This is a list of notable emperors organized alphabetically by empire and chronologically years of reign. China and India are broken down chronologically by dynasty, empire, or kindgom.

Austrian Empire

• Ferdinand (I) (1835–48)
• Charles (I) (1916–18)

Aztec empire

• Montezuma II (1502–20)
• Cuauhtémoc (1520–22)

Empire of Brazil (1822–89)

• Pedro I (1822–31)
• Pedro II (1841–89)

Byzantine Empire (330 ce–1453)

• Anastasius I (491–518)
• Justin I (518–527)
• Justinian I (527–565)
• Justin II (565–578)
• Maurice (582–602)
• Phocas (602–610)
• Heraclius (610–641)
• Heraclonas (641)
• Constantine III (January to April or May 641)
• Constans II Pogonatus (641–668)
• Constantine IV (668–685)
• Justinian II (685–695; 705–711)
• Philippicus Bardanes (711–713)
• Anastasius II (713–715)
• Leo III (717–741)
• Constantine V Copronymus (741–775)
• Leo IV (775–780)
• Constantine VI (780–797)
• Nicephorus I (802–811)
• Michael I Rhangabe (811–813)
• Leo V (813–820)
• Michael II (820–829)
• Michael III (842–867)
• Basil I (867–886)
• Leo VI (886–912)
• Alexander (912–913)
• Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (913–959)
• Romanus I Lecapenus (920–944)
• Romanus II (959–963)
• Nicephorus II Phocas (963–969, military emperor)
• John I Tzimisces (969–976, military emperor)
• Basil II (960, crowned as baby; 976–1025, sole emperor)
• Constantine VIII (960, crowned as baby; 1025–28, sole emperor)
• Michael IV (1034–41)
• Michael V Calaphates (1041–42)
• Constantine IX Monomachus (1042–55)
• Michael VI Stratioticus (1056–57)
• Isaac I Comnenus (1057–59)
• Constantine X Ducas (1059–67)
• Michael VII Ducas (1071–78)
• Nicephorus III Botaneiates (1078–81)
• Alexius I Comnenus (1081–1118)
• John II Comnenus (1118–43)
• Manuel I Comnenus (1143–80)
• Alexius II Comnenus (1180–83)
• Andronicus I Comnenus (1183–85)
• Isaac II Angelus (1185–95)
• Alexius III Angelus (1195–1203)
• Alexius IV Angelus (1203–04)
• Alexius V Ducas Mourtzouphlus (1204)
• Baldwin I (1204–05)
• Baldwin II Porphyrogenitus (1228–61)
• Michael VIII Palaeologus (1261–82)
• Andronicus II Palaeologus (1282–1328)
• Andronicus III Palaeologus (1328–41)
• John V Palaeologus (1341–91)
• John VI Cantacuzenus (1347–54)
• Andronicus IV Palaeologus (1376–79)
• John VII Palaeologus (1390)
• Manuel II Palaeologus (1391–1425)
• John VIII Palaeologus (1408, crowned co-emperor; 1421–48)
• Constantine XI Palaeologus (1449–53)

China

• Shihuangdi (221–210 bce)

• Gaozu (206–195 bce)
• Wendi (180–157 bce)
• Jingdi (157–141 bce)
• Wudi (141–87 bce)
• Xuandi (74–49/48 bce)
• Yuandi (49/48–33 bce)
• Pingdi (1 bce–5 ce)
• Guangwudi (25–57 ce)
• Mingdi (57–75 ce)
• Zhangdi (75–88 ce)

• Wang Mang (9–23 )

• Cao Pi (220–226)
• Sun Quan (229–252)

• Xiaowendi (471–499)

• Wudi (265–290)

• Wudi (502–549)

• Wendi (581–604 )
• Yangdi (604–617/618 )

• Gaozu (618–626)
• Taizong (626–649)
• Gaozong (649–683)
• Ruizong (684–690; 710–712)
• Xuanzong (712–756)
• Dezong (779–805)
• Wenzong (827–840)

• Zhu Wen (907–923)

• Taizu (960–976)
• Taizong (976–997)
• Zhenzong (997–1022)
• Renzong (1022–63)
• Shenzong (1067–85)
• Huizong (1100–1125/26)
• Qinzong (1125/26–1127)

• Li Yuanhao (1038–48)

• Gaozong (1127–62)
• Ningzong (1195–1224)

• Kublai Khan (1271–94)
• Temür (1295–1307)
• Buyantu (1311–20)
• Togon-temür (1333–68)

• Hongwu (1368–98)
• Yongle (1402–24)
• Zhengtong (1435–49; 1457–64)
• Jingtai (1449–57)
• Zhengde (1505–21)
• Jiajing (1521–1566/67)
• Longqing (1566/67–72)
• Wanli (1572–1620)
• Tianqi (1620–27)
• Chongzhen (1627–44)

