A chronological list of the men (and women) to don the purple.
This includes all emperors from Augustus up to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453.
Roman Emperors, in chronological order
Name | Succession | Reign From | Reign Until | Reign Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great-nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar; became de facto emperor as a result of the 'first settlement' between himself and the Roman Senate. | 16 January 27 BC | 19 August 14 AD | 40 years 7 months and 2 days | ||
| Natural son of Livia Drusilla, Augustus' third wife, by a previous marriage; stepbrother and third husband of Julia the Elder, daughter of Augustus; adopted by Augustus as his son and heir. | 18 September 14 AD | 16 March 37 AD | 22 years 5 months and 28 days | ||
| Great-nephew and adoptive grandson of Tiberius; natural son of Germanicus; great-grandson of Augustus. | 16 March 37 | 24 January 41 AD | 3 years 10 months and 8 days | ||
| Uncle of Caligula; brother of Germanicus; nephew of Tiberius; great-nephew and step-grandson of Augustus; proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard. | 24 January 41 | 13 October 54 | 13 years 8 months and 20 days | ||
| Great-nephew, stepson, son-in-law and adopted son of Claudius; nephew of Caligula; great-great-nephew of Tiberius; grandson of Germanicus; great-great-grandson of Augustus | 13 October 54 AD | 9 June 68 AD | 13 years 7 months and 26 days | ||
| Seized power after Nero's suicide, with support of the Spanish legions | 8 June 68 | 15 January 69 | 7 months and 6 days | ||
| Appointed by Praetorian Guard | 15 January 69 | 16 April 69 | 3 months and 1 days | ||
| Seized power with support of German Legions (in opposition to Galba/Otho) | 16 April 69 | 22 December 69 | 8 months and 6 days | ||
| Seized power with the support of the eastern Legions (in opposition to Marcillinus) | 1 July 69 | 24 June 79 | 9 years 11 months and 22 days | ||
| Son of Vespasian | 24 June 79 | 13 September 81 | 2 years 2 months and 18 days | ||
| Son of Vespasian | 14 September 81 | 18 September 96 | 15 years and 4 days | ||
| Appointed by the Senate. First of the “Five Good Emperors”. | 18 September 96 | 27 January 98 | 1 years 4 months and 8 days | ||
| Adopted son and heir of Nerva. His reign marked the geographical peak of the empire | 27 January 98 | 8 August 117 | 19 years 6 months and 11 days | ||
| Adopted son and heir of Trajan | 10 August 117 | 10 July 138 | 20 years 10 months and 30 days | ||
| Adopted son and heir of Hadrian | 11 July 138 | 7 March 161 | 22 years 7 months and 26 days | ||
| Adopted son and heir of Antoninus Pius and son-in-law of Marcus Aurelius; Co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius until his death | 8 March 161 | 23 January 169 | 7 years 10 months and 15 days | ||
| Adopted son, son-in-law and heir of Antoninus Pius; Co-emperor with Lucius Verus until 169. Last of the “Five Good Emperors” | 8 March 161 | 17 March 180 | 19 years and 9 days | ||
| Natural son of Marcus Aurelius; joint emperor from 177 | 177 | 31 December 192 | 15 years | ||
| Proclaimed emperor by Praetorian Guard | 1 January 193 | 28 March 193 | 2 months and 26 days | ||
| Won auction held by the Praetorian Guard for the position of emperor | 28 March 193 | 1 June 193 | 2 months and 3 days | ||
| Seized power with support of Pannonian legions[a] | 14 April 193 | 4 February 211 | 17 years 9 months and 19 days | ||
| Son of Septimius Severus; co-emperor with Severus and Caracalla from 209 until February 211; co-emperor with Caracalla until December 211 | 209 | 26 December 211 | 2 years | ||
| Son of Septimius Severus; co-emperor with Severus from 198; with Severus and Geta from 209 until February 211; co-emperor with Geta until December 211 | 211 | 8 April 217 | 6 years | ||
