Eastern Roman Emperor
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Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
Coat of Arms of Byzantine Empire
Coin showing the face of Constantine I
First emperor	Constantine I
Last emperor	Constantine XI
Emperorship started	306
Emperorship ended	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.^[1]

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.
	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.

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.

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.
	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
	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 ¾ 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

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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.

Justinian dynasty (518-602)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.

Non-dynastic (602-610)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	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)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	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
	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
	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.
	Mezezius	Usurper Emperor	Unknown	668	669		A member of the Gnuni family. Declared Emperor in Sicily and ruled there for seceral months. Killed in conflict with Constantine IV.
	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.
	Justinian II	son of Constantine IV	669	Co-emperor in 681, sole emperor in 685.	695 Deposed by military revolt	December 711	Augmented the sum paid by the Umayyad Caliphate as an annual tribute, regained control of part of Cyprus. The income from the provinces of Armenia and Iberia was divided among the two empires. Defeated Slavic tribes of Macedonia and relocated them to Anatolia. Started war against the Umayyads which resulted in the loss of Armenia to them. Deposed shortly after.
	Leontios	Usurper Emperor	Unknown	695	698 Deposed by military revolt	705	A strategos from Isauria. Used the army of the Helladic Theme to depose Justinian II. Lost Carthage to Abd al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate. Briefly resumed control of the city but the Battle of Carthage firmly established Umayyad control over the Exarchate of Africa. The remnants of the defeated Byzantine expedition revolted against Leontius and deposed him. Executed by Justinian II in 705.
	Tiberios III	Usurper Emperor	Unknown	698	705 Deposed by a Bulgarian-supported revolt	705	An army officer of Germanic origins. Led remnants of the defeated army expedition for Carthage to successful revolt. War with Abd Al-Malik continued with incoclusive victories and losses for either side. Deposed by Justinian II who had gained the military support of Tervel of Bulgaria. Executed shortly after deposition.
	Justinian II	son of Constantine IV	669	705	711 Deposed by military revolt	December 711	Restored to the throne by winning the military support of Tervel of Bulgaria. Rewarded Tervel with a number of territories in the Balkans. Attempted to regain said territories by attacking Tervel in 708. The expedition failed and peace was restored. The Ummayyads managed to capture Cilicia and penetrated into Cappadocia. Inflicted harsh punishments to the city of Cherson which had served as his exile place for several years. The troops of Cherson revolted against him. He led his own troops against the rebels, fell into their hands and was swiftly executed.

Non-dynastic (711-717)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	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	A Monothelite. Led the troops of Cherson in successful revolt against Justinian II. Abolished the canons of the Third Council of Constantinople. Both Tervel of Bulgaria and Al-Walid I of the Umayyad Caliphate managed to gain military victories over him. Deposed by a revolt of the troops of the Opsikian Theme, Thrace. He was deposed and blinded.
	Anastasios II	a burecraut, imperial secretary for Philippikos	Unknown	June, 713	November, 715 Deposed by a military revolt	718	Restored the canons of the Third Council of Constantinople. Attempted to impose discipline in the army and executed officers involved in previous revolts. The troops of the Opsikian Theme again revolted and deposed him. Retired for a while to a monastery in Thessaloniki. Led a Bulgarian-supported revolt against Leo III in 718. He was captured and executed.
	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	Obscure origins, possibly related to Tiberios III. Laid siege to Constantinople from May to November, 715, prior to gaining entry and deposing Anastasios II. He was facing a renewed threat from the Umayyad Caliphate. Concluded a treaty with Kormesiy of Bulgaria, attempting to secure an alliance with him. Deposed by a combined revolt of generals Leo of the Anatolic Theme and Artabasdus of the Armeniac Theme. Abdicated when the rebels captured his namesake son, father and son joined the clergy. A Theodosios who was bishop of Ephesus c. 729 - 754 was either the former emperor or his son.