• Shunzhi (1644–61)
• Kangxi (1661–1722)
• Yongzheng (1722–35)
• Qianlong (1735–96)
• Jiaqing (1796–1820)
• Daoguang (1820–50)
• Xianfeng (1850–61)
• Tongzhi (1861–1874/75)
• Guangxu (1874/75–1908)
• Puyi (1908–1911/12)

Ethiopian empire (c. 1137–1936; 1941–74)

• Fasilides (1632–67)
• Tewodros II (1855–68)
• Yohannes IV (1872–89)
• Menilek II (1889–1913)
• Haile Selassie I (1930–74)

French Empire (1804–14; 1852–70)

• Napoleon I (1804–1814/15)
• Napoleon III (1852–70)

German Empire (1871–1918)

• William I (1871–88)
• Frederick III (1888, for 99 days)
• William II (1888–1918)

Empire of Haiti (1804–06; 1849–59)

• Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1804–06)
• Faustin-Élie Soulouque (1849–59)

Holy Roman Empire (800–1806)

• Charlemagne (800–814)
• Louis I (814–840)
• Lothar I (823–855)
• Louis II (850–875)
• Charles II (875–877)
• Charles III (881–887)
• Guy II (891–894; legitimacy questioned)
• Lambert of Spoleto (892–898)
• Arnulf (896–899)
• Louis III (901–905)
• Berengar (915–924)
• Otto I (962–973)
• Otto II (967–983)
• Otto III (996–1002)
• Henry II (1014–24)
• Conrad II (1027–39)
• Henry III (1046–56)
• Henry IV (1084–1105/06)
• Henry V (1111–25)
• Lothar III (1133–37)
• Frederick I (1152–90)
• Henry VI (1191–97)
• Otto IV (1209–15)
• Frederick II (1220–50)
• Henry VII (1312–13)
• Louis IV (1328–47)
• Charles IV (1355–78)
• Sigismund (1433–37)
• Frederick III (1452–93)
• Maximilian I (1493–1519)
• Charles V (1519–56)
• Ferdinand I (1558–64)
• Maximilian II (1564–76)
• Rudolf II (1576–1612)
• Matthias (1612–19)
• Ferdinand II (1619–37)
• Ferdinand III (1637–57)
• Leopold I (1658–1705)
• Joseph I (1705–11)
• Charles VI (1711–40)
• Charles VII (1742–45)
• Francis I (1745–65)
• Joseph II (1765–90)
• Leopold II (1790–92)
• Francis II (1792–1806)

Incan empire (1438–1533)

• Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (1438–71)
• Atahuallpa (1532–33)

India

• Chandragupta (c. 321–c. 297 bce)
• Bindusara (297–272/273 bce)
• Ashoka (c. 273–232 bce)

• Chandra Gupta I (320–c. 330 ce)
• Samudra Gupta (c. 330–380 ce)
• Chandra Gupta II (c. 380–c. 415 ce)

• Bābur (1526–30)
• Humāyūn (1530–40; 1555–56)
• Akbar (1556–1605)
• Jahāngīr (1605–27)
• Shah Jahān (1628–58)
• Aurangzeb (1658–1707)
• Bahādur Shāh I (1707–12)
• Muḥammad Shah (1719–48)
• Aḥmad Shah (1748–54)
• ʿĀlamgīr II (1754–59)
• Shah ʿĀlam II (1759–1806)
• Bahādur Shāh II (1837–58)

Japan

• Ojin (fl. 3rd–4th century)
• Tenji (668–672)
• Shomu (724–749)
• Kammu (781–806)
• Uda (887–897)
• Daigo (897–930)
• Go-Sanjo (1068–72)
• Shirakawa (1072–86)
• Sutoku (1123–41)
• Go-Shirakawa (1155–58)
• Antoku (1180–83)
• Go-Toba (1183–98)
• Go-Daigo (1318–39)
• Meiji (1867–1912)
• Taisho (1912–26)
• Hirohito (1926–89)
• Akihito (1989–2019)
• Naruhito (2019– )

Korean empire (1897–1910)

• Kojong (1897–1907)

Mali empire (c. 1235–c. 1600)

• Musa I of Mali (1307 [or 1312]–1332? or 1337?)

