Constantinian dynasty (306-363)
1. St. Constantine I (Constantinus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Pontifex Maximus Pater Patriae Proconsul; 272 - 337; ruled 306 - 337) - son of Constantius Chlorus, left the empire divided among his heirs, and was canonized by the Orthodox church
2. Constantius II (Flavius Iulius Constantius; 317- 361; ruled 337 - 361) - son of Constantine
3. Julian (Flavius Claudius Iulianus; 331 - 363; ruled 361 - 363) - Pagan son-in-law of Constantine I, brother-in-law and first cousin of Constantius II, grandson of Constantius I
Non-dynastic
4. Jovian (Iovianus; 332 - 364; ruled 363 - 364) - soldier, restored Christianity
Valentinian-Theodosian dynasty (364-457)
5. Valentinian I (Flavius Valentinianus; 321 - 375; ruled 364) - soldier, redivided the empire, taking the West
6. Valens (Flavius Iulius Valens; 328 - 378; ruled 364 - 378) - brother of Valentinian I
7. Gratian (Flavius Gratianus; 359 - 383; ruled 378 - 379) - son of Valentinian I
8. Theodosius I (Flavius Gratianus; 346 - 395; ruled 379 - 395) - soldier, married to Valentinian I's daughter Galla, fought with Magnus Maximus at the Battle of the Save in 388
9. Arcadius (Flavius Arcadius; 377 - 408; ruled 395 - 408) - son of Theodosius I, brother of Honorius
10. Theodosius II (Flavius Theodosius; 401 - 450; ruled 408 - 450) - son of Arcadius
11. Pulcheria (Aelia Purcheria; 399 - 453; ruled 408 - 441, 450) - sister of Theodosius II; canonized
12. Marcian (Flavius Marcianus; 392 - 457; ruled 450 - 457) - soldier; married Pulcheria after Theodosius's death; canonized by the Orthodox church
Leonid dynasty (457-518)
13. Leo I the Thracian (Valerius Leo) (401-474, ruled 457 - 474) - soldier
14. Leo II (467 - 474, ruled 474) - grandson of Leo I, son of Zeno
15. Zeno (425 - 491, ruled 474 - 475) - son-in-law of Leo I; orig. Tarasicodissa, an Isaurian
16. Basiliscus ( ? - c. 477, ruled 475 - 476) - usurper; brother-in-law of Leo I
Zeno (ruled 476 - 491) - restored
17. Anastasius I (430 - 518, ruled 491 - 518) - silentiarius; son-in-law of Leo I, elevated by selection by Zeno's widow Ariadne
Justinian dynasty (518-602)
18. Justin I (Flavius Iustinius; 450 - 527; ruled 518 - 527) - commander of the guard
19. Justinian I the Great (Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus; 482 - 565; ruled 527 - 565) - nephew and adoptive son of Justin I, canonized by the Orthodox church, built the Hagia Sophia, organized the Roman Laws, took back most of the original-old empire
20. Justin II (Flavius Iustinius Iunior; 520 - 578; ruled 565 - 578) - nephew of Justinian I
21. Tiberius II Constantine (Flavius Tiberius Constantinus; 540 - 582, ruled 574, 578 - 582) - Comes Excubitris; adopted by Justin II
22. Maurice (Flavius Mauricius Tiberius; 539 - 602, ruled 582 - 602) - son-in-law of Tiberius II
Non-dynastic
23. Phocas (Flavius Phocas; ? - 610; ruled 602 - 610); Subaltern officer in Balkan army; Usurpation of the throne from Maurice sparked war with Sassanid Chosroes II
Heraclian dynasty (610-695)
24. Heraclius (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
25. Constantine III (Heraclius Constantine) (612 - 641, ruled 641) - son of Heraclius; coemperor with Heraklonas
26. Heraklonas (Constantine Heraclius) (626 - 641?, ruled 641) - son of Herakleios; mutilated and deposed
27. Constans II (Herakleios, later Constantine, (630 - 668, ruled 641 - 668) - son of Constantine III; assassinated by chamberlain
28. Mezezius (668 - 669) - Usurper
29. Constantine IV (649 - 685, ruled 668 - 685) - son of Constans II
30. Justinian II the Slit-nosed (668 - 711, ruled 685 - 695) - son of Constantine IV; mutilated, deposed, and exiled
Non-dynastic (695-705)
31. Leontios (ruled 695 - 698) - Strategos (general); mutilated, deposed, and imprisoned - later executed