| Praetorian Prefect to Caracalla, probably conspired to have Caracalla murdered and proclaimed himself emperor after Caracalla's death; made his son Diadumenian (born on 14 September 208) co-emperor in May 218 | 11 April 217 | 8 June 218 | 1 years 1 months and 27 days | ||
| Grandnephew of Septimius Severus, first cousin once removed and alleged illegitimate son of Caracalla; proclaimed emperor by Syrian legions | 8 June 218 | 11 March 222 | 3 years 9 months and 2 days | ||
| Grandnephew of Septimius Severus, cousin and adoptive heir of Elagabalus | 11 March 222 | 18/19 March 235 | 13 years | ||
| Proclaimed emperor by Germanic legions after the murder of Severus Alexander | 20 March 235 | early May 238 | 3 years 1 months and 30 days | ||
| Proclaimed emperor, whilst Pro-consul in Africa, during a revolt against Maximinus. Ruled jointly with his son Gordian II, and in opposition to Maximinus. Technically a usurper, but retrospectively legitimised by the accession of Gordian III | 22 March 238 | 12 April 238 | 21 days | ||
| Proclaimed emperor, alongside father Gordian I, in opposition to Maximinus by act of the Senate. | 22 March 238 | 12 April 238 | 21 days | ||
| Proclaimed joint emperor with Balbinus by the Senate in opposition to Maximinus; later co-emperor with Balbinus. | 22 April 238 | 29 July 238 | 3 months and 7 days | ||
| Proclaimed joint emperor with Pupienus by the Senate after death of Gordian I and II, in opposition to Maximinus; later co-emperor with Pupienus and Gordian III | 22 April 238 | 29 July 238 | 3 months and 7 days | ||
| Proclaimed emperor by supporters of Gordian I and II, then by the Senate; joint emperor with Pupienus and Balbinus until July 238; grandson and nephew of Gordian I and II, respectively | 22 April 238 | 11 February 244 | 5 years 9 months and 18 days | ||
| Praetorian Prefect to Gordian III, took power after his death; made his son Philip II (born 237) co-emperor in summer 247 | February 244 | September 249 | 5 years 6 months and 29 days | ||
| Governor under Philip the Arab; proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions then defeating and killing Philip in the Battle of Verona; made his son Herennius Etruscus (born 227) co-emperor in early 251 | September 249 | June 251 | 1 years 8 months and 30 days | ||
| Governor of Moesia Superior, proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions after Decius's death (and in opposition to Hostilian); made his son Volusianus co-emperor in late 251. | June 251 | August 253 | 2 years 1 months and 30 days | ||
| Son of Decius, accepted as heir by the Senate | July 251 | November 251 | 3 months and 30 days | ||
| Governor of Moesia Superior, proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions after defeating the Goths; accepted as emperor after death of Gallus | June 253 | September 253 | 2 months and 30 days | ||
| Governor of Noricum and Raetia, proclaimed emperor by Rhine legions after death of Gallus; accepted as emperor after death of Aemilian | 22 October 253 | Spring 260 | 7 years | ||
| Son of Valerian, made co-emperor in 253; his son Saloninus (born c. 242) is very briefly co-emperor in c. July 260 before assassination by Postumus. | 22 October 253 | September 268 | 14 years 10 months and 9 days | ||
| Victorious general at Battle of Naissus, seized power after Gallienus's death | September 268 | January 270 | 1 years 3 months and 30 days | ||
| Brother of Claudius II, seized power after his death | January 270 | July 270 | 5 months and 30 days | ||
| Proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions after Claudius II's death, in opposition to Quintillus | September 270 | September 275 | 5 years | ||
| Wife of Aurelian, there is evidence that she ruled in her own right during the interregnum between Aurelian's death and the election of Tacitus.[12][13] | September 275 | 25 September 275 | 25 days | ||
