Mosaics of Hagia Sophia

Constantinian Dynasty

Constantine the Great 324-337
Constantius II 337-361
Constans I 337-350
Julian the Apostate 361-363

Non Dynastic

Jovian 363-364

Valentinian Dynasty

Valentinian I 364-375
Valens 364-378
Gratian 378-379

Theodosiian Dynasty

Theodosius I the Great 379-395
Arcadius, 395-408
Theodosius II., 408-450
Marcian, 450-457

Leonid Dynasty

Leo I., 457-474
Zeno, 474-491
Anastasius I., 491-518

Justinian Dynasty

Justin I., 518-527
Justinian I the Great 527-565
Justin II., 565-578
Tiberius II., Constantinus, 578-582
Maurice, 582-602

Non-Dynastic

Phocas, 602-610

Heraclian Dynasty

Heraclius, 610-641
Heraclius Constantinus and Heracleonas, 641-2
Constans II., 642-668
Constantine IV., 668-685
Justinian II., 685-695
Leontius, 695-697
Tiberius III., Apsimarus, 697-705
Justinian II. (restored), 705-711

20 Years of Anarchy

Philippicus, 711-713
Anastasius II., Artemius, 713-715
Theodosius III., 715-717

Isaurian Dynasty

Leo III., the Isaurian, 717-740
Constantine V., Kopronymus, 740-775
Leo IV., 775-779
Constantine VI., 779-797
Irene, 797-802

Nikephorian Dynasty

Nikephorus I., 802-811
Stauracius, 811
Michael I., Rhangabe, 811-813

Non-Dynastic

Leo V., the Armenian, 813-820

Amorian Dynasty

Michael II., the Amorian, 820-829
Theophilus, 829-842
Michael III. the Drunkard, 842-867

Macedonian Dynasty

Basil I., the Macedonian, 867-886
Constantine VII., Porphyrogenitus, 912-958
[Co-regent Emperors—
Alexander, 912-913
Romanus I., Lecapenus, 919-945]
Romanus II., 958-963
[Co-regent Emperors—
Nicephorus II., Phocas, 963-969
John I., Tzimiskes, 969-976]
Constantine VIII., 1025-28
Romanus III., Argyrus, 1028-34
Michael IV., the Paphlagonian, 1034-42
Michael V., 1042
Theodora, 1055-57

Non-Dynastic

Michael VI., Stratioticus, 1056-57

Komnenian Dynasty

Isaac I., Komnenos, 1057-59

Doukas Dynasty

Constantine X., Doukas, 1059-67
Michael VII., Doukas, 1067-78
[Co-regent Emperor—
Romanos Diogenes, 1068-71]
Nicephorus III., Botaniates, 1078-81

Komnenian Dynasty

Alexius I., Komnenos, 1081-1118
John II., Komnenos, 1118-43
[Co-regent Emperor—
Alexios., Komnenos, 1122-1142]
Alexios II., Komnenos, 1180-83
Andronikos I., Komnenos, 1183-85

Angelid Dynasty

Isaac II., Angelos, 1185-95
Alexius III., Angelos, 1195-1203
Isaac II. (restored), 1203-4
Alexius V., Mourtzouphlos Doukas, 1204

Latin Emperors - the Frankokratia 

Baldwin I., House of Flanders, 1204-5
Henry, House of Flanders, 1205-16
Peter, of Courtenay 1217-19
Robert I, of Courtenay, 1219-28
Baldwin II., of Courtenay, the Broke, 1228-61

Nicaean Emperors in Exile - Laskarids

Theodore I., Laskaris, 1204-22
John III., Doukas, Vatatzes, 1222-54
Theodore II., Laskaris, 1254-59
John IV., Laskaris, 1259-60

Empire Restored to Constantinople

Michael VIII., Paleologus, 1260-82
Andronikos II., Paleologus, 1282-1328
Andronikos III., Paleologus, 1328-41
[Co-regent—
John VI., Kantacuzenos, 1347-54]
Constantine XI., Dragases Paleologus 1448-53

Meet Bob Atchison - the Creator of this Website

I am an icon painter, Russian Historian and Austin Web Designer formerly of Seattle, Washington and now living in Austin, Texas. My interest in Byzantium and icons began when I was 8 years old and read my first book on Byzantium called "The Fall of Constantinople".

> learn more

Life at the Top

Manuel I KomnenosThe last chariot race in Constantinople was in the huge courtyard of the Blachernae palaces for the wedding of a prince of the Angelid Dynasty in 1200.  The wedding cost a fortune and the people had to pay a special tax to cover the cost.Emperor John I Tzimiskes, the murderer of his uncle Nikephorus II Phocas in his bed in the Boukoleon Palace.  John married his uncle's wife, who was his co-conspirator in the assassination.

Basil the Bulgar Killer

Basil II the Bulgar Slayer and Never-Married, probably gay. Left the treasury full of gold and silver.  Died in his bed and got the last available tomb in Constantine's Mausoleum in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

Marie of Antioch, a very pretty French Princess, was the second wife of Manuel I Komnenos.  Murdered by Manuel's cousin, Andronikos I, who starved her to death.  He also murdered her son with Manuel, Alexios, too.  Poor boy, they strangled him when he was 15 and Andronikos took his 11 year-old wife as his own.

Constantine Monomachos, wasted the money left by Basil II on hand-outs to his friends, mistresses and big building projects.  Married to Zoë who loved making her own perfumes and cosmetics in the palace.  Her potions worked and she looked like a girl into her late 60's.  She killed her first husband, Romanos, in his bath.

Manuel II Paleologus - traveled to London and Paris to get help to save the empire.  The Muslim Turks thought he looked like the Prophet Mohammed.  Married very late and had 9 children, including the twilight emperor, Constantine - the Last.