32. Tiberios III (ruled 698 - 705) - German orig. named Apsimar; deposed and executed
Heraclian dynasty (705-711)
Justinian II the Slit-nosed (ruled 705 - 711) - restored; deposed and executed
Non-dynastic (711-717)
33. Philippikos Bardanes (ruled 711 - 713) - Armenian soldier; deposed and mutilated
34. Anastasios II ( ? - 721, ruled 713 - 715) - orig. Artemios; secretary of Philippikos; deposed & entered monastery, later revolted & was executed
35. Theodosios III (ruled 715 - 717) - tax-collector; abdicated and entered monastery
Isaurian dynasty (717-802)
36. Leo III the Isaurian (675 - 741, ruled 717 - 741) - Strategos
37. Constantine V Kopronymos (the Dung-named) (718 - 775, ruled 741) - son of Leo III; deposed
38. Artabasdus the Icon-lover (ruled 741 - 743) - Leo III's chamberlain and son-in-law
Constantine V Kopronymos (the Dung-named) (ruled 743 - 775) - restored
39. Leo IV the Khazar (750 - 780, ruled 775 - 780) - son of Constantine V
40. Constantine VI the Blinded (771 - 797 or 805, ruled 780 - 797) - son of Leo IV; deposed and mutilated by mother
41. St. Irene the Athenian (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)
42. Nikephoros I ( ? - 811, ruled 802 - 811) - Megas Logothetes; died in battle, skull used as wine cup
43. Staurakios ( ? - 812, ruled 811) - son of Nikephoros I; paralyzed
44. Michael I Rangabe (ruled 811 - 813) - son-in-law of Nikephoros I and master of the palace; deposed and entered monastery
Non-dynastic
45. Leo V the Armenian (775 - 820, ruled 813 - 820) - Strategos; assassinated
Phrygian dynasty (820-867)
46. Michael II the Stammerer or the Amorian (770 - 829, ruled 820 - 829) - Strategos, son-in-law of Constantine VI
47. Theophilos (813 - 842, ruled 829 - 842) - son of Michael II
48. Theodora (???????) (ruled 842 - 855) - wife of Theophilus; empress and regent for Michael III; canonized by the Orthodox church; deposed and entered monastery
49. Michael III the Drunkard (840 - 867, ruled 842 - 867) - son of Theophilos; assassinated
Macedonian dynasty (867-1056)
50. Basil I the Macedonian (811 - 886, ruled 867 - 886) - married Michael III's widow; died in hunting accident
51. Leo VI the Wise (866 - 912, ruled 886 - 912) - likely either son of Basil I or Michael III;
52. Alexander (870 - 913, ruled 912 - 913) (905-959, ruled 913 - 959) - son of Leo VI
54. Romanos I Lekapenos (870 - 948, ruled 919 - 944) - father-in-law of Constantine VII; coemperor, deposed by his sons and entered monastery
55. Romanos II the Purple-born (939 - 963, ruled 959 - 963) - son of Constantine VII
56. Nikephoros II Phokas (912 - 969, ruled 963 - 969) - Strategos; married Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil II; assassinated
57. John I Tzimiskes (925 - 976, ruled 969 - 976) - brother-in-law of Romanus II, lover of Nicephorus's wife but banned from marriage, regent for Basil
58. Basil II the Bulgar-slayer (958 - 1025, ruled 976 - 1025) - son of Romanos II
59. Constantine VIII 960-1028, ruled 1025 - 1028) - son of Romanos II; coemperor with Basil II
60. Zoe (???) ((c. 978 - 1050, ruled 1028 - 1050) - daughter of Constantine VIII
61. Romanos III Argyros (968 - 1034, ruled 1028 - 1034) - eparch of Constantinople; Zoe's first husband, arranged by Constantine VIII; murdered
62. Michael IV the Paphlagonian (1010 - 1041, ruled 1034 - 1041) - Zoe's second husband
63. Michael V the Caulker (1015 - 1042, ruled 1041 - 1042) - Michael IV's nephew, Zoe's adopted son
64. Theodora (980 - 1056, ruled 1042) - daughter of Constantine VIII, coempress with Zoe
65. Constantine IX Monomachos (1000 - 1055, ruled 1042 - 1055) - Zoe's third husband
Theodora (ruled 1055 - 1056) - restored
Non-dynastic
66. Michael VI the General (ruled 1056 - 1057) - chosen by Theodora; deposed & entered monastery