| Elected by the Senate to replace Aurelian, after a short interregnum | 25 September 275 | June 276 | 8 months and 5 days | ||
| Governor of the eastern provinces, proclaimed emperor by Danubian legions in opposition to Florian | 276 | September 282 | 6 years | ||
| Brother of Tacitus, elected by the army in the west to replace him | July 276 | September 276 | 1 months and 30 days | ||
| Praetorian Prefect to Probus; seized power either before or after Probus was murdered; made his son Carinus co-emperor in early 283 | September 282 | August 283 | 10 months and 30 days | ||
| Son of Carus, ruled shortly with him (from early 283) as co-emperor and then in his own right with his brother Numerian | August 283 | 285 | 2 years | ||
| Son of Carus, succeeded him jointly with his brother Carinus | August 283 | 284 | 1 years | ||
| Proclaimed emperor by army after death of Numerian, and in opposition to Carinus; adopted Maximian as senior co-emperor in 286 | 20 November 284 | 1 May 305 | 20 years 5 months and 11 days | ||
 Maximian (West) | Adopted as senior co-emperor ('Augustus') in the west by Diocletian in 286 | 1 April 286 | 1 May 305 | 19 years and 30 days | |
 Galerius (East) | Adopted as junior co-emperor ('Caesar') and heir by Diocletian in 293. Also son-in-law of Diocletian. | 1 May 305 | May 311 | 5 years 11 months and 29 days | |
 Constantius Chlorus (West) | Adopted as junior co-emperor ('Caesar') and heir by Maximian in 293 | 1 May 305 | 25 July 306 | 1 years 2 months and 23 days | |
 Valerius Severus (West) | Adopted as junior co-emperor ('Caesar') and heir by Constantius Chlorus in 305; succeeded as Augustus in 306; opposed by Maxentius and Constantine I | July 306 | April 307 | 8 months and 30 days | |
| Son of Constantius I Chlorus, proclaimed emperor by his father's troops; accepted as Caesar (west) by Galerius in 306; promoted to Augustus (west) in 307 by Maximian after death of Severus II; refused relegation to Caesar in 309 | 25 July 306 | 22 May 337 | 30 years 9 months and 27 days | ||
 Maxentius (West) | Son of Maximian, seized power in 306 after death of Constantius I Chlorus, in opposition to Severus and Constantine I; made Caesar (west) by Maximian in 307 after the death of Severus | 28 October 306 | 28 October 312 | 6 years | |
 Licinius (East) | Son-in-law of Constantius Chlorus, appointed Augustus in the west by Galerius in 308, in opposition to Maxentius; became Augustus in the east in 311 after the death of Galerius (shared with Maximinus II); defeated Maximinus II in civil war to become sole eastern Augustus in 313; appointed Valerius Valens in 317, and Martinian in 324 as western Augustus, in opposition to Constantine, both being executed within weeks. | 11 November 308 | 18 September 324 | 15 years 10 months and 7 days | |
 Maximinus II (East) | Nephew of Galerius, adopted as Caesar and his heir in 305; succeeded as Augustus (shared with Licinius I) in 311 | 1 May 311 | August 313 | 2 years 2 months and 29 days | |
.webp) Constantine II (West) | Son of Constantine I; appointed Caesar in 317, succeeded as joint Augustus with his brothers Constantius II and Constans I | 22 May 337 | 340 | 3 years | |
| Son of Constantine I; succeeded as joint Augustus with his brothers Constantine II and Constans I; sole emperor from 350 | 22 May 337 | 3 November 361 | 24 years 5 months and 12 days | ||
 Constans I (West) | Son of Constantine I; succeeded as joint Augustus with his brothers Constantine II and Constantius II | 22 May 337 | 350 | 13 years | |
 Vetranio (West) | General of Constans, proclaimed Caesar against Magnentius and temporarily accepted as Augustus of the west by Constantius II. | 1 March 350 | 25 December 350 | 9 months and 23 days | |
