Editing List of Byzantine emperors (section)

== Macedonian dynasty (867–1056) ==
{{Main|Macedonian dynasty|Lekapenos|Byzantine Empire under the Macedonian dynasty}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; text-align:center"
|+ {{Sronly|Macedonian dynasty}}
! scope=col width="7%" | Portrait
! scope=col width="17%" | Name
! scope=col width="26%" | Reign
! scope=col width="50%" | Notes

|-
| [[File:Roman Emperor Basil I (cropped).png|100px|alt=miniature portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | '''[[Basil I]]''' "the Macedonian"<br/>{{Small|Βασίλειος}}
| 24 September 867 – 29 August 886<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|867|9|24|886|8|29}})<hr/>''with'' '''[[Constantine (son of Basil I)|Constantine]]''' (868–879)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}}
| Born in the [[Macedonia (theme)|Theme of Macedonia]] {{c.}} 811, he rose in prominence through palace service, becoming a favourite of Michael III, who crowned him co-emperor on 26 May 866. He overthrew Michael and established the Macedonian dynasty. He led successful wars in the East against the Arabs and the [[Paulicians]], and recovered southern Italy for the Empire.

|-
| [[File:Emperor Leo VI detail (head).jpg|100px|alt=mosaic]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | '''[[Leo VI the Wise|Leo VI]]''' "the Wise"<br/>{{Small|Λέων}}
| 29 August 886 – 11 May 912<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|886|8|29|912|5|11}})}}
| Born on 19 September 866, either the legitimate son of Basil I or the illegitimate son of Michael III. Co-emperor since 6 January 870. Leo was known for his erudition. His reign saw a height in [[Saracen]] (Muslim) naval raids, culminating in the [[Sack of Thessalonica (904)|Sack of Thessalonica]], and was marked by unsuccessful wars against the Bulgarians under [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon I]].

|-
| [[File:Emperor Alexander head.jpg|100px|alt=mosaic]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | '''[[Alexander (Byzantine emperor)|Alexander]]'''<br/>{{Small|Αλέξανδρος}}
| 11 May 912 – 6 June 913<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|912|5|11|913|6|6}})}}
| Son of Basil I, Alexander was born in 870 and raised to co-emperor in 879. Sidelined by Leo VI, Alexander dismissed his brother's principal aides on his accession. Died of illness, possibly [[testicular cancer]]{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|1pp=56–57|2a1=Treadgold|2y=1997|2p=471|3a1=Grierson|3p=473–476|3y=1973}}

|-
| [[File:Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (cropped).jpg|frameless|100px|alt=carved portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Constantine VII|'''Constantine VII'''<br/>Porphyrogenitus]]<br/>{{Small|Κωνσταντῖνος}}
| 6 June 913 – 9 November 959<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|913|6|6|959|11|9}})}}
| Son of Leo VI, he was born on 17/18 May 905 and raised to co-emperor on 15 May 908. His early reign was dominated by successive regencies, first by his mother, [[Zoe Karbonopsina]], and Patriarch [[Nicholas Mystikos]], and from 919 by the admiral Romanos Lekapenos, who wedded his daughter to Constantine and was crowned senior emperor in 920. Constantine re-asserted his control by deposing Romanos's sons on 27 January 945. His reign was marked by struggles with [[Sayf al-Dawla]] in the East and an unsuccessful campaign against Crete, and pro-aristocratic policies that saw a partial reversal of Lekapenos' legislation against the ''[[dynatoi]]''. He is notable for his promotion of the "[[Macedonian Renaissance]]", sponsoring encyclopaedic works and histories. He was a prolific writer himself, best remembered for the manuals on statecraft ({{Lang|la|[[De administrando imperio]]}}) and ceremonies (''[[De ceremoniis]]'') he compiled for his son.<ref>{{ODB|last=Kazhdan|first=Alexander|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos|pages=502–503}}</ref>

|-
! colspan=4 | &nbsp;