Isaurian dynasty (717-802)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Leo III the Isaurian	a general from Germanikeia, Commagene	c. 685	25 March, 717	18 June, 741	18 June, 741	Strategos of the Anatolic theme. Successfully deposed Theodosios III. Faced the Siege of Constantinople (717 - 718) by Maslama. The Byzantines were reinforced by Tervel of Bulgaria and his troops. Maslama and his forces retreated, their Caliph Umar ibn AbdulAziz did not attempt another siege. Leo later also successfully withstood attacks by Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. Elevated the serfs into a class of free tenants. He was the first of the Iconoclast Emperors.
	Constantine V	Son of Leo III	July, 718	Co-ruler in 720, senior ruler in 741	14 September, 775	14 September, 775	Second of the Iconoclast Emperors. Almost immediately challenged for the throne by his brother-in-law Artabasdos. Their civil war from 741 to 743, with Constantine as the victor. Branded the worship of relics and prayers to the saints as heretical practices. Reorganized the Byzantine army, introducing the tagma as its core military unit of professional troops. Invaded the Umayyad Caliphate which was falling apart under Marwan II, later leading attacks against As-Saffah, the first Abbasid Caliph. Gained a number of Christian captives from his Arab campaigns, resettling them in the Balkans. Led aggressive campaigns against the First Bulgarian Empire in attempt to extend his borders. His reign marks a turn of Byzantine military activities from mostly defensive actions to offensive campaigns against its eastern and northern neighbors.
	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	Strategos of the Armeniac theme, helped Leo III rise to the throne. Married Anna, daughter of Leo III, and also given command of Opsikion theme. Challenged his brother-in-law Constantine V for the throne soon after the death of Leo. He led the Iconodule faction of the civil war and held Constantinople for its duration. He was defeated, blinded and sent to a monastery. Unknown time of death, there is mention of his bones c. 772.
	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	Third of the Iconoclast Emperors. His mother Tzitzak was a Khazar princess. Faced uprisings by his younger half-brother Nikephoros and the others sons of Constantine V by Eudokia. In his conflict with Al-Mahdi of the Abbassids, the Byzantine army raided into Syria and the Abbassid one into Anatolia. He was preparing a campaign against Kardam of Bulgaria at the time of his death.
	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	He was underage when rising to the throne, his mother becoming his Regent. In 782, betrothed to Rotrude, a daughter of Charlemagne. Engagement broken in 788. Signed the decrees of the Second Council of Nicaea which restored the veneration of icons. Decision considered to reflect the religious views of his mother but not his own. Came to actual power in 790 but managed to alienate both the Orthodox (Iconodule) and the Iconoclast faction by the end of his reign. His divorce from his first wife Maria of Amnia and re-marriage to his mistress Theodote caused the so-called "Moechian controversy" (from the Greek moichos, "adulterer"), seen as legalization of adultery by circles of the Church. Deposed by his mother and blinded. Accounts in primary sources differ on how long he survived his deposition, ranging from a mere ten days to a full decade.
	Irene of Athens	Wife of Leo IV, mother of Constantine VI	c. 752	August, 797	31 October, 802	9 August, 803	A member of the Sarantapechos from Athens. Wife of Leo IV. Regent from 780 to 790, retained part of her influence. Responsible for the Second Council of Nicaea and its decisions. Deposed and succeeded her son in 797. A fervent Iconodule. Charlemagne crowned Roman Emperor in oppossition to her in 800. Deposed by a patrician conspiracy in 802. Exiled to Lesbos, where she died the following year.

Nikephoros' dynasty (802-813)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Nikephoros I	logothetēs tou genikou (finance minister)	Unknown	31 October, 802	26 July, 811	26 July, 811	Deposed Irene through a conspiracy of patricians and palace eunuchs. Created new themes in the Balkans, resettled Anatolian populations in them. Signed the Pax Nicephori with Charlemagne but there were still conflicts over possession of Venetia. Initially refused to pay tribute to Harun al-Rashid as Irene had agreed. Forced to increase the tribute after suffering military defeats. Led troops in a war against Krum of Bulgaria but was killed in the Battle of Pliska, along with most of the army following him. His skull was turned into a skull cup by Krum.
	Staurakios	Son of Nikephoros I	Unknown	Co-ruler in 803, senior ruler in 811	2 October, 811	11 January, 812	Married Theophano, a relative of Irene of Athens. He was present at the Battle of Pliska where a sword-wound near the neck left him paralyzed. He was transferred from the battlefield by members of the imperial guard. He reportedly intended to abdicate the throne in favor of his wife, instead forced to abdicate in favor of his brother-in-law Michael I. Retired to a monastery and died months into his retirement, never recovering from his wounds.
	Michael I Rangabe	Son-in-law of Nikephoros I, brother-in-law of Staurakios	Unknown	2 October, 811	11 July, 813	11 January, 844	Married Prokopia, a daughter of Nikephoros I. Kouropalates (master of the palace) prior to his elevation to the throne. A fervent iconodule, persecuted iconoclasts and was patron to Theodore the Studite. Recognized Charlemagne as basileus, though not a Roman one. In exchange established control over Venice with no oppossition from the Franks, ending the territorial dispute for the time. Suffered further losses in war against Krum. Abdicated in favor of Leo V, spend the rest of his life in a monastery. His sons were castrated but one of them emerged from monastic life as Patriarch Ignatios of Constantinople.