| Cousin of Constantius II; made Caesar of the west in 355; proclaimed Augustus by his troops in 360; sole emperor after the death of Constantius | February 360 | 26 June 363 | 3 years 4 months and 25 days | ||
| General of Julian's army; proclaimed emperor by the troops on Julian's death | 26 June 363 | 17 February 364 | 7 months and 20 days | ||
| Elected to replace Jovian by the army | 26 February 364 | 17 November 375 | 11 years 8 months and 20 days | ||
 Valens (East) | Brother of Valentinian I, appointed co-augustus (for the east) by him | 28 March 364 | 9 August 378 | 14 years 4 months and 11 days | |
 Gratian (West) | Son of Valentinian I, appointed junior Augustus by him in 367, became senior Augustus (for the west) after Valentinian's death. | 4 August 367 | 25 August 383 | 16 years and 21 days | |
 Valentinian II (West) | Son of Valentinian I, proclaimed emperor by Pannonian army after Valentinian's death; accepted as co-Augustus for the west by Gratian | 17 November 375 | 15 May 392 | 16 years 5 months and 28 days | |
| Son-in-law of Valentinian I, appointed as Augustus for the east by Gratian after the death of Valens; became sole senior Augustus after death of Valentinian II (Eastern Emperor since 379) | 19 January 379 | 17 January 395 | 15 years 11 months and 28 days | ||
 Magnus Maximus (West) | Usurper in the West; legitimized along with his son Victor by Theodosius I as emperors of Britannia and Gaul. | 383 | 28 August 388 | 5 years | |
 Eugenius (West) | Usurper in the West; elevated to emperor by Arbogast. | 22 August 392 | 6 September 394 | 2 years and 15 days | |
.webp) Honorius (West) | Son of Theodosius I; appointed as junior Augustus for the west by Theodosius on January 23, 393 (after the death of Valentinian II); became senior Augustus for the west after his father's death | 17 January 395 | 15 August 423 | 28 years 6 months and 28 days | |
 Arcadius (East) | Son of Theodosius I; appointed as junior Augustus for the east by Theodosius in January 383; became senior Augustus for the east after his father's death | 17 January 395 | 1 May 408 | 13 years 3 months and 15 days | |
 Theodosius II (East) | Son of Arcadius; appointed as junior Augustus for the east by Arcadius in 402; became senior Augustus for the east after his father's death | January 402 | 28 July 450 | 48 years 6 months and 27 days | |
.webp) Constantine III (West) | Usurper who declared himself emperor in the west in 407, recognized as co-emperor by Honorius in 409. Elevated his son Constans II to co-emperor in 409, who was not recognized by Honorius. Neither recognized by the Eastern Empire. | 407 | September 411 | 4 years | |
 Constantius III (West) | Married to Theodosius I's daughter Galla Placidia, elevated to co-Augustus for the west by Honorius; not recognized by the Eastern Empire | 8 February 421 | 2 September 421 | 6 months and 22 days | |
 Joannes (West) | A senior civil servant under Honorius, proclaimed emperor by Castinus; not recognized by the Eastern Empire | 27 August 423 | May 425 | 1 years 8 months and 4 days | |
 Valentinian III (West) | Son of Constantius III, appointed Caesar for the west by Theodosius II after the death of Honorius, in opposition to the regime of Joannes; became Augustus for the west after the defeat of Joannes | 23 October 424 | 16 March 455 | 30 years 4 months and 23 days | |
 Pulcheria (East) | Daughter of Arcadius and sister of Theodosius II; reigned as co-empress with the younger Theodosius II through his reign from 414 onwards, sole ruler of the empire upon his death as Augusta and Imperatrix | 28 July 450 | July 453 | 2 years 11 months and 2 days | |
 Marcian (East) | Nominated as successor (and husband) by Pulcheria, ruled alongside her 450-453 and later alone | 25 November 450 | 25 January 457 | 6 years 1 months and 30 days | |
