, and was strangled on 8 February. |- |align=center|[[File:Alexius V.JPG|80px]]||align=center|[[Alexios V Doukas]] "''Mourtzouphlos''"<br>(Αλέξιος Ε' Δούκας ο Μούρτζουφλος)''|| style="text-align:center;"|5 February 1204 –<br/>13 April 1204||align=left|Born in 1140, the son-in-law of Alexios III and a prominent aristocrat, he deposed Isaac II and Alexios IV in a palace coup. He tried to repel the Crusaders, but they [[Siege of Constantinople (1204)|captured Constantinople]] forcing Mourtzouphlos to flee. He joined the exiled Alexios III, but was later blinded by the latter. Captured by the Crusaders, he was executed in December 1205. |} ==Laskarid dynasty (Empire of Nicaea, 1204–1261)== {{See also|Laskaris|Empire of Nicaea}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Theodore I Laskaris miniature.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Theodore I Laskaris]]<br/>(Θεόδωρος Α΄ Λάσκαρις)|| style="text-align:center;"|1205–<br/>December 1221/1222||align=left|Born c. 1174, he rose to prominence as a son-in-law of Alexios III. His brother [[Constantine Laskaris]] was elected emperor by the citizens of Constantinople on the day the city fell to the Crusaders; he later fled to [[Nicaea (city)|Nicaea]], where Theodore organized the Greek resistance to the Latins. Proclaimed emperor after Constantine's death in 1205, Theodore was crowned only in 1208. He managed to stop the Latin advance in Asia and to repel Seljuk attacks, establishing the [[Empire of Nicaea]] as the strongest of the Greek successor states. |- |align=center|[[File:John III Doukas Vatatzes.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John III Doukas Vatatzes]]<br/>(Ιωάννης Γ' Δούκας Βατάτζης)|| style="text-align:center;"|15 December 1221/1222–<br/>3 November 1254||align=left|Born c. 1192, he became the son-in-law and successor of Theodore I in 1212. A capable ruler and soldier, he expanded his state in Bithynia, Thrace and Macedonia at the expense of the [[Latin Empire]], Bulgaria and the rival Greek state of [[Despotate of Epirus|Epirus]]. |- |align=center|[[File:Theodore II Laskaris miniature.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Theodore II Laskaris]]<br/>(Θεόδωρος Β' Λάσκαρις)|| style="text-align:center;"|3 November 1254–<br/>18 August 1258||align=left|Born in 1221/1222 as the only son of John III, he succeeded on his father's death. His reign was marked by his hostility towards the major houses of the aristocracy, and by his victory against Bulgaria and the subsequent expansion into and Albania. |- |align=center|[[File:John IV Laskaris miniature.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John IV Laskaris]]<br/>(Ιωάννης Δ' Λάσκαρις)|| style="text-align:center;"|18 August 1258–<br/>25 December 1261||align=left|Born on 25 December 1250 as the 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 VIII Palaiologos|Michael Palaiologos]], who within months was crowned senior emperor. After the recovery of Constantinople in August 1261, Palaiologos sidelined John IV completely, had him blinded and imprisoned. John IV died c. 1305. |} ==Palaiologan dynasty (restored to Constantinople, 1261–1453)== {{See also|Palaiologos|Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty}} {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="width:22%;"|Name !style="width:12%;"|Reign !Comments |- |align=center|[[File:Michael VIII Palaiologos (head).jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Michael VIII Palaiologos]]<br/>(Μιχαήλ Η' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|1 January 1259–<br/>11 December 1282||align=left|Born in 1223, great-grandson of Alexios III, grandnephew of John III by marriage. Senior emperor alongside John IV in 1259, sole emperor since 25 December 1261. |- |align=center|[[File:Serres IM Prodromou Andronicos.