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 EmperorsHooker, Richard. "The Byzantine Empire." Middle Ages. World Cultures. 4 June 2007 . .
The Emperor Heraclius (610-641) replaced Latin with Greek as the language of the army and began the administrative restructuring of the Empire into Thema ta. Although he and his successors regarded themselves as Roman emperors, the reign of Heraclius marks a watershed or decisive break that marks the beginning of the Greek phase of the eastern Roman Empire. After 800 AD the claim to the Roman Empire was shared with the Holy Roman Empire .
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 Universe")and "Chronokrator" (Gr. Χρονοκράτωρ) ("Master of all Time"). The emperors of the 15th century alone were often self-styled as Basileus ton Hellinon, "Emperor of the Greeks," though they still considered themselves "Roman" Emperors.
- , left the empire divided among his heirs, and was canonized by the Orthodox church
- Constantius II (''Flavius Iulius Constantius''; 317–361; ruled 337–361): son of Constantine I
- Julian (''Flavius Claudius Iulianus''; 331–363; ruled 361–363): nephew of Constantine I, grandson of Constantius I, rejected Christianity for paganism
- Jovian (''Iovianus''; 332–364; ruled 363–364): soldier, restored Christianity
- Valentinian I (''Flavius Valentinianus''; 321–375; ruled 364-375 in the West): soldier, gave the Eastern part of the Empire to his brother
- Valens (''Flavius Iulius Valens''; 328–378; ruled 364–378): brother of Valentinian I
- Gratian (''Flavius Gratianus''; 359–383; ruled 375–383 in the West): son of Valentinian I, gave the Eastern part of the Empire to Theodosius
- at the Battle Of The Save in 388
- (''Aelia Purcheria''; 399–453)
- Leo I the Thracian (Valerius Leo) (401-474, ruled 457–474): soldier
- Leo II (467–474, ruled 474): grandson of Leo I, son of Zeno
- Zeno (425–491, ruled 474–475): son-in-law of Leo I; orig. Tarasicodissa, an Isaurian
- Basiliscus ( ?–c. 477, ruled 475–476): usurper; brother-in-law of Leo I
- Zeno (ruled 476–491): restored
- Anastasius I (430–518, ruled 491–518): silentiarius; son-in-law of Leo I, elevated by selection by Zeno's widow Ariadne
- Justin I (''Flavius Iustinius''; 450–527; ruled 518–527) commander of the guard
- church, built the Hagia Sophia, organized the Roman Laws, took back many western territories
- Justin II (''Flavius Iustinius Iunior''; 520–578; ruled 565–578): nephew of Justinian I
- Tiberius II Constantine (''Flavius Tiberius Constantinus''; 540–582, ruled 574, 578–582): Comes Excubitris; adopted by Justin II
- Maurice (''Flavius Mauricius Tiberius''; 539–602, ruled 582–602): son-in-law of Tiberius II
- Phocas (''Flavius Phocas''; ?–610; ruled 602–610); Subaltern officer in Balkan army; Usurpation of the throne from Maurice sparked war with Sassanid Chosroes II
- Heraclius (Ηράκλειος) (575–641, ruled 610–641): usurper; son of the Armenian Exarch of Africa; defeated Chosroes II in final Sassanid-Byzantine War; lost Palestine and Egypt to Arab Expansion
- Constantine III (Heraclius Constantine) (Κωνσταντίνος Γ') (612–641, ruled 641): son of Heraclius; coemperor with Heraklonas
- Heraklonas (Constantine Heraclius) (Ηρακλωνάς) (626–641?, ruled 641): son of Herakleios; mutilated and deposed
- Constans II (Herakleios, later Constantine, called Πωγωνάτος, ''the Bearded'') (Κώνστας Β') (630–668, ruled 641–668): son of Constantine III; assassinated by chamberlain
- Mezezius (668–669): Usurper
- Constantine IV (Κωνσταντίνος Δ') (649–685, ruled 668–685): son of Constans II
- Justinian II the Slit-nosed (Ιουστινιανός Β' ο Ρινότμητος) (668–711, ruled 685–695): son of Constantine IV; mutilated, deposed, and exiled
- Leontios (Λεόντιος) (ruled 695–698): Usurper; Strategos (general); mutilated, deposed, and imprisoned—later executed