 Petronius Maximus (West) | Son-in-law of Theodosius II, proclaimed himself emperor with the support of the army, after the death of Valentinian III. Not recognized by the Eastern Empire. He appointed his son Palladius as caesar. | 17 March 455 | 31 May 455 | 2 months and 13 days | |
 Avitus (West) | Magister militum under Petronius Maximus, proclaimed emperor by the Visigoth king Theoderic II after Petronius's death. Not recognized by the Eastern Empire. | 9 July 455 | 17 October 456 | 1 years 3 months and 8 days | |
 Leo I the Thracian (East) | Chosen by the army | 7 February 457 | 18 January 474 | 16 years 11 months and 10 days | |
 Majorian (West) | Proclaimed emperor by his troops. Recognized by the Eastern Empire at the behest of Ricimer. | April 457 | 2 August 461 | 4 years 4 months and 1 days | |
 Libius Severus (West) | Appointed emperor by Ricimer. Not recognized by the Eastern Empire. | November 461 | August 465 | 3 years 8 months and 30 days | |
 Anthemius (West) | Son-in-law of Marcian, appointed emperor by Leo I, with the consent of Ricimer. | 12 April 467 | 11 July 472 | 5 years 2 months and 28 days | |
 Olybrius (West) | Son-in-law of Valentinian III; appointed emperor by Ricimer. Not recognized by the Eastern Empire. | 11 July 472 | 2 November 472 | 3 months and 22 days | |
 Glycerius (West) | Appointed emperor by Gundobad (Ricimer's successor). Not recognized by the Eastern Empire. | March 473 | June 474 | 1 years 2 months and 30 days | |
.webp) Leo II (East) | Grandson of Leo I | 18 January 474 | 17 November 474 | 9 months and 29 days | |
 Julius Nepos (West) | Nephew-in-law of the eastern emperor Leo I (and nephew of Marcellinus) appointed emperor in opposition to Glycerius | June 474 | April 480 | 5 years 9 months and 30 days | |
.webp) Zeno (East) | Named co-emperor by his son Leo II on 9 February 474. | 17 November 474 | 9 April 491 | 16 years 4 months and 21 days | |
 Basiliscus (East) | Seized throne from Zeno, Basiliscus appointed his son Marcus co-emperor at some point in 475. | 9 January 475 | August 476 | 1 years 6 months and 21 days | |
 Romulus Augustulus (West) | Appointed by his father, Orestes. Listed as an emperor by historical convention. His rule never extended beyond portions of the Italian peninsula. Not recognized by Eastern Emperor Zeno. | 31 October 475 | 4 September 476 | 10 months and 4 days | |
 Anastasius I Dicorus (East) | Son-in-law of Leo I | 11 April 491 | 9 July 518 | 27 years 2 months and 27 days | |
 Justin I (East) | Elected by army | July 518 | 1 August 527 | 9 years 1 months and 1 days | |
 Justinian I (East) | Nephew of Justin I | 1 August 527 | 13 November 565 | 38 years 3 months and 12 days | |
.webp) Theodora (East) | Wife of Justinian I, in some sources described as his co-regent. Theodora had her own court and imperial seal,[14] participated in state councils and Justinian described her as "partner in my deliberations".[15] | 9 August 527 | 28 June 548 | 20 years 10 months and 19 days | |
 Justin II (East) | Nephew of Justinian I | 14 November 565 | 5 October 578 | 12 years 10 months and 21 days | |
 Tiberius II Constantine (East) | Adopted son of Justin II, regent from 574 | 5 October 578 | 14 August 582 | 3 years 10 months and 9 days | |
.webp) Maurice (East) | Son-in-law of Tiberius II, appointed his son Theodosius (born in August 4 583/585) co-emperor in 590 | 14 August 582 | 22 November 602 | 20 years 3 months and 8 days | |
 Phocas (East) | Seized throne | 23 November 602 | 4 October 610 | 7 years 10 months and 11 days | |
 Heraclius (East) | Revolt | 5 October 610 | 11 February 641 | 30 years 4 months and 5 days | |
.webp) Constantine III (East) | Son of Heraclius | 11 February 641 | 25 May 641 | 3 months and 14 days | |
 Heraklonas (East) | Son of Heraclius; his brothers Tiberius and Martinus briefly served as co-emperors. | 11 February 641 | September 641 | 6 months and 17 days | |
