Category:Autokrator

Autokrator, literally "One Who Rules By Himself," was a title used by the Komnenoi Emperors of the Fifth Empire, beginning with the reign of Basil III Megaloprepis. Prior to this, the title was used informally to describe the authority of Roman emperors. However, with the triple succession of Basil's grandson and two sons, the dying Emperor created the title formally as an emperor a degree higher than a mere Basilieus. Both Basil's sons Thomas and Heraklios were designated Autokratoroi, and on the independence of theWestern Empire, Alexios I used the title as his own. From the reign of Thomas I until Nikephoros IV, Autokrator remained the most prestigious, seniormost office within Romanion.

However, with the reunification of the Roman Empire under Nikephoros IV in 1250 cocurrent with the continued existence of Gabriel Komnenos as an Autokrator in Persia, Megoskyriomachos Albrecht von Franken created the title Megas Komnenos to designate Nikephoros' superiority to his dynastic rival, and Nikephoros' successor Andronikos I continued and solidified the superiority of Megas Komnenos. Autokrator fell into disuse with the fall of Gabriel Komnenos. More recently, the title has