- Tiberios III (Τιβέριος Γ' ο Αψίμαρος) (ruled 698–705): Usurper; German originally named Apsimar; deposed and executed
- Justinian II the Slit-nosed (Ιουστινιανός Β' ο Ρινότμητος) (ruled 705–711): restored; deposed and executed
- Philippikos Bardanes (Φιλιππικός Βαρδάνης) (ruled 711–713): Armenian soldier; deposed and mutilated
- Anastasios II (Αναστάσιος Β') ( ?–721, ruled 713–715): orig. Artemios; secretary of Philippikos; deposed & entered monastery, later revolted & was executed
- Theodosios III (Θεοδόσιος Γ' ο Αδραμμυττηνός) (ruled 715–717): tax-collector; abdicated and entered monastery
- Leo III The Isaurian (Λέων Γ' ο Ίσαυρος) (675–741, ruled 717–741): Strategos
- Constantine V Kopronymos (the Dung-named) (Κωνσταντίνος Ε' ο Κοπρώνυμος ή Καβαλίνος) (718–775, ruled 741): son of Leo III; deposed
- Artabasdus the Icon-lover (Αρτάβασδος ο Εικονόφιλος) (ruled 741–743): Leo III's chamberlain and son-in-law
- Constantine V Kopronymos (Κωνσταντίνος Ε' ο Κοπρώνυμος ή Καβαλίνος) (ruled 743–775): restored
- Leo IV The Khazar (Λέων Δ' o Χαζάρος) (750–780, ruled 775–780): son of Constantine V
- Constantine VI the Blinded (Κωνσταντίνος ΣΤ') (771–797 or 805, ruled 780–797): son of Leo IV; deposed and mutilated by mother
- church; deposed and exiled to Lesbos
- ; died in battle, skull used as wine cup
- Staurakios (Σταυράκιος Φωκάς) ( ?–812, ruled 811): son of Nikephoros I; paralyzed
- Michael I Rangabe (Μιχαήλ Α' Ραγκαβής) (ruled 811–813): son-in-law of Nikephoros I and master of the palace; deposed and entered monastery
- Michael II the Stammerer or the Amorian (Μιχαήλ Β' ο Τραυλός ή Ψελλός) (770–829, ruled 820–829): Strategos, son-in-law of Constantine VI
- Theophilus (Θεόφιλος) (813–842, ruled 829–842): son of Michael II
- church; deposed and entered monastery
- Michael III the Drunkard (Μιχαήλ Γ' ο Μέθυσος) (840–867, ruled 842–867): son of Theophilos; assassinated
- Basil I the Macedonian (Βασίλειος Α') (811–886, ruled 867–886): married Michael III's widow; died in hunting accident
- Leo VI The Wise (Λέων ΣΤ' ο Σοφός) (866–912, ruled 886–912): likely either son of Basil I or Michael III;
- Alexander (Αλέξανδρος Γ' του Βυζαντίου) (870–913, ruled 912–913): son of Basil I, regent for nephew
- Constantine VII the Purple-born (Κωνσταντίνος Ζ' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) (905-959, ruled 913–959): son of Leo VI
- Romanos I Lekapenos (Ρωμανός Α' ο Λεκαπηνός) (870–948, ruled 919–944): father-in-law of Constantine VII; coemperor, deposed by his sons and entered monastery
- Romanos II the Purple-born (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) (939–963, ruled 959–963): son of Constantine VII
- Nikephoros II Phokas (Νικηφόρος Β' Φωκάς) (912–969, ruled 963–969): Strategos; married Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II; assassinated
- John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής) (925–976, ruled 969–976): brother-in-law of Romanus II; lover of Nicephorus's wife but banned from marriage; regent for Basil
- Basil II the Bulgar-slayer (Βασίλειος Β' ο Βουλγαροκτόνος) (958–1025, ruled 976–1025): son of Romanos II
- Constantine VIII (Κωνσταντίνος Η')(960-1028, ruled 1025–1028): son of Romanos II; coemperor with Basil II
- Zoe (Ζωή) ((c. 978–1050, ruled 1028–1050): daughter of Constantine VIII
- Romanos III Argyros (Ρωμανός Γ' ο Αργυρός) (968–1034, ruled 1028–1034): eparch of Constantinople; Zoe's first husband, arranged by Constantine VIII; murdered
- Michael IV the Paphlagonian (Μιχαήλ Δ' ο Παφλαγών) (1010–1041, ruled 1034–1041): Zoe's second husband
- Michael V the Caulker (Μιχαήλ Ε' ο Καλαφάτης) (1015–1042, ruled 1041–1042): Michael IV's nephew, Zoe's adopted son
- Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (980–1056, ruled 1042): daughter of Constantine VIII, coempress with Zoe
- Constantine IX Monomachos (Κωνσταντίνος Θ' ο Μονομάχος) (1000–1055, ruled 1042–1055): Zoe's third husband
- Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (ruled 1055–1056): restored
- Michael VI the General (Μιχαήλ ΣΤ' ο Στρατιωτικός) (ruled 1056–1057): chosen by Theodora; deposed & entered monastery
- Isaac I Komnenos (Ισαάκιος Α' ο Κομνηνός) (c. 1007–1060, ruled 1057–1059): soldier; abdicated in a fit of illness & entered monastery
- Constantine X Doukas (Κωνσταντίνος Ι' ο Δούκας) (1006–1067, ruled 1059–1067): selected by Michael Psellus the Younger
- Michael VII Doukas Quarter-short (Μιχαήλ Ζ' Δούκας Παραπινάκης) (1050–1090, ruled 1067–1078): son of Constantine X, originally coemperor with two brothers and Romanus; deposed & entered monastery
- Romanos IV Diogenes (Ρωμανός Δ' Διογένης) (1032–1072, ruled 1068–1071): married Constantine X's widow; coemperor, deposed & mutilated to death
- , bigamously married Michael VII's wife; deposed & forced into monastery
- Alexios I Komnenos (Αλέξιος Α' Κομνηνός) (1057–1118, ruled 1081–1118): nephew of Isaac I, married Constantine X's grandniece
- John II Komnenos the Handsome (Ιωάννης Β' Κομνηνός o Καλός) (1087–1143, ruled 1118–1143): son of Alexios I, died of a hunting accident
- Manuel I Komnenos the Great (Μανουήλ Α' Κομνηνός ο Μέγας) (1118–1180, ruled 1143–1180): son of John II
- Alexios II Komnenos (Αλέξιος B' Κομνηνός) (1169–1183, ruled 1180–1183): son of Manuel I; murdered with garrotte
- Isaac II Angelos (Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος) (1156–1204, ruled 1185–1195): great-grandson of Alexios I, deposed & blinded
- and eventually forced into monastery
- Isaac II Angelos (Ισαάκιος Β' Άγγελος) (ruled 1203–1204): restored after Alexios III had fled as coemperor with Alexius IV, deposed by Alexios V
- Alexios IV Angelos (Αλέξιος Δ' Άγγελος) (1182–1204, ruled 1203–1204): son of Isaac II, deposed and killed by Alexios V
- Nikolaos Kanabos : usurper in rebellion to Isaac II and Alexios IV 1204
- Alexios V Doukas Mourtzouphlos (Αλέξιος Ε' Δούκας ο Μούρτζουφλος) (1140–1204, ruled 1204): usurper; son-in-law of Alexios III
- ; great-grandson of Alexios III Angelos
- Andronikos II Palaiologos the Elder (Ανδρόνικος Β' ο Γέρος) (1258–1332, ruled 1282–1328): son of Michael VIII; abdicated
- Andronikos III Palaiologos the Younger (Ανδρόνικος Γ' Παλαιολόγος ο Νέος) (1297–1341, ruled 1328–1341): grandson of Andronikos II
- John V Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (1332–1391, ruled 1341–1347): son of Andronikos III, deposed by John VI
- John VI Kantakouzenos (Ιωάννης Στ' Καντακουζηνός) (1295–1383, ruled outright 1347–1354): father-in-law of John V; deposed, and entered monastery as Ioasaph Christodoulus
- John V Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1354–1376): restored, deposed by Andronikos IV
- Andronikos IV Palaiologos (Ανδρόνικος Δ' Παλαιολόγος) (1348–1385, ruled 1376–1379): son of John V, half-blinded following revolt, later succeeded and was deposed, revolted a third time
- John VII Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος) (1370-1408, co-emperor 1376-1379), deposed
- John V Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1379–1390): restored, deposed
- John VII Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1390)
- John V Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος) (ruled 1390–1391): restored
- Manuel II Palaiologos (Μανουήλ Β' Παλαιολόγος) (1350–1425, ruled 1391–1425): son of John V
- John VII Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Ζ' Παλαιολόγος) (regent 1399–1402)
- John VIII Palaiologos (Ιωάννης Η' Παλαιολόγος) (1392–1448, ruled 1425–1448): son of Manuel II
- .
|