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Andronikos II Palaiologos]]<br/>(Ανδρόνικος Β' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|11 December 1282–<br/>24 May 1328||align=left|Son of Michael VIII, he was born on 25 March 1259. Named co-emperor in September 1261, crowned in 1272, he succeeded as sole emperor on Michael's death. Favouring monks and intellectuals, he neglected the army, and his reign saw the collapse of the Byzantine position in Asia Minor. He named his son [[Michael IX Palaiologos|Michael IX]] co-emperor. In a [[Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328|protracted civil war]], he was first forced to recognize his grandson [[Andronikos III Palaiologos|Andronikos III]] as co-emperor and was then deposed outright. He died on 13 February 1332. |- |align=center|[[File:Андроник III Палеолог.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Andronikos III Palaiologos]]<br/>(Ανδρόνικος Γ' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|24 May 1328–<br/>15 June 1341||align=left|Son of Michael IX, he was born on 25 March 1297 and named co-emperor in 1316. Rival emperor since July 1321, he deposed his grandfather Andronikos II in 1328 and ruled as sole emperor until his death. Supported by [[John Kantakouzenos]], his reign saw defeats against the [[Ottoman emirate]] but successes in Europe, where [[Epirus]] and [[Thessaly]] were recovered. |- |align=center|[[File:John V Palaiologos.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John V Palaiologos]]<br/>(Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|15 June 1341–<br/>12 August 1376||align=left|Only son of Andronikos III, he had not been crowned co-emperor or declared heir at his father's death, a fact which led to the outbreak of a [[Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347|destructive civil war]] between his regents and his father's closest aide, [[John VI Kantakouzenos]], who was crowned co-emperor. The conflict ended in 1347 with Kantakouzenos recognized as senior emperor, but he was deposed by John V in 1354, during [[Byzantine civil war of 1352–1357|another civil war]]. [[Matthew Kantakouzenos]], raised by John VI to co-emperor, was also deposed in 1357. John V appealed to the West for aid against the Ottomans, but in 1371 he was forced to recognize Ottoman suzerainty. He was deposed in 1376 by his son Andronikos IV. |- |align=center|[[File:John VI Kantakouzenos.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John VI Kantakouzenos]]<br/>(Ιωάννης ΣΤ' Καντακουζηνός)|| style="text-align:center;"|8 February 1347–<br/>4 December 1354||align=left|A maternal relative of the [[Palaiologos|Palaiologoi]], he was declared co-emperor on 26 October 1341, and was recognized as senior emperor for ten years after the end of the [[Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347|civil war]] on 8 February 1347. Deposed by John V in 1354, he became a monk, dying on 15 June 1383. |- |align=center|[[File:Andronikos IV Palaiologos.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Andronikos IV Palaiologos]]<br/>(Ανδρόνικος Δ΄ Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|12 August 1376–<br/>1 July 1379||align=left|Son of John V and grandson of John VI, he was born on 2 April 1348 and raised to co-emperor c. 1352. He deposed his father on 12 August 1376 and ruled until overthrown in turn in 1379. He was again recognized as co-emperor in 1381 and given [[Selymbria]] as an [[appanage]], dying there on 28 June 1385. |- |align=center|[[File:John V Palaiologos.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John V Palaiologos]]<br/>(Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|1 July 1379–<br/>14 April 1390||align="left"|Restored to senior emperor, he was reconciled with Andronikos IV in 1381, re-appointing him co-emperor. He was overthrown again in 1390 by his grandson, John VII. |- |align=center| ||align=center|[[John VII Palaiologos]]<br/>(Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|14 April 1390–<br/>17 September 1390||align="left"|Son of Andronikos IV, he was born in 1370, and named co-emperor under his father in 1377–79. He usurped the throne from his grandfather John V for five months in 1390, but with Ottoman mediation he was reconciled with John V and his uncle, Manuel II. He held Constantinople against the Ottomans in 1399–1402, and was then given [[Thessalonica]] as an appanage, which he governed until his death on 22 September 1408. |- |align=center|[[File:John V Palaiologos.