The Roman Emperor is the head of state of the Roman Empire. There has been a long line of Emperors, some of whom have earned their names in history either because of their great reigns or because of their despicable actions. The current ruling dynasty of Emperors is the Palaiologos Dynasty, which to date is the longest reigning imperial dynasty in Roman history.
Responsibilities[]
Military Command[]
The official banner of the Roman Emperor.
The Emperor, along with the Consul of the Imperial Senate, is able to co-ordinate and control a majority of the military of the Roman Empire. However, as time went on, the Senate made sure to limit just how much the Emperor could control so as to ensure the Emperor doesn't try to restore an absolute monarchy. As a result, the Emperor and Consul typically share control of the military as well as request advice from a security council of the Empire's prominent generals and admirals.
Political Executive[]
The Emperor is responsible for signing all laws that are passed by the Imperial Senate, alongside the Consul. The Emperor is also able to propose laws in the Senate. Any Imperial Act, a law that amends the Imperial Roman Constitution, needs to be either be approved by the Emperor or the Emperor can pass the act along to a popular referendum.
National Unity[]
As the head of state of the Roman Empire, the Emperor is responsible for helping maintain the civic nationalism that holds the Empire together. As such, the Emperor, although from the Greek Palaiologos dynasty, caters to the cultures and issues of each individual ethnic group, making the Emperor a busy man for major events. In addition, while it isn't required, the Emperor is often advised to marry from a noble family of one of the Empire's ethnic groups to help ensure the ethnic groups are represented.
Benefits[]
Residencies[]
The Roman Emperor and his family technically own many of the monuments and palaces in Constantinople, although in practice they loan many of the monuments to the state and offer the palaces for government administration if needed. The Imperial family lives in the Great Palace of Constantinople, which is where the Imperial Senate also meets.
Title[]
The current title of the Roman Emperor is as follows:
καῖσαρ σεβαστός εν Χριστώ, Ίωάννης X Παλαιολόγος, πορφυρογέννητος, βασιλεύς καὶ αὐτοκράτωρ Ῥωμαίων.
Kaisar Sebastos en Christó̱, Iōannēs X Palaiologos, Porphyrogennētos, Basileus kai Autokratōr Rhōmaíōn
This translates to:
Caesar Augustus in Christ, John X Palaiologos, Born in the Purple, Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans.
The heir of the Emperor is typically styled as the "Grand Archon of Constantinople."
Palaiologos Dynasty[]
List is from 1400 to the present.
The first column represents the length of the Emperor's reign.
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manuel II the Reviver 253 16 February 1391 - 21 July 1425 |
|
27 June 1350 | Helena Dragas eight children |
21 July 1425 aged 75 |
| John VIII the Great 254 21 July 1425 - 14 October 1457 |
|
18 December 1392 son of Manuel II and Helena Dragas |
Maria Megale Komnene three children |
14 October 1457 aged 65 |
| Michael IX 255 14 October 1457 - 12 September 1489 |
|
27 March 1422 son of John VIII and Maria Megale Komnene |
Marie d'Valois two children |
12 September 1489 aged 67 |
| Thomas I 256 12 October 1489 - 14 September 1509 |
|
13 July 1451 son of Michael IX and Marie d'Valois |
Elsa Halvar five children |
14 September 1509 aged 58 |
| Elsa I Halvar 257 2 December 1509 - 15 June 1512 |
|
January 12th, 1468 spouse of Thomas I |
