Difference between revisions of "List of Pantocratorian Emperors"

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The following list of the Emperors of Pantocratoria traces the Imperial line only from the Emperor Demetrius I Palaeologus. The Emperors of Pantocratoria believe themselves to be the heirs of the Byzantine Emperors, and thus the enumerations of the monarchs listed below continue those of the Byzantine Imperial line which ended with Constantine XI.

Note that at several times throughout Pantocratorian history there were several co-emperors who ruled underneath the senior emperor. In all cases, co-emperors are listed as co-emperors of the senior emperor who crowned them, in the dynastic list of the senior emperor who crowned them. In the cases of co-emperors who were risen to the equal rank of Augustus, these are listed in the list of senior emperors after the emperor who crowned them.

For more information about the Imperial line, see the Genealogy of the House of Bourbon-Comnenus-Palaeologus.

List of Pantocratorian Emperors

Palaeologi Emperors

• Demetrius I Palaeologus (1462 to 1477)
• Demetrius II Palaeologus (1477 to 1502)
• Demetrius III Palaeologus (1502 to 1531)
• Constantine XII Palaeologus (1531 to 1532)
• Demetrius IV, called the Posthumous (1532)
• Demetrius V Palaeologus (1532 to 1544)
• Demetrius VI Palaeologus (1544 to 1567)
• Irene II Palaeologa (1567 to 1592)

Comneni Emperors

• Constantine XIII Comnenus (1567 to 1589) (Co-Emperors: Constantine XV Angelus (1582 to 1599), Demetrius VII Comnenus (1589 to 1601))
• Constantine XIV Comnenus (1580 to 1590) (Reigned as co-emperor until 1589)
• Constantine XVI Comnenus (1590 to 1600) (Co-Emperor: Constantine XVII Angelus (1599 to 1617))
• Constantine XVIII Comnenus (1600 to 1623) (Co-Emperor: Constantine XIX Comnenus (1600 to 1602))
• John IX Comnenus (1623 to 1662) (Co-Emperors: Constantine XX Comnenus (1630 to 1656), Isaac III Phocas (1660 to 1689))
• Manuel III Comnenus (1662 to 1671)

Comneni-Angeli sub-branch

• Demetrius VIII Comnenus (1660 to 1677) (Reigned as co-emperor until 1671)
• Manuel IV Comnenus (1677 to 1699)
• Manuel V, called the Frank (1699 to 1731)
• Manuel VI Comnenus (1731 to 1732)
• Isaac IV Comnenus (1732 to 1746)
• Manuel VII Comnenus (1746 to 1801)
• Manuel VIII Comnenus (1801 to 1810)
• Theodora II Comnena (1810 to 1872)

Bourbon Emperors of Pantocratoria and (titular) Kings of France and Navarre

• Louis I Capet of Pantocratoria, Louis XVII of France (1810 to 1847) (Co-Emperor: Constantine XXI Phocas (1810 to 1862))
• Manuel IX Capet of Pantocratoria, Manuel of France (1847 to 1898)
• Constantine XXII Capet of Pantocratoria, Constantine I of France (1898 to 1929)
• Constantine XXIII Capet of Pantocratoria, Constantine II of France (1929 to 1953)
• Isaac V Capet of Pantocratoria, Isaac of France (1953 to 1973)
• Andreus I Capet of Pantocratoria, André of France (1973 to Present)

Heraldry of the Imperial Line

The heraldry employed by the Emperors of Pantocratoria may be of some interest to a student of the history of the Pantocratorian Imperial Line. The evolution of Imperial heraldry has gone hand in hand with the evolution of the role of the Emperor in Pantocratorian history; changes in the symbols employed by a head of state are rarely decorative alone.

Arms of the Pantocratorian Empire

The arms depict an imperial double headed eagle, one head crowned with the crown of France, and the other with the crown of Navarre, over which the whole eagle is crowned with the imperial crown of the Roman Emperor, clutching a sword and sceptre, and an orb, symbols of imperial authority. Over the eagle is a shield depicting the Cross of the Pantocratorian Crusade, which is itself crowned with the crown of Pantocratoria. The arms have been in use since the accession of Emperor Louis.

These arms were those in use prior to 1810. They omit the sceptre and badge of office, and the crowns of France and Navarre. The earliest known use of these arms was by Emperor John IX. Prior to that, there was no formal coat of arms.

Arms of the Emperor of Pantocratoria

The arms depict an imperial double headed eagle, one head crowned with the crown of France, and the other with the crown of Navarre, over which the whole eagle is crowned with the imperial crown of the Roman Emperor, clutching a sword and sceptre, and an orb, symbols of imperial authority. Over the eagle is a shield depicting the Cross of the Pantocratorian Crusade, which is itself crowned with the crown of Pantocratoria. Behind the eagle is a blue ribbon on which is written the motto of the Knights of the Order of the Pantocrator, of which the Emperor is the grandmaster - Nous nous reposons après la reconqueste de Constantinople (We rest after the reconquest of Constantinople). Underneath the eagle is a gold ribbon, on which is written the Emperor's personal motto - Pour Dieu et Son Empire (For God and His Empire), an allusion to the Emperor's status as God's vicegerent on Earth. The arms have been in use since the accession of Emperor Louis - prior to this date, the crowns representing France and Navarre were not present. The arms, minus the two crowns, were first used by Emperor Manuel VII. Prior to that, the Emperor had always used the same arms as the Empire itself.

Standard of the House of Bourbon-Comnenus-Palaeologus

The top left and bottom right quarters are themselves quartered, with a gold crusader cross (top left) for Pantocratoria, a gold double headed imperial eagle on gules (top right) for the House of Comnenus, three gold fleurs de lys on azure (bottom left) for the Kingdom of France (and the House of Bourbon), and a red cross on argent (bottom right) for the House of Palaeologus.

The top right and bottom left quarters depict the tetragrammatic cross. The four Bs are said to represent the motto Basileus Basileon Basileuon Basileonton (an ancient Greek motto meaning king of kings, ruling over those who rule). These quarters represent the (Byzantine) Roman Empire.

See Also

• Pantocratorian Imperial usage of styles in correspondence