|-
| [[File:Seal of Romanos I Lekapenos (detail).jpg|100px|alt=seal]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Romanos I Lekapenos|'''Romanos I''' Lekapenos]]<br/>{{Small|Ῥωμανὸς}}
| 17 December 920 – 20 December 944<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|920|12|17|944|12|20}})<hr/>''with'' [[Christopher Lekapenos|'''Christopher''']] (921–931), [[Stephen Lekapenos|'''Stephen''']] and [[Constantine Lekapenos|'''Constantine''' Lekapenos]] (924–945)}}{{Efn|name=co-emperor}}
| An admiral of lowly origin, Romanos rose to power as a protector of the young Constantine VII against the general [[Leo Phokas the Elder]]. He became emperor in 920. His reign was marked by the end of warfare with Bulgaria and the great conquests of [[John Kourkouas]] in the East.{{sfn|Gregory|2005|pp=228–230}} Romanos promoted his sons [[Stephen Lekapenos|Stephen]] and [[Constantine Lekapenos|Constantine]] (alongside [[Christopher Lekapenos|Christopher]], who died soon after) as co-emperors over Constantine VII, but was himself overthrown by them and confined to an island as a monk. He died there on 15 June 948.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=178–180}}

|-
! colspan=4 | &nbsp;

|-
| [[File:Romanos (cropped) (cropped).JPG|frameless|100px|alt=carved portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | '''[[Romanos II]]'''<br/>{{Small|Ῥωμανὸς}}
| 9 November 959 – 15 March 963<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|959|11|9|963|3|15}})}}
| The only surviving son of Constantine VII, he was born on 15 March 938 and succeeded his father on the latter's death. He ruled until his own death, although the government was led mostly by the eunuch [[Joseph Bringas]]. His reign was marked by successful warfare in the East against [[Sayf al-Dawla]] and the recovery of Crete by general [[Nikephoros II Phokas|Nikephoros Phokas]].

|-
| [[File:Nikephoros Phokas (cropped 1).jpg|100px|alt=miniature portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Nikephoros II Phokas|'''Nikephoros II''' Phokas]]<br/>{{Small|Νικηφόρος}}
| 16 August 963 – 11 December 969<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|963|8|16|969|12|11}})}}
| The most successful general of his generation, Nikephoros II was born {{c.}} 912 to the powerful [[Phokas (Byzantine family)|Phokas]] clan. After the death of Romanos II, he rose to the throne with the support of the army and people as regent for the young emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII, marrying the empress-dowager [[Theophano (born Anastaso)|Theophano]]. Throughout his reign he led campaigns in the East, conquering much of Syria. He was murdered by his nephew and one-time associate John Tzimiskes.

|-
| [[File:John I in Madrid Skylitzes2.jpg|100px|alt=miniature portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[John I Tzimiskes|'''John I''' Tzimiskes]]<br/>{{Small|Ἰωάννης}}
| 11 December 969 – 10 January 976<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|969|12|11|976|1|10}})}}
| Nephew of Nikephoros Phokas, Tzimiskes was born {{c.}} 925. A successful general, he fell out with his uncle and led a conspiracy of disgruntled generals who murdered him. Tzimiskes succeeded Nikephoros as emperor and regent for the young sons of Romanos II. As ruler, Tzimiskes [[Rus'–Byzantine War (970–971)|crushed]] the [[Rus' (people)|Rus']] in Bulgaria and ended the Bulgarian tsardom before going on to campaign in the East, where he died.

|-
| [[File:Basil II crop.png|100px|alt=miniature portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | '''[[Basil II]]''' "the Bulgar-Slayer"<br/>{{Small|Βασίλειος}}
| 10 January 976 – 15 December 1025<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|976|1|10|1025|12|15}})}}
| Eldest son of Romanos II, Basil II was born in 958 to Romanus II.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|p=91}} The first decade of his reign was marked by rivalry with the powerful [[Basil Lekapenos]], an unsuccessful war against Bulgaria, and rebellions by generals in Asia Minor. Basil solidified his position through a marriage alliance of his sister Anna to [[Vladimir I of Kiev]], which was accompanied by the conversion to Christian Orthodoxy of the grand Kievian Rus' prince and his people.{{sfn|Morgan|2007|pp=92–93}} After over 20 years of war, Basil eventually succeeded in his [[Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria|conquest of Bulgaria]], which was finally subdued in 1018, earning him the name "Bulgar-slayer".{{sfn|Morgan|2007|pp=93–94}} His conquest of Bulgar was periodically interrupted by warfare in Syria against the [[Fatimid Caliphate]]. Basil expanded Byzantine control over most of Armenia and his reign is widely considered as the apogee of medieval Byzantium.{{sfn|Skylitzes|2010|p=28}}

