+ Portrait Name Reign Notes 100px|alt=miniature portrait Michael VIII Palaiologos 1 January 1259 – 11 December 1282 Born in 1223, great-grandson of Alexios III, grandnephew of John III by marriage. Senior emperor alongside John IV in 1259. His forces reconquered Constantinople on 25 July 1261, thus restoring the Empire. He entered the city and was crowned on 15 August. Became sole emperor after deposing John IV on 25 December 1261. 100px|alt=miniature portrait Andronikos II Palaiologos 11 December 1282 – 24 May 1328 Son of Michael VIII, Andronikos II was born on 25 March 1259. Named co-emperor in 1261, crowned in 1272, he succeeded as sole emperor on Michael's death. Favouring monks and intellectuals, he neglected the army by significantly reducing military spending, and his reign saw the collapse of the Byzantine position in Asia Minor. He named his son Michael IX co-emperor. In a protracted civil war, he was first forced to recognize his grandson Andronikos III as co-emperor and was then deposed outright. He became a monk and died peacefully in 1332. 100px|alt=miniature portrait Michael IX Palaiologos (§) 21 May 1294 – 12 October 1320 Son and co-ruler of Andronikos II, named co-emperor in 1281 but not crowned until 21 May 1294. Allegedly died of grief due to the accidental murder of his second son. 100px|alt=miniature portrait Andronikos III Palaiologos 24 May 1328 – 15 June 1341 Son of Michael IX, he was born on 25 March 1297 and named co-emperor in 1316. Rival emperor since July 1321, he deposed his grandfather Andronikos II in 1328 and ruled as sole emperor until his death. Supported by John Kantakouzenos, his reign saw defeats against the Ottoman emirate but successes in Europe, where Epirus and Thessaly were recovered.100px|alt=miniature portrait John V Palaiologos15 June 1341 – 16 February 1391 While the only son of Andronikos III, John V was not crowned or declared heir at his father's death—partly due to being only 10-years old at the time—which contributed to the outbreak of a destructive civil war between his regents and his father's closest aide, John VI Kantakouzenos, who was instead crowned co-emperor. The conflict ended in 1347 with Kantakouzenos recognized as senior emperor, but he was deposed by John V during another civil war. After successful Turkish incursions and their seizure of Adrianople, John V appealed to the West for aid against the Ottomans, even going so far as to seek religious union and journeying to Rome to convert to Catholicism. Despite his efforts otherwise, John V was forced to recognize Ottoman suzerainty in 1371. 100px|alt=miniature portrait John VI Kantakouzenos 8 February 1347 – 10 December 1354 A maternal relative of the Palaiologoi, he was declared co-emperor on 26 October 1341, and was recognized as senior emperor for ten years after the end of the civil war on 8 February 1347. Deposed by John V in 1354, he became a monk, dying on 15 June 1383. 100px|alt=miniature portrait Andronikos IV Palaiologos 12 August 1376 – 1 July 1379May 1381 – June 1385 Son of John V and grandson of John VI, he was named co-emperor and heir in 1352, but imprisoned and partially blinded after a failed rebellion in May 1373. He rebelled again and successfully deposed his father in 1376. Deposed by John V in 1379, he fled to Galata in exile but was restored as co-emperor and heir in May 1381, ruling over Selymbria and the coast of Marmara. Rebelled again in June 1385 but died shortly thereafter 100px|alt=miniature portrait John VII Palaiologos 14 April – 17 September 1390late 1403 – 22 September 1408 Son of Andronikos IV, he was born in 1370, and named co-emperor under his father in 1377–79. He usurped the throne from his grandfather John V for five months in 1390, but with Ottoman mediation he was reconciled with John V and his uncle, Manuel II. As regent, he held Constantinople against the Ottomans in 1399–1402, and was then given Thessalonica as an appanage, which he governed until his death on 22 September 1408.100px|alt=miniature portrait Manuel II Palaiologos 16 February 1391 – 21 July 1425 Second son of John V, he was born on 27 June 1350. Raised to co-emperor in 1373, he became senior emperor on John V's death and ruled until his death. He journeyed to the West European courts seeking aid against the Turks, and was able to use the Ottoman defeat in the Battle of Ankara—thanks largely to the fact that Timur and the Tartars attacked the Turks when they were besieging Constantinople, which forced the Turks' retreat—to regain some territories and throw off his vassalage to them. Manuel II died in 1425 and was succeeded by his son, John VIII.100px|alt=miniature portrait John VIII Palaiologos 21 July 1425 – 31 October 1448 Eldest surviving son of Manuel II, he was born on 18 December 1392. Raised to co-emperor around 1416 and named full autokrator in 1425, he succeeded his father on his death. Seeking aid against the resurgent Ottomans, he ratified the Union of the Churches in 1439, a move to reunite the Orthodox and Catholic churches that proved very unpopular in Constantinople. 100px|alt=miniature portrait Constantine XI Palaiologos 6 January 1449 – 29 May 1453 The fourth son of Manuel II and Serbian princess Helena Dragaš, he was born on 8 February 1405. As Despot of the Morea since 1428, he distinguished himself in campaigns that annexed the Principality of Achaea and brought the Duchy of Athens under temporary Byzantine suzerainty, but was unable to repel Turkish attacks under Turahan Bey. As the eldest surviving brother, he succeeded John VIII after the latter's death. Facing the designs of the new sultan, Mehmed II, on Constantinople, Constantine acknowledged the Union of the Churches and made repeated appeals for help to the West, but in vain. Refusing to surrender the city, he was killed in battle during the Fall of Constantinople on 29 May 1453.