Mexican Empire (1821–24; 1864–67)

• Agustín de Iturbide (1822–23, first empire)
• Maximilian (1864–67, second empire)

Mwene Matapa empire (14th–16th century)

• Mavura (1629–75)

Empire of Nicaea (1204–61)

• Theodore I Lascaris (1208–21)
• John III Ducas Vatatzes (1222–54)
• Theodore II Lascaris (1254–58)
• John IV Lascaris (1258–61)
• Michael VIII Palaeologus (1259–61)

Roman Empire (27 bce–476 ce)

• Augustus (31 bce–14 ce)
• Tiberius (14–37 ce)
• Caligula (37–41 ce)
• Claudius (41–54 ce)
• Nero (54–68 ce)
• Galba (68–69 ce)
• Otho (January–April 69 ce)
• Aulus Vitellius (July–December 69 ce)
• Vespasian (69–79 ce)
• Titus (79–81 ce)
• Domitian (81–96 ce)
• Nerva (96–98 ce)
• Trajan (98–117 ce)
• Hadrian (117–138 ce)
• Antoninus Pius (138–161 ce)
• Marcus Aurelius (161–180 ce)
• Lucius Verus (161–169 ce)
• Commodus (177–192 ce)
• Publius Helvius Pertinax (January–March 193 ce)
• Marcus Didius Severus Julianus (March–June 193 ce)
• Septimius Severus (193–211 ce)
• Caracalla (198–217 ce)
• Publius Septimius Geta (209–211 ce)
• Macrinus (217–218 ce)
• Elagabalus (218–222 ce)
• Severus Alexander (222–235 ce)
• Maximinus (235–238 ce)
• Gordian I (March–April 238 ce)
• Gordian II (March–April 238 ce)
• Pupienus Maximus (April 22–July 29, 238 ce)
• Balbinus (April 22–July 29, 238 ce)
• Gordian III (238–244 ce)
• Philip (244–249 ce)
• Decius (249–251 ce)
• Hostilian (251 ce)
• Gallus (251–253 ce)
• Aemilian (253 ce)
• Valerian (253–260 ce)
• Gallienus (253–268 ce)
• Claudius II Gothicus (268–270 ce)
• Quintillus (270 ce)
• Aurelian (270–275 ce)
• Tacitus (275–276 ce)
• Florian (June–September 276 ce)
• Probus (276–282 ce)
• Carus (282–283 ce)
• Numerian (283–284 ce)
• Carinus (283–285 ce)
• Diocletian (East, 284–305 ce; divided the empire into East and West)
• Maximian (West, 286–305 ce)
• Constantius I (West, 305–306 ce)
• Galerius (East, 305–311 ce)
• Severus (West, 306–307 ce)
• Maxentius (West, 306–312 ce)
• Constantine I (306–337 ce; reunified the empire)
• Galerius Valerius Maximinus (310–313 ce)
• Licinius (308–324 ce)
• Constantine II (337–340 ce)
• Constantius II (337–361 ce)
• Constans I (337–350 ce)
• Gallus Caesar (351–354 ce)
• Julian (361–363 ce)
• Jovian (363–364 ce)
• Valentinian I (West, 364–375 ce)
• Valens (East, 364–378 ce)
• Procopius (East, 365–366 ce)
• Gratian (West, 367–383 ce; co-emperor with Valentian I )
• Valentinian II (375–392 ce: crowned as child)
• Theodosius I (East, 379–392 ce: East and West, 392–395 ce)
• Arcadius (East, 383–395 ce, co-emperor; 395– 402 ce, sole emperor)
• Magnus Maximus (West, 383–388 ce)
• Honorius (West, 393–395 ce, co-emperor; 395–423 ce, sole emperor)
• Theodosius II (East, 408–450 ce)
• Constantius III (West, 421 ce, co-emperor)
• Valentinian III (West, 425–455 ce)
• Marcian (East, 450–457 ce)
• Petronius Maximus (West, March 17–May 31, 455 ce)
• Avitus (West, 455–456 ce)
• Majorian (West, 457–461 ce)
• Libius Severus (West, 461–465 ce)
• Anthemius (West, 467–472 ce)
• Olybrius (West, April–November 472 ce)
• Glycerius (West, 473–474 ce)
• Julius Nepos (West, 474–475 ce)
• Romulus Augustulus (West, 475–476 ce)
• Leo I (East, 457–474 ce)
• Leo II (East, 474 ce)
• Zeno (East, 474–491 ce)

Russian Empire (1721–1917)

• Peter I (1682–1721, tsar; 1721–25, emperor)
• Peter II (1727–30)
• Ivan VI (1740–41)
• Peter III (1762)
• Paul (1796–1801)
• Alexander I (1801–25)
• Nicholas I (1825–55)
• Alexander II (1855–81)
• Alexander III (1881–94)
• Nicholas II (1894–1917)

Serbian empire (1346–1371)

• Stefan Dušan (1346–55)

Empire of Vietnam

• Ly Bon (544–547)
• Dinh Bo Linh (968–979)
• Le Loi (flourished 1428–43)
• Le Thanh Tong (1460–97)
• Hien Vuong (1648–87)
• Quang Trung (1788–92)
• Gia Long (1802–20)
• Minh Mang (1820–41)
• Tu Duc (1847–83)
• Ham Nghi (1884–86)
• Duy Tan (1907–16)
• Khai Dinh (1916–25)
• Bao Dai (1926–45)