Komnenid dynasty
67. Isaac I Komnenos (c. 1007 - 1060, ruled 1057 - 1059) - soldier; abdicated in a fit of illness & entered monastery
Doukid dynasty (1059-1081)
68. Constantine X Doukas (1006 - 1067, ruled 1059 - 1067) - selected by Michael Psellus the Younger
69. Michael VII Doukas Quarter-short (1050 - 1090, ruled 1067 - 1078) - son of Constantine X, originally coemperor with two brothers and Romanus; deposed & entered monastery
70. Romanos IV Diogenes (1032 - 1072, ruled 1068 - 1071) - married Constantine X's widow; coemperor, deposed & mutilated to death
71. Nikephoros III Botaneiates (1001 - 1081, ruled 1078 - 1081) - Strategos claiming descent from the Fabii, bigamously married Michael VII's wife; deposed & forced into monastery
Comnenid dynasty (restored, 1081-1185)
72. Alexios I Komnenos (1057 - 1118, ruled 1081 - 1118) - nephew of Isaac I, married Constantine X's grandniece
73. John II Komnenos the Handsome (1087 - 1143, ruled 1118 - 1143) - son of Alexios I, died of a hunting accident
74. Manuel I Komnenos the Great (1118 - 1180, ruled 1143 - 1180) - son of John II
75. Alexios II Komnenos (1169 - 1183, ruled 1180 - 1183) - son of Manuel I; murdered with garrotte
76. Andronikos I Komnenos (1118 - 1185, ruled 1183 - 1185) - nephew of John II; married Alexios II's widow; deposed, tortured, and executed; ancestor of the Komnenian line in Trebizond
Angelid dynasty (1185-1204)
77. Isaac II Angelos (1156 - 1204, ruled 1185 - 1195) - great-grandson of Alexios I, deposed & blinded
78. Alexios III Angelos (1153 - 1211, ruled 1195 - 1203) - brother of Isaac II, deposed by IV Crusade & eventually forced into monastery
Isaac II Angelos (ruled 1203 - 1204) - largely witless, restored as coemperor with Alexius IV, deposed
79. Alexios IV Angelos (1182 - 1204, ruled 1203 - 1204) - son of Isaac II, deposed & executed
80. Nikolaos Kanabos (usurper proclaimed emperor in Hagia Sophia, 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)
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; epileptic
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, deposed, blinded, and imprisoned by Michael VIII
Palaiologan Dynasty (restored to Constantinople, 1259-1453)
87. Michael VIII Palaiologos (1224 - 1282, ruled 1259 - 1282) - Strategos, regent for John IV Lascaris; great-grandson of Alexios III Angelos
88. Andronikos II Palaiologos the Elder (1258 - 1332, ruled 1282 - 1328) - son of Michael VIII; abdicated
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, deposed by John VI
91. John VI Kantakouzenos (1295 - 1383, ruled outright 1347 - 1354) - father-in-law of John V; deposed, and entered monastery as Ioasaph Christodoulus
John V Palaiologos (ruled 1354 - 1376) - restored, deposed by Andronikos IV
92. Andronikos IV Palaiologos (1348 - 1385, ruled 1376 - 1379) - son of John V, half-blinded following revolt, later succeeded and was deposed, revolted a third time
John V Palaiologos (ruled 1379 - 1390) - restored, deposed
93. John VII Palaiologos (1370 - 1408, ruled 1390) - son of Andronikos IV
John V Palaiologos (ruled 1390 - 1391) - restored
94. Manuel II Palaiologos (1350 - 1425, ruled 1391 - 1425) - son of John V
John VII Palaiologos (ruled 1399 - 1402) - restored as regent
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, died during the Fall of Constantinople.
Ottomans
In 1453 Mehmed II overthrew the Byzantine Empire and claimed the title of Kaisar; his successors continued this claim.
Palaiologan Dynasty (in exile)
Thomas Palaiologos (1409 or 10 - 1465) - brother of Constantine XI; died in exile in Rome
Andrew Palaiologos (1453 - 1502) - son of Thomas; created Despot by Pope Pius II, self-styled Imperator Constantinopolitanus 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.
