From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of the Emperors of the late Eastern Roman Empire, called Byzantine by modern historians. This list does not include many of the emperors that ruled with someone else.
The title of all Emperors before Heraclius was Augustus, but other titles such as Dominus were also used. After Heraclius, the title was changed to the GreekBasileus. This title used to mean "king", "sovereign" but was now used in place of Augustus.
1. St. Constantine I (Constantinus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Pontifex Maximus Pater Patriae Proconsul; 272 - 337; ruled 306 - 337) – son of Constantius Chlorus
2. Constantius II (Flavius Iulius Constantius; 317 - 361; ruled 337 - 361) – son of Constantine I
3. Julian (Flavius Claudius Iulianus; 331 - 363; ruled 361 - 363) –son-in-law of Constantine I, brother-in-law and first cousin of Constantius II, grandson of Constantius I
77. Isaac II Angelos (1156 - 1204, ruled 1185 - 1195) – great-grandson of Alexios I
78. Alexios III Angelos (1153 - 1211, ruled 1195 - 1203) – brother of Isaac II
Isaac II Angelos (ruled 1203 - 1204)
79. Alexios IV Angelos (1182 - 1204, ruled 1203 - 1204) – son of Isaac II
80. Nikolaos Kanabos (ruled 1204)
81. Alexios V Doukas the Bushy-eyebrowed (1140 - 1204, ruled 1204) – son-in-law of Alexios III
Laskarid dynasty (in exile, Empire of Nicaea, 1204-1261)change source
82. Constantine Laskaris (ruled 1204) – not officially crowned
83. Theodore I Laskaris (1174 - 1222, ruled 1204 - 1222) – son-in-law of Alexios III
84. John III Doukas Vatatzes (1192 - 1254, ruled 1222 - 1254) – son-in-law of Theodore I
85. Theodore II Doukas Laskaris (1221 - 1258, ruled 1254 - 1258) – son of John III
86. John IV Doukas Laskaris (1250 - 1305, ruled 1258 - 1261) – son of Theodore II
Palaiologan Dynasty (restored to Constantinople, 1259-1453)change source
At around this time the emperors began using the title Βασιλευς Βασιλεων Βασιλευων Βασιλευσιν, that is, Emperor of Emperors, ruling over those who rule.[1]
87. Michael VIII Palaiologos (1224 - 1282, ruled 1259 - 1282) – great-grandson of Alexios III Angelos
88. Andronikos II Palaiologos the Elder (1258 - 1332, ruled 1282 - 1328) – son of Michael VIII
89. Andronikos III Palaiologos the Younger (1297 - 1341, ruled 1328 - 1341) – grandson of Andronikos II
90. John V Palaiologos (1332 - 1391, ruled 1341 - 1347) – son of Andronikos III
91. John VI Kantakouzenos (1295 - 1383, ruled outright 1347 - 1354) – father-in-law of John V
John V Palaiologos (ruled 1354 - 1376)
92. Andronikos IV Palaiologos (1348 - 1385, ruled 1376 - 1379) – son of John V
John V Palaiologos (ruled 1379 - 1390)
93. John VII Palaiologos (1370 - 1408, ruled 1390) – son of Andronikos IV
John V Palaiologos (ruled 1390 - 1391)
94. Manuel II Palaiologos (1350 - 1425, ruled 1391 - 1425) – son of John V
John VII Palaiologos (ruled 1399 - 1402)
95. John VIII Palaiologos (1392 - 1448, ruled 1425 - 1448) – son of Manuel II
96. Constantine XI Palaiologos Dragases (1405 - 1453, ruled 1449 - 1453) – son of Manuel II, not crowned in Constantinople
In 1453 Mehmed II overthrew the Byzantine Empire and claimed the title of Kaisar; his successors continued this claim. See Ottomans for the complete list of Ottoman sultans.
Thomas Palaiologos (1409 or 10 - 1465) – brother of Constantine XI
Andrew Palaiologos (1453 - 1502) – son of Thomas; sold titles to Charles VIII in 1494 and granted the remainder to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castille in his will.