|-
| [[File:Constantine VIII in the Exultet roll (3).jpg|100px|alt=miniature portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | '''[[Constantine VIII]]'''<br/>{{Small|Κωνσταντῖνος}}
| 15 December 1025 – 12 November 1028<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1025|12|15|1028|11|12}})}}
| The second son of Romanos II, Constantine was born in 960 and raised to co-emperor on 30 March 962. During the rule of Basil II, he spent his time in idle pleasure. During his short reign he was an indifferent ruler, easily influenced by his courtiers and suspicious of plots to depose him, especially among the military aristocracy, many of whom were [[Blinding (punishment)|blinded]] and exiled.<ref>{{ODB|last=Brand|first=Charles M.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine VIII|pages=503–504}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Romanos III in Madrid Skylitzes.png|100px|alt=miniature portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Romanos III Argyros|'''Romanos III''' Argyros]]<br/>{{Small|Ῥωμανὸς}}
| 12 November 1028 – 11 April 1034<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1028|11|12|1034|4|11}})}}
| Born in 968, the elderly aristocrat Romanos—who had served in both the judiciary and civil service—was chosen by Constantine VIII on his deathbed, after being required to marry the emperor's daughter Zoe under the alternative threat of being blinded and sent to a monastery. Romanos III succeeded to the throne upon Constantine's death a few days later.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|p=199}} Deluded by grandeur, Romanos fashioned himself at one time as a philosopher king like [[Marcus Aurelius]] and later as a military genius like [[Trajan]], resulting in military debacles. He initiated expensive church building projects. A subsequent affair between his wife Zoe and [[John_the_Orphanotrophos| his chief eunuch's]] brother Michael, led to the pair colluding in poisoning Romanos, before ultimately resolving to having the emperor strangled and drowned in his own bath.{{sfn|Lygo|2022|pp=199–201}}

|-
| [[File:Michael IV the Paphlagonian (cropped).jpg|100px|alt=miniature portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | '''[[Michael IV the Paphlagonian|Michael IV]]''' "the Paphlagonian"<br/>{{Small|Μιχαὴλ}}
| 12 April 1034 – 10 December 1041<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1034|4|12|1041|12|10}})}}
| Born in 1010, he became a lover of Zoe even while Romanos III was alive, and succeeded him upon his death as her husband and emperor. Aided by his older brother, the eunuch [[John the Orphanotrophos]], his reign was moderately successful against internal rebellions, but his attempt to recover [[Sicily]] failed. He died after a long illness.

|-
| [[File:Michael V in Madrid Skylitzes.jpg|100px|alt=miniature portrait]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | '''[[Michael V Kalaphates|Michael V]]''' "Kalaphates"<br/>{{Small|Μιχαὴλ}}
| 13 December 1041 – 21 April 1042<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1041|12|13|1042|4|21}})}}
| Born in 1015, he was the nephew and adopted son of Michael IV. During his reign he tried to sideline Zoe, but a popular revolt forced him to restore her as empress on 19 April 1042, along with her sister [[Theodora (11th century)|Theodora]]. He was deposed the next day, castrated and tonsured, dying on 24 August 1042.

|-
| [[File:Zoe mosaic Hagia Sophia (cropped).jpg|100px|alt=mosaic]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Zoë Porphyrogenita|'''Zoë''' Porphyrogenita]]<br/>{{Small|Ζωή}}
| 21 April – 11 June 1042<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1042|4|21|1042|6|11}})}}
| The daughter of Constantine VIII, she succeeded on her father's death, as the only surviving member of the Macedonian dynasty, along with her sister Theodora. Her three husbands, Romanos III (1028–1034), Michael IV (1034–1041) and Constantine IX (1042–1050) ruled alongside her.

