List of Byzantine emperors: Difference between revisions
→Heraclian dynasty (610-711): Added link to Martina |
|||
Line 212: | Line 212: | ||
|align=center| [[Image:Heraclius and sons.JPG|100px]] ||align=center| [[Heraclius|Herakleios]] <br/> (Ηράκλειος, ''Hērakleios'') '''Heraclius''' (''Flavius Heraclius'') ||align="center"| '' son of Exarch [[Heraclius the Elder]]; deposed '''Phocas''' '' ||align="center"| c.575 ||align="center"|[[5 October]] [[610]] <br/>'' Seized power in a rebellion against '''Phocas''' '' ||align="center" colspan=2| [[11 February]] [[641]] ||align="center"| 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 ''[[Thema]]ta'' 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''' |
|align=center| [[Image:Heraclius and sons.JPG|100px]] ||align=center| [[Heraclius|Herakleios]] <br/> (Ηράκλειος, ''Hērakleios'') '''Heraclius''' (''Flavius Heraclius'') ||align="center"| '' son of Exarch [[Heraclius the Elder]]; deposed '''Phocas''' '' ||align="center"| c.575 ||align="center"|[[5 October]] [[610]] <br/>'' Seized power in a rebellion against '''Phocas''' '' ||align="center" colspan=2| [[11 February]] [[641]] ||align="center"| 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 ''[[Thema]]ta'' 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''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|align=center| [[Image:Heraclius and sons.JPG|100px]] ||align=center| [[Constantine III (emperor)|Constantine III]] <br/> (Ηράκλειος (νέος) Κωνσταντίνος, ''Herakleios Novos Kōnstantinos'') '''Constantine III''' ('' Heraclius Novus Constantinus '') ||align="center"| '' eldest son of '''Herakleios''' '' ||align="center"| [[3 May]] [[612]] ||align="center"|[[11 February]] [[641]] <br/>'' Succeeded to throne with '''Heraklonas''' following death of '''Herakleios''' '' ||align="center" colspan=2| 24/[[26 May]] [[641]]<br/>''Tuberculosis, allegedly poisoned by '''Martina''' '' ||align="center"| 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''' |
|align=center| [[Image:Heraclius and sons.JPG|100px]] ||align=center| [[Constantine III (emperor)|Constantine III]] <br/> (Ηράκλειος (νέος) Κωνσταντίνος, ''Herakleios Novos Kōnstantinos'') '''Constantine III''' ('' Heraclius Novus Constantinus '') ||align="center"| '' eldest son of '''Herakleios''' '' ||align="center"| [[3 May]] [[612]] ||align="center"|[[11 February]] [[641]] <br/>'' Succeeded to throne with '''Heraklonas''' following death of '''Herakleios''' '' ||align="center" colspan=2| 24/[[26 May]] [[641]]<br/>''Tuberculosis, allegedly poisoned by '''Martina''' '' ||align="center"| 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''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|align=center| [[Image:Heraclius and sons.JPG|100px]] ||align=center| [[Heraklonas]] <br/> (Κωνσταντίνος Ηράκλειος, '' Kōnstantinos Herakleios'') '''Heraclianus''' (''Constantinus Heraclius'')||align="center"|'' younger son of '''Herakleios''' '' ||align="center"| 626 ||align="center"|[[11 February]] [[641]] <br/>'' Succeeded to throne with '''Constantine III''' following death of '''Herakleios''' '' ||align="center" | September 641<br/> Deposed by Senate ||align="center" | c.641<br/>'' Presumed to have died in exile '' ||align="center"| 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. |
|align=center| [[Image:Heraclius and sons.JPG|100px]] ||align=center| [[Heraklonas]] <br/> (Κωνσταντίνος Ηράκλειος, '' Kōnstantinos Herakleios'') '''Heraclianus''' (''Constantinus Heraclius'')||align="center"|'' younger son of '''Herakleios''' '' ||align="center"| 626 ||align="center"|[[11 February]] [[641]] <br/>'' Succeeded to throne with '''Constantine III''' following death of '''Herakleios''' '' ||align="center" | September 641<br/> Deposed by Senate ||align="center" | c.641<br/>'' Presumed to have died in exile '' ||align="center"| 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. |
Revision as of 18:28, 12 May 2008
{{{royal_title}}} of the Byzantine Empire | |
---|---|
![]() Coin showing the face of Constantine I | |
Details | |
Formation | 306 |
Abolition | 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. | |
File:ConstantiusII.JPG | 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. | |
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
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. | |
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
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. | |
File:158 Gratianus.jpg | 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 | ||
File:Marcian.JPG | 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 3/4 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 | |
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
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. | |
File:Zeno.PNG | 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. |
File:Basiliscus.JPG | 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. | |
File:Zeno.PNG | 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. | |
File:Anastasius I.JPG | 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. | |
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
Justinian dynasty (518-602)
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
File:JustinI.JPG | 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. | |
File:Justin II.JPG | 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. | |
File:Tiberius II.JPG | 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. | |
File:Emperor Maurice.JPG | 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. |