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John V Palaiologos]]<br/>(Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|17 September 1390–<br/>16 February 1391||align="left"|Restored to senior emperor, he ruled until his death in February 1391. |- |align=center|[[File:Manuel II Paleologus.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Manuel II Palaiologos]]<br/>(Μανουήλ Β' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|16 February 1391–<br/>21 July 1425||align="left"|Second son of John V, he was born on 27 June 1350. Raised to co-emperor in 1373, he became senior emperor on John V's death and ruled until his death. He journeyed to the West European courts seeking aid against the Turks, and was able to use the Ottoman defeat in the [[Battle of Ankara]] to regain some territories and throw off his vassalage to them. |- |align=center|[[File:Palaio.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[John VIII Palaiologos]]<br/>(Ιωάννης Η' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|21 July 1425–<br/>31 October 1448||align="left"|Eldest surviving son of Manuel II, he was born on 18 December 1392. Raised to co-emperor c. 1416, he succeeded his father on his death. Seeking aid against the resurgent Ottomans, he ratified the [[Council of Florence|Union of the Churches]] in 1439. |- |align=center|[[File:Constantine XI Palaiologos miniature.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Constantine XI Palaiologos]]<br/>(Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Παλαιολόγος)|| style="text-align:center;"|6 January 1449–<br/>29 May 1453||align="left"|The fourth son of Manuel II, he was born on 8 February 1405. As [[Despot of the Morea]] since 1428, he distinguished himself in campaigns that annexed the [[Principality of Achaea]] and brought the [[Duchy of Athens]] under temporary Byzantine suzerainty, but was unable to repel Turkish attacks under [[Turahan Bey]]. As the eldest surviving brother, he succeeded John VIII after the latter's death. Facing the designs of the new Ottoman sultan, [[Mehmed II]], on Constantinople, Constantine acknowledged the Union of the Churches and made repeated appeals for help to the West, but in vain. Refusing to surrender the city, he fell during the [[Fall of Constantinople|final Ottoman attack]] on 29 May 1453.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Talbot|first=Alice-Mary|title=Constantine XI Palaiologos|page=505|editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander P.|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]|location=New York; Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> |} ==Palaiologan dynasty (claimants in exile)== {| style="width:95%;" class="wikitable" |- !Picture !Name !Status !Birth !Emperor from !Emperor until !Death |- |align=center| ||align=center|[[Demetrios Palaiologos]] Δημήτριος Παλαιολόγος|| style="text-align:center;"|''Son of Manuel II, brother of John VIII and Constantine XI''|| style="text-align:center;"|c. 1407|| style="text-align:center;"|1453|| style="text-align:center;"|1460|| style="text-align:center;"|1470 |- |align=center|[[File:Thomas Palaiologos2.jpg|80px]]||align=center|[[Thomas Palaiologos]] Θωμάς Παλαιολόγος|| style="text-align:center;"|''Son of Manuel II, brother of John VIII and Constantine XI''|| style="text-align:center;"|c. 1409|| style="text-align:center;"|1453|| style="text-align:center;"|12 May 1465|| style="text-align:center;"|12 May 1465 |- |align=center| ||align=center|[[Andreas Palaiologos]] Ανδρέας Παλαιολόγος|| style="text-align:center;"|''Son of Thomas''|| style="text-align:center;"|c. 1453|| style="text-align:center;"|12 May 1465|| style="text-align:center;"|1502|| style="text-align:center;"|1502 |} ==See also== {{Portal|Byzantine Empire}} *[[List of Roman emperors]] *[[List of Roman usurpers]] *[[List of Byzantine usurpers]] *[[List of Roman and Byzantine empresses]] ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Epochs of Roman Emperors}} {{Byzantine Empire topics}} {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Byzantine Emperors}} [[Category:Byzantine emperors| ]] [[Category:Lists of monarchs|Byzantine Empire]] [[Category:Lists of medieval people|Byzantine emperors]] [[Category:Byzantine Empire-related lists]] {{Link FL|de}}'