|-
| [[File:Theodora Porphyrogenita crown.jpg|100px|alt=Portrait from the Monomachos crown]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Theodora Porphyrogenita|'''Theodora''' Porphyrogenita]]<br/>{{Small|Θεοδώρα}}
| 21 April – 11 June 1042<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1042|4|21|1042|6|11}})}}
| The younger sister of Zoe, born in 984, she was raised as co-ruler on 19 April 1042. After Zoe married her third husband, Constantine IX, in June 1042, Theodora was again sidelined. After Zoe died in 1050 and Constantine in 1055, Theodora assumed full governance of the Empire and reigned until her death. She nominated [[Michael VI]] as her successor.

|-
| [[File:Emperor Constantine IX (cropped).jpg|100px|alt=mosaic]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Constantine IX Monomachos|'''Constantine IX''' Monomachos]]<br/>{{Small|Κωνσταντῖνος Μονομάχος}}{{Efn|Emperors began to officially use family names from Constantine IX Monomachos onwards. The sole exception after Constantine IX's reign is Michael VI, whose family name (Bringas) was far less distinguished than those of the other imperial families and thus does not appear in official use.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=180}}|name=famnames}}
| 11 June 1042 – 11 January 1055<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1042|6|11|1055|1|11}})}}
| Born {{c.}} 1000 of noble origin, he had an undistinguished life but was exiled to [[Lesbos]] by Michael IV, returning when he was chosen as Zoe's third husband. Constantine supported the mercantile classes and favoured the company of intellectuals, thereby alienating the military aristocracy. A pleasure-loving ruler, he lived an extravagant life with his favourite mistresses and endowed a number of monasteries, chiefly the [[Nea Moni of Chios]] and the [[Mangana Monastery]]. His reign was marked by invasions by the [[Pechenegs]] in the [[Balkans]] and the [[Seljuk Turks]] in the East, the revolts of [[George Maniakes]] and [[Leo Tornikios]], and the [[East–West Schism|Great Schism]] between the patriarchates of Rome and Constantinople.<ref>{{ODB|last=Brand|first=Charles M.|last2=Cutler|first2=Anthony|title=Constantine IX Monomachos|page=504}}</ref>

|-
| [[File:Theodora Porphyrogenita crown.jpg|100px|alt=Portrait from the Monomachos crown]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Theodora Porphyrogenita|'''Theodora''' Porphyrogenita]]<br/>{{Small|Θεοδώρα<br/>('''second reign''')}}
| 11 January 1055 – 31 August 1056<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1055|1|11|1056|8|31}})}}
| Claimed the throne again after Constantine&nbsp;IX's death as the last living member of the Macedonian dynasty. Died of natural causes{{Sfnm|1a1=ODB|1p=2038|2a1=Treadgold|2y=1997|2pp=491, 590}}

|-
! colspan=4 | &nbsp;

|-
| [[File:132 - Michael VI Bringas (Mutinensis - color) (cropped).png|100px|alt=coin]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Michael VI Bringas|'''Michael VI''' Bringas]] "Stratiotikos"<br/>{{Small|Μιχαήλ}}{{Efn||name=famnames}}
| 22 August 1056 – 30 August 1057<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1056|8|22|1057|8|30}})}}
| A court bureaucrat and ''[[stratiotikos logothetes]]'' (hence his first sobriquet). Proclaimed emperor by Theodora on her deathbed on 22 August 1056. Deposed by military revolt under Isaac Komnenos, he retired to a monastery where he died in 1059.

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| [[File:133 - Isaac I Komnenos (Mutinensis - color).png|100px|alt=coin]]
! scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA" | [[Isaac I Komnenos|'''Isaac I''' Komnenos]]<br/>{{Small|Ἰσαάκιος Κομνηνός}}
| 1 September 1057 – 22 November 1059<br/>{{Small|({{Age in years, months and days|1057|9|1|1059|11|22}})}}
| Born {{Circa|1005}}. A successful general, he rose in revolt leading the eastern armies and was declared emperor on 8 June 1057; he was recognized after the abdication of Michael. He resigned in 1059 and died {{Circa|1061}}.

|}