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
Non-dynastic (602-610)
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
File:Phocas.JPG | 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)
- 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,Syria 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
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
File:Heraclius and sons.JPG | 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 | |
File:Heraclius and sons.JPG | 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 | |
File:Heraclius and sons.JPG | 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. | ||
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. | ||
Picture | Name | Status | Birth | Emperor from | Emperor until | Death | Notes |
Non-dynastic (711-717)
- 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
Isaurian dynasty (717-802)
- 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, ruled 780–797): son of Leo IV; deposed and mutilated by mother, dying from wounds
- Irene the Athenian (Ειρήνη η Αθηναία) (755–803, ruled 797–802): wife of Leo IV, mother of Constantine VI; canonized by the Orthodox church; deposed and exiled to Lesbos
Nikephoros' dynasty (802-813)
- Nikephoros I (Νικηφόρος Α') ( ?–811, ruled 802–811): Megas Logothetes; 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
Non-dynastic (813-820)
- Leo V the Armenian (Λέων Ε' ο Αρμένιος) (775–820, ruled 813–820): Strategos; assassinated
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 | ||
![]() |
Theophilus (Θεόφιλος) | son of Michael II | 813 | 2 October 829 |
20 January 842 | ||
![]() |
Theodora (Θεοδώρα) | wife of Theophilus | c. 815 | 842 |
855 | 867 | 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 the Wise (Λέων ΣΤ' ο Σοφός) | likely either son of Basil I or Michael III | 19 September 866 | 886 |
11 May 912 | ||
Alexander (Αλέξανδρος Γ' 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 Porphyrogennetos (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) | son of Constantine VII | 15 March 938 | November 959 |
15 March 963 | ||
File:Nikifor.jpg | Nikephoros II Phokas (Νικηφόρος Β' Φωκάς) | married Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II | c. 912 | 16 August 963 |
969 | Strategos; assassinated | |
![]() |
John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής) | brother-in-law of Romanus II | c. 925 | 11 December 969 |
10 January 976 | lover of Nicephorus's wife but banned from marriage; regent for Basil | |
![]() |
Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer (Βασίλειος Β' ο Βουλγαροκτόνος) | son of Romanos II | 958 | 10 January 976 |
15 December 1025 | ||
![]() |
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 the Paphlagonian (Μιχαήλ Δ' ο Παφλαγών) | Zoe's second husband | 1010 | 11 April 1034 |
10 December 1041 | |||
![]() |
Michael V the Caulker (Μιχαήλ Ε' ο Καλαφάτης) | Michael IV's nephew | 1015 | 10 December 1041 |
20 April 1042 | 24 August 1042 | deposed, blinded, and castrated |
![]() |
Theodora (Θεοδώρα) | daughter of Constantine VIII | 984 | 20 April 1042 |
1042 | after 31 August 1056 | deposed |
![]() |
Constantine IX Monomachos (Κωνσταντίνος Θ' ο Μονομάχος) | Zoe's third husband | c. 1000 | 11 June 1042 |
11 January 1055 | ||
![]() |
Theodora (Θεοδώρα) | daughter of Constantine VIII | 984 | 11 January 1055 |
after 31 August 1056 | restored |
Non-dynastic (1056-1057)
- Michael VI the General (Μιχαήλ ΣΤ' ο Στρατιωτικός) (ruled 1056–1057): chosen by Theodora; deposed & entered monastery
Komnenid dynasty (1057-1059)
- Isaac I Komnenos (Ισαάκιος Α' ο Κομνηνός) (c. 1007–1060, ruled 1057–1059): soldier; abdicated in a fit of illness & entered monastery
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 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 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)
- Constantine Laskaris (ruled 1204): not officially crowned
- Theodore I Laskaris (Θεόδωρος Α' Λάσκαρης) (1174–1222, ruled 1204–1222): son-in-law of Alexios III
- John III Doukas Vatatzes (Ιωάννης Γ' Δούκας Βατάτζης) (1192–1254, ruled 1222–1254): son-in-law of Theodore I; epileptic
- Theodore II Doukas Laskaris (Θεόδωρος Β' Δούκας Λάσκαρης) (1221–1258, ruled 1254–1258): son of John III
- John IV Doukas Laskaris (Ιωάννης Δ' Δούκας Λάσκαρης) (1250–1305, ruled 1258–1261): son of Theodore II, deposed, blinded, and imprisoned by Michael VIII
Palaiologan Dynasty (restored to Constantinople, 1259-1453)
- Michael VIII Palaiologos (Μιχαήλ Η' Παλαιολόγος) (1224–1282, ruled 1259–1282): Strategos, regent for John IV Lascaris; 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
- Constantine XI Palaiologos Dragases (Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Παλαιολόγος Δραγάσης) (1405–1453, ruled 1449–1453): son of Manuel II, not crowned in Constantinople, died during the Fall of Constantinople.
Palaiologan Dynasty (claimants in exile)
- Thomas Palaiologos (Θωμάς Παλαιολόγος) (1409 or 1410–1465): Despot of Morea, brother of Constantine XI; died in exile in Rome.
- Andrew Palaiologos (Ανδρέας Παλαιολόγος) (1453–1502): son of Thomas; created Despot by Pope Pius II, self-styled Imperator Constantinopolitanus sold his titles to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile.[2] See List of titles and honours of the Spanish Crown.
See also
References
- ^ Hooker, Richard. "The Byzantine Empire." Middle Ages. World Cultures. 4 June 2007 <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MA/BYZ.HTM>.
- ^ Norwich, John Julius, Byzantium, The Decline and Fall, p.446