| Son of Constantine III. succeeded his uncle Heraklonas after he was deposed as emperor. | September 641 | 15 September 668 | 27 years and 15 days | ||
 Constantine IV (East) | Oldest son of Constans II, co-emperor since 654. His brothers Heraclius and Tiberius, co-emperors since 659, served as co-emperors until they were mutilated and deposed by Constantine in 681. | 15 September 668 | 14 September 685 | 16 years 11 months and 28 days | |
 Justinian II (East) | Son of Constantine IV, co-emperor since 681 | 14 September 685 | 695 | 10 years | |
 Leontios (East) | Revolt | 695 | 698 | 3 years | |
 Tiberios III Apsimaros (East) | Revolt | 698 | 705 | 7 years | |
 Philippikos Bardanes (East) | Revolt | December 711 | 3 June 713 | 1 years 6 months and 2 days | |
 Anastasios II (East) | Bureaucrat and secretary under Philippikos, he was raised to the purple by the soldiers | June 713 | November 715 | 2 years 4 months and 30 days | |
 Theodosius III (East) | Chosen by troops | May 715 | 25 March 717 | 1 years 10 months and 25 days | |
 Leo III the Isaurian (East) | Rebellion | 25 March 717 | 18 June 741 | 24 years 2 months and 23 days | |
 Artabasdos (East) | Son-in-law of Leo III. Usurped throne. Proclaimed his son Nikephoros as co-emperor in 741/742 | June 741 | 2 November 743 | 2 years 5 months and 2 days | |
 Constantine V (East) | Son of Leo III | 18 June 741 | 14 September 775 | 34 years 2 months and 25 days | |
 Leo IV the Khazar (East) | Son of Constantine V | 14 September 775 | 8 September 780 | 4 years 11 months and 23 days | |
 Constantine VI (East) | Son of Leo IV | 8 September 780 | August 797 | 16 years 10 months and 22 days | |
 Irene of Athens (East) | Regent during minority of Constantine VI. Seized throne from son in 797. First Byzantine empress regnant. | August 797 | 31 October 802 | 5 years 2 months and 30 days | |
 Nikephoros I (East) | Rebellion | 31 October 802 | 26 July 811 | 8 years 8 months and 26 days | |
 Staurakios (East) | Son of Nikephoros I | 26 July 811 | 2 October 811 | 2 months and 6 days | |
 Michael I Rangabe (East) | Son-in-law of Nikephoros I, appointed his son Theophylact (born c. 793) as co-emperor on 25 December 811 | 2 October 811 | 22 June 813 | 1 years 8 months and 20 days | |
 Leo V the Armenian (East) | Rebellion, appointed his son Symbatios as co-emperor under the name Constantine on Christmas 813 | 11 July 813 | 25 December 820 | 7 years 5 months and 14 days | |
 Michael II (East) | Chosen after murder of predecessor | 25 December 820 | 2 October 829 | 8 years 9 months and 7 days | |
.webp) Theophilos (East) | Only son of Michael II and co-emperor since 821 | 2 October 829 | 20 January 842 | 12 years 3 months and 18 days | |
 Michael III (East) | Son of Theophilos | 20 January 842 | 23 September 867 | 25 years 8 months and 3 days | |
 Basil I the Macedonian (East) | Previous co-emperor, full emperor upon death of predecessor. | 867 | 29 August 886 | 19 years | |
 Leo VI the Wise (East) | Son of Basil I (potentially in reality the son of Michael III), co-emperor since 870. | 886 | 11 May 912 | 26 years | |
.webp) Alexander (East) | Son of Basil I, co-emperor since 879. | 11 May 912 | 6 June 913 | 1 years and 26 days | |
 Constantine VII (East) | Son of Leo VI, co-emperor since 908. | 6 June 913 | 9 November 959 | 46 years 5 months and 3 days | |
 Romanos I Lekapenos (East) | Regent for the young Constantine VII, crowned himself senior emperor during Constantine VII's minority. Proclaimed his three sons Christopher, Stephen and Constantine as co-emperors. Was overthrown by Stephen in 944, who briefly ruled as senior emperor (for a few weeks) until he himself was overthrown by Constantine VII. | 17 December 920 | 16 December 944 | 23 years 11 months and 29 days | |
 Romanos II (East) | Son of Constantine VII | 9 November 959 | 15 March 963 | 3 years 4 months and 5 days | |
