Byzantine Emperor

Quick Facts: Who was Byzantine Emperor?

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Byzantine Emperor

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The continuation of Roman rule in the East, centered at Constantinople.

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Origins & Early Life

The foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD marks the conventional start of the Byzantine Empire, which fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as legitimate rulers and exercised sovereign authority are included, to the exclusion of junior co-emperors who never attained the status of sole or senior ruler, as well as of the various usurpers or rebels who claimed the imperial title. The following list starts with Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, who rebuilt the city of Byzantium as the imperial capital, Constantinople, and who was regarded by the later emperors as the model ruler. Modern historians distinguish this later phase of the Roman Empire as the Byzantine Empire due to the imperial seat moving from Rome to Byzantium, the Empire's integration of Christianity, and the predominance of Greek over Latin. The Byzantine Empire was the direct legal continuation of the eastern half of the Roman Empire following its division in 395.

Career & Major Achievements

Emperors listed below up to Theodosius I in 395 were sole or joint rulers of the entire Roman Empire. The Western Roman Empire continued until 476. Byzantine emperors considered themselves Roman emperors in direct succession from Augustus; the term "Byzantine" became conventional in Western historiography in the 19th century. The use of the title "Roman Emperor" by those ruling from Constantinople was not contested until after the papal coronation of the Frankish Charlemagne as Holy Roman emperor (25 December 800). The title of all emperors preceding Heraclius was officially "Augustus", although other titles such as Dominus were also used.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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 sovereign, though Augustus continued to be used in a reduced capacity. Following the establishment of the rival Holy Roman Empire in Western Europe, the title "Autokrator" (Gr. Αὐτοκράτωρ) was increasingly used.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1453: 1453 Milestone — The foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD marks the conventional start of the Byzantine Empire, which fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Byzantine Emperor

True or False: “The Byzantine Empire was always considered a direct legal successor to the Western Roman Empire after 476 AD.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Byzantine emperors viewed themselves as successors to the entire Roman Empire, but the term 'Byzantine' is a later historiographical convention.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Afonso de Albuquerque — Historical peer (Born in 1453) (1453): Portuguese general and conquistador who built the Asian Portuguese Empire.
• Andreas Palaiologos — Historical peer (Born in 1453) (1453): Eldest son of Thomas Palaiologos, claimant to the Byzantine imperial throne.
• Byzantine Empire — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The continuation of the Roman Empire centered on Constantinople from 330 AD to 1453.
• Byzantine Empire under the Heraclian dynasty — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The transformative period (610–711 AD) that saw the Byzantine Empire survive massive crises.
• Byzantine–Ottoman wars — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A protracted series of conflicts leading to the fall of Byzantium and rise of the Ottomans.
• Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628 — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The final and most devastating conflict between the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires.

Frequently Asked Questions about Byzantine Emperor