Non-dynastic (813-820)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Leo V the Armenian	Strategos of the Anatolic theme	c. 775	11 July, 813	25 December, 820	25 December, 820	Had contacted himself well in wars against the Abbassids, but fled from the Battle of Versinikia against Krum of Bulgaria. Michael I abdicated in his favor. The war against Krum continued with the Bulgarians capturing both Adrianople and Arkadioupolis (Lüleburgaz). In 814, Krum died and his successor Omurtag of Bulgaria was defeated by Leo V. The two states initiated a peace treaty which lasted for decades. Reinstated the Iconoclast faction to power, fourth of the Iconoclast Emperors. Assassinated in the Hagia Sophia on Christmas, 820. He had entered the church unarmed and was unable to resist a group of dagger-wielding conspirators. His sons were castrated. Nicholas Adontz theorised that Leo V might be the same person as Leo, a great-grandfather of Basil I.

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		Fifth of the Iconoclast Emperors. Married Euphrosyne, a daughter of Constantine VI.
	Theophilus (Θεόφιλος)	son of Michael II	813	2 October 829	20 January 842		Sixth and last of the Iconoclast Emperors.
	Theodora (Θεοδώρα)	wife of Theophilus	c. 815	842	855	867	Reestablished the veneration of the icons. 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 (Λέων ΣΤ' ο Σοφός)	likely either son of Basil I or Michael III	19 September 866	886	11 May 912
	Alexander III (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 (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πορφυρογέννητος)	son of Constantine VII	15 March 938	November 959	15 March 963
	Nikephoros II Phokas Νικηφόρος Β' Φωκάς	married Theophano, Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II	c. 912	16 August 963	969		Undynastical
	Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer (Βασίλειος Β' ο Βουλγαροκτόνος)	son of Romanos II	958	10 January 976	15 December 1025
	Nikephoros II PhokasRestored	half-father of Basil II(The bulgar-slayar)	c.912	963	969		Undynastical
	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 (Μιχαήλ Δ' ο Παφλαγών)	Zoe's second husband	1010	11 April 1034	10 December 1041
	Michael V (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 (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)

Komnenid dynasty (1057-1059)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	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	He was a member of the Komnenos family who had risen to prominence in the reign of Basil II. He contacted a civil war against Michael VI, supported by his fellow members of the military aristocracy. He managed to force his opponent to abdication by the end of the summer. He rewarded his noble partisans with appointments which granted them authority but kept them at a distance from Constantinople. Attempted to repair the depleted finances of the empire by revoking numerous pensions and grants conferred by his predecessors and appropriating revenues from the wealthy monasteries. His only campaign was a defensive expedition against Andrew I of Hungary which threatened the northern borders of the empire. The campaign was successful and led to a peace treaty with the Kingdom of Hungary. He abdicated while convinced he was suffering from a fatal disease. Actually recovered shortly after his abdication. Spend the remainder of his life as a monk and scholar in the Monastery of Stoudios.

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 Eudokia Makrembolitissa, 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 Maria of Alania, 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)

Picture	Name	Status	Birth	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death	Notes
	Constantine Laskaris	Defender of Constantinople	Unknown	Claimant emperor in 1204	c. 1205	c. 1205	He was proclaimed emperor by troops still trying to defend Constantinople, following the flight of Alexios V.[2]
	Theodore I Laskaris	Brother of Constantine Łaskaris, son-in-law of Alexios III	c. 1174	proclaimed 1205, crowned 1208	1221	1221	He married Anna Angelina, a daughter of Alexios III. Founder of the Empire of Nicaea. Allied with Kaloyan of Bulgaria against Henry of Flanders of the Latin Empire.Successfully resisted an invasion by Kaykhusraw I, Sultan of Rum in 1211. Established Nicaean control over Paphlagonia. In 1220, Married Marie de Courtenay, a daughter of Peter II of Courtenay and Yolanda of Flanders of the Latin Empire, in an attempt at peace between the two rival empires. By the end of his reign Nicaea approximately consisted of the old Roman provinces of Asia and Bithynia.
	John III Doukas Vatatzes	son-in-law of Theodore I	c. 1192	December, 1221	3 November, 1254	3 November, 1254	He married Irene Lascarina, eldest daughter of Theodore I. He was designated heir to his father-in-law in 1212. He faced oppossition from the surviving brothers of Theodore I from 1221 to 1224. His rivals were allied with the Latin Empire. Gained territorial concessions by the Latin Empire in 1225. He seized Adrianople at about this time but lost it to