 Nikephoros II Phokas (East) | Chosen by the army, acted as senior emperor during the regency of young emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII | 16 August 963 | 11 December 969 | 6 years 3 months and 26 days | |
 John I Tzimiskes (East) | Nephew of Nikephoros II Phokas, succeeded as senior emperor and regent for the young emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII | 11 December 969 | 10 January 976 | 6 years and 30 days | |
 Basil II (East) | Eldest son of Romanos II | 10 January 976 | 15 December 1025 | 49 years 11 months and 4 days | |
 Constantine VIII (East) | Second son of Romanos II, co-emperor since 962. | 15 December 1025 | 15 November 1028 | 2 years 10 months and 30 days | |
 Zoe Porphyrogenita (East) | Daughter of Constantine VIII, succeeded on her father's death along with her sister Theodora. Her three husbands, Romanos III (1028–1034), Michael IV (1034–1041) and Constantine IX (1042–1050) ruled alongside her. | 15 November 1028 | June 1050 | 21 years 6 months and 14 days | |
 Romanos III Argyros (East) | Chosen by Constantine VIII to marry his daughter Zoe and succeed him as emperor. | 15 November 1028 | 11 April 1034 | 5 years 4 months and 25 days | |
| Succeeded Romanos III as Zoe's husband and emperor. | 11 April 1034 | 10 December 1041 | 7 years 7 months and 28 days | ||
 Michael V Kalaphates (East) | Nephew and adopted son of Michael IV. | 10 December 1041 | 20 April 1042 | 4 months and 9 days | |
.webp) Theodora Porphyrogenita (East) | Younger sister of Zoe, raised to co-empress in 1042. | 19 April 1042 | 31 August 1056 | 14 years 4 months and 11 days | |
| Zoe's third husband | 11 June 1042 | 11 January 1055 | 12 years 6 months and 29 days | ||
| Chosen as successor by Empress Theodora | September 1056 | 31 August 1057 | 1 years | ||
 Isaac I Komnenos (East) | Rebellion | 5 June 1057 | 22 November 1059 | 2 years 5 months and 17 days | |
 Constantine X Doukas (East) | Chosen successor of Isaac I Komnenos | 24 November 1059 | 22 May 1067 | 7 years 5 months and 28 days | |
 Michael VII Doukas (East) | Son of Constantine X Doukas and co-emperor since 1059, resigned the throne in 1078. Reigned alongside his brothers Andronikos and Konstantios as co-emperors. Andronikos died in the 1070s while Konstantios briefly succeeded Michael as senior emperor before being handed over to the usurper Nikephoros III and exiled. Michael's son Constantine was also raised to co-emperor in 1074. | 22 May 1067 | 31 March 1078 | 10 years 10 months and 9 days | |
 Romanos IV Diogenes (East) | Married to Constantine X's widow and senior emperor as guardian of her sons by Constantine X | 1 January 1068 | 24 October 1071 | 3 years 9 months and 22 days | |
| Rebellion | 31 March 1078 | 4 April 1081 | 3 years and 4 days | ||
 Alexios I Komnenos (East) | Rebellion, nephew of Isaac I Komnenos, appointed Constantine Doukas (a previous co-emperor under Michael VII) as co-emperor in 1081. Replaced Constantine with his own son John II in 1087. | 4 April 1081 | 15 August 1118 | 37 years 4 months and 10 days | |
 John II Komnenos (East) | Son of Alexios I, co-emperor since 1087, appointed his son Alexios co-emperor in 1122 | 15 August 1118 | 8 April 1143 | 24 years 7 months and 23 days | |
 Manuel I Komnenos (East) | Son of John II | 1143 | 24 September 1180 | 37 years | |
 Alexios II Komnenos (East) | Son of Manuel I | 24 September 1180 | October 1183 | 3 years and 6 days | |
 Andronikos I Komnenos (East) | Nephew of John II (son of his brother Isaac), uncle of Alexios II, appointed his son John as co-emperor in November 1183 | October 1183 | 12 September 1185 | 1 years 11 months and 11 days | |
 Isaac II Angelos (East) | Rebellion | 1185 | 1195 | 10 years | |
 Alexios III Angelos (East) | Rebellion, elder brother of Isaac II | 1195 | 17 July 1203 | 8 years | |