Thomas I five children |
19 December 1548, aged 80 |
| Theodore III the Conqueror 258 15 June 1512 - 12 September 1589 |
|
28 December 1496 son of Thomas I and Elsa I |
Jacqueline Nassau-Orleans, three children |
12 September 1589 aged 93 |
| Thomas II 259 153 September 1589 - 25 July 1632 |
|
14 July 1546 son of Theodore III and Jacqueline Nassau-Orleans |
Anna Manghut two children |
25 July 1632, aged 88 |
| Andronikos V 260 25 July 1632 - 13 August 1648 |
|
22 February 1586 son of Thomas II and Anna Manghut |
Isabella Wittelsbach three children |
13 August 1648, aged 62 |
| Stephen I 261 25 13 August 1648 - 23 March 1659 |
|
30 January 1610 son of Andronikos V and Isabella Wittelsbach |
Katrina Girguis four children |
23 March 1659, aged 49 |
| Thomas III 262 23 March 1659 - 3 October 1660 |
|
12 May 1632 son of Stephen I and Katrina Girguis |
Helena Laskaris no children |
3 October 1660, aged 28 |
| John IX 263 3 October 1660 - 16 January 1701 |
|
30 June 1634 son of Stephen I and Katrina Girguis |
Sophia Angelina five children |
16 January 1701, aged 67 |
| Sophia I Angelina 264 4 January 1663 - 23 April 1665 |
|
1 March 1636 Spouse of John IX |
John IX five children |
27 April 1690, aged 54 |
| Andrew I the Magnificent 265 16 January 1701 - 26 May 1751 |
|
4 August 1657 Son of John IX and Sophia Angelina |
Dorothea Shishman four children |
26 May 1751, aged 94 |
| Stephen II 266 26 May 1751 - 30 December 1755 |
|
19 January 1724 Grandson of Andrew I and Dorothea Shishman |
Elenora Maria von Liechtenstein no children |
30 December 1755, aged 31 |
| Thomas IV 267 30 December 1755 - 29 February 1782 |
|
4 June 1727 Grandson of Andrew I and Dorothea Shishman |
Maria Medici three children |
28 February 1782, aged 55 |
| Stephen III 268 29 February 1782 - 2 May 1794 |
|
5 May 1748 Son of Thomas IV and Maria Medici |
Dživa Bunić two children |
26 January 1802, aged 54 |
| Andronikos VI 269 2 May 1794 - 18 January 1798 |
|
20 August 1749 Son of Thomas IV and Maria Medici |
Berenice Sarofim four children |
30 April 1811, aged 62 |
| Andrew II the Great 270 1 June 1791 - 1 July 1829 |
|
8 November 1751 Son of Thomas IV and Maria Medici |
Theodora von Calamita five children |
1 July 1829, aged 78 |
| Theodore IV 271 1 July 1829 - 12 June 1838 |
|
14 June 1771 Son of Andrew II and Theodora von Calamita |
Elsa Strategopoulos six children |
12 June 1838, aged 67 |
| Thomas V 272 12 June 1838 - 24 February 1868 |
|
4 September 1799 Son of Theodore IV and Elsa Strategopoulos |
Amira Azm four children |
24 February 1868, aged 69 |
| Alexander III 273 24 February 1868 - 30 March 1905 |
|
16 July 1833 Son of Thomas V and Amira Azm |
Catherine Zaccaria three children |
30 March 1905, aged 72 |
| Constantine XI 274 30 March 1905 - 28 January 1922 |
|
4 December 1858 Son of Alexander III and Catherine Zaccaria |
Anna Lusignan six children |
28 January 1922, aged 64 |
| Michael X 275 28 January 1922 - 30 March 1956 |
|
13 April 1882 Son of Constantine XI and Anna Lusignan |
Cristina Trastamara five children |
30 March 1946, aged 64 |
| Stephen IV 276 30 March 1946 - 1 May 1972 |
|
20 July 1905 Son of Michael X and Cristina Trastamara |
Semiramis Elia two children |
1 May 1972, aged 67 |
| Theodore V 277 1 May 1972 - 30 September 1984 |
|
24 December 1927 Son of Stephen IV and Semiramis Elia |
Arta Kokalari three children |
30 September 1984, aged 57 |
| John X 278 30 September 1984 - Present |
|
24 December 1949 Son of Theodore V and Arta Kokalari |
Helena Kolokotrona six children |
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