+ portrait name reign notes 100px|alt=miniature portrait michael viii palaiologos 1 january 1259 – 11 december 1282 born in 1223 great-grandson of alexios iii grandnephew of john iii by marriage senior emperor alongside john iv in 1259 his forces reconquered constantinople on 25 july 1261 thus restoring the empire he entered the city and was crowned on 15 august became sole emperor after deposing john iv on 25 december 1261 100px|alt=miniature portrait andronikos ii palaiologos 11 december 1282 – 24 may 1328 son of michael viii andronikos ii was born on 25 march 1259 named co-emperor in 1261 crowned in 1272 he succeeded as sole emperor on michael's death favouring monks and intellectuals he neglected the army by significantly reducing military spending and his reign saw the collapse of the byzantine position in asia minor he named his son michael ix co-emperor in a protracted civil war he was first forced to recognize his grandson andronikos iii as co-emperor and was then deposed outright he became a monk and died peacefully in 1332 100px|alt=miniature portrait michael ix palaiologos (§) 21 may 1294 – 12 october 1320 son and co-ruler of andronikos ii named co-emperor in 1281 but not crowned until 21 may 1294 allegedly died of grief due to the accidental murder of his second son 100px|alt=miniature portrait andronikos iii palaiologos 24 may 1328 – 15 june 1341 son of michael ix he was born on 25 march 1297 and named co-emperor in 1316 rival emperor since july 1321 he deposed his grandfather andronikos ii in 1328 and ruled as sole emperor until his death supported by john kantakouzenos his reign saw defeats against the ottoman emirate but successes in europe where epirus and thessaly were recovered100px|alt=miniature portrait john v palaiologos15 june 1341 – 16 february 1391 while the only son of andronikos iii john v was not crowned or declared heir at his father's death—partly due to being only 10-years old at the time—which contributed to the outbreak of a destructive civil war between his regents and his father's closest aide john vi kantakouzenos who was instead crowned co-emperor the conflict ended in 1347 with kantakouzenos recognized as senior emperor but he was deposed by john v during another civil war after successful turkish incursions and their seizure of adrianople john v appealed to the west for aid against the ottomans even going so far as to seek religious union and journeying to rome to convert to catholicism despite his efforts otherwise john v was forced to recognize ottoman suzerainty in 1371 100px|alt=miniature portrait john vi kantakouzenos 8 february 1347 – 10 december 1354 a maternal relative of the palaiologoi he was declared co-emperor on 26 october 1341 and was recognized as senior emperor for ten years after the end of the civil war on 8 february 1347 deposed by john v in 1354 he became a monk dying on 15 june 1383 100px|alt=miniature portrait andronikos iv palaiologos 12 august 1376 – 1 july 1379may 1381 – june 1385 son of john v and grandson of john vi he was named co-emperor and heir in 1352 but imprisoned and partially blinded after a failed rebellion in may 1373 he rebelled again and successfully deposed his father in 1376 deposed by john v in 1379 he fled to galata in exile but was restored as co-emperor and heir in may 1381 ruling over selymbria and the coast of marmara rebelled again in june 1385 but died shortly thereafter 100px|alt=miniature portrait john vii palaiologos 14 april – 17 september 1390late 1403 – 22 september 1408 son of andronikos iv he was born in 1370 and named co-emperor under his father in 1377–79 he usurped the throne from his grandfather john v for five months in 1390 but with ottoman mediation he was reconciled with john v and his uncle manuel ii as regent he held constantinople against the ottomans in 1399–1402 and was then given thessalonica as an appanage which he governed until his death on 22 september 1408100px|alt=miniature portrait manuel ii palaiologos 16 february 1391 – 21 july 1425 second son of john v he was born on 27 june 1350 raised to co-emperor in 1373 he became senior emperor on john v's death and ruled until his death he journeyed to the west european courts seeking aid against the turks and was able to use the ottoman defeat in the battle of ankara—thanks largely to the fact that timur and the tartars attacked the turks when they were besieging constantinople which forced the turks' retreat—to regain some territories and throw off his vassalage to them manuel ii died in 1425 and was succeeded by his son john viii100px|alt=miniature portrait john viii palaiologos 21 july 1425 – 31 october 1448 eldest surviving son of manuel ii he was born on 18 december 1392 raised to co-emperor around 1416 and named full autokrator in 1425 he succeeded his father on his death seeking aid against the resurgent ottomans he ratified the union of the churches in 1439 a move to reunite the orthodox and catholic churches that proved very unpopular in constantinople 100px|alt=miniature portrait constantine xi palaiologos 6 january 1449 – 29 may 1453 the fourth son of manuel ii and serbian princess helena dragaš he was born on 8 february 1405 as despot of the morea since 1428 he distinguished himself in campaigns that annexed the principality of achaea and brought the duchy of athens under temporary byzantine suzerainty but was unable to repel turkish attacks under turahan bey as the eldest surviving brother he succeeded john viii after the latter's death facing the designs of the new sultan mehmed ii on constantinople constantine acknowledged the union of the churches and made repeated appeals for help to the west but in vain refusing to surrender the city he was killed in battle during the fall of constantinople on 29 may 1453