 Alexios IV Angelos (East) | Raised to the throne by the Fourth Crusade alongside his father Isaac II | 1 August 1203 | 27 January 1204 | 5 months and 26 days | |
 Alexios V Doukas (East) | Coup in the Imperial Palace, son-in-law of Alexios III | 5 February 1204 | 13 April 1204 | 2 months and 7 days | |
 Theodore I Laskaris (East) | His brother Constantine Laskaris was elected emperor by the citizens of Constantinople on the day the city fell to the Crusaders; he later fled to Nicaea, where Theodore organized the Greek resistance to the Latins. Proclaimed emperor after Constantine's death in 1205, Theodore was crowned only in 1208. | 1205 | November 1221 | 16 years | |
 John III Doukas Vatatzes (East) | Son-in-law of Theodore I | 15 December 1221 | 3 November 1254 | 32 years 10 months and 19 days | |
 Theodore II Laskaris (East) | Son of John III | 3 November 1254 | 18 August 1258 | 3 years 9 months and 14 days | |
 John IV Laskaris (East) | Son of Theodore II | 18 August 1258 | 25 December 1261 | 3 years 4 months and 6 days | |
 Michael VIII Palaiologos (East) | Senior emperor and regent of John IV Laskaris, grandnephew of John III by marriage and great-grandson of Alexios III | 1 January 1259 | 11 December 1282 | 23 years 11 months and 9 days | |
| Son of Michael VIII | 11 December 1282 | 24 May 1328 | 45 years 5 months and 13 days | ||
 Michael IX Palaiologos (East) | Son of Andronikos II, reigned alongside him as co-emperor with full imperial style | 1295 | 12 October 1320 | 25 years | |
| Son of Michael IX, named co-emperor in 1316 and rival emperor since 1321. Deposed his grandfather Andronikos II in 1328 and reigned as sole emperor | 24 May 1328 | 15 June 1341 | 13 years and 22 days | ||
 John V Palaiologos (East) | Son of Andronikos III | 15 June 1341 | 12 August 1376 | 35 years 1 months and 27 days | |
 John VI Kantakouzenos (East) | Maternal relative of the Palaiologi, declared co-emperor by John V in 1341 and recognized as senior emperor in 1347 following a civil war. Appointed his son Matthew as co-emperor in 1353 | 8 February 1347 | 4 December 1354 | 7 years 9 months and 24 days | |
| Son of John V, co-emperor since 1352, deposed his father John V in 1376 | 12 August 1376 | 1 July 1379 | 2 years 10 months and 20 days | ||
John V Palaiologos (East) | Son of Andronikos III 2nd Reign | 1 July 1379 | 14 April 1390 | 10 years 9 months and 12 days | |
 John VII Palaiologos (East) | Rebellion, son and co-emperor of Andronikos IV, deposed his grandfather John V | 14 April 1390 | 17 September 1390 | 5 months and 3 days | |
 Manuel II Palaiologos (East) | Son of John V, co-emperor since 1373. John VII Palaiologos, who previously usurped the throne in 1390, was proclaimed co-emperor in 1403, keeping the title until his death in 1408. John VII also proclaimed his son, Andronikos V, co-emperor but Andronikos died before his father, in 1407. The imperial status of John and Andronikos was purely honorary. | 16 February 1391 | 21 July 1425 | 34 years 5 months and 5 days | |
 John VIII Palaiologos (East) | Son of Manuel II, co-emperor since 1416 | 21 July 1425 | 31 October 1448 | 23 years 3 months and 10 days | |
| Son of Manuel II | 6 January 1449 | 29 May 1453 | 4 years 4 months and 22 days | ||
 Thomas Palaiologos (East) | Son of Manuel II. Despot of the Morea since 1428 and ruled there until 1460 when he escaped to Italy as an exile. | 29 May 1453 | 12 May 1465 | 11 years 11 months and 13 days | |
 Andreas Palaiologos (East) | Son of Thomas. Succeeded him as claimant to the titles of Roman Emperor and Despot of the Morea. Sold his claim to the imperial title to Charles VIII of France in 1494 and to the Catholic Monarchs in 1502, ending the direct line of claimants. | 12 May 1465 | 7 April 1502 | 36 years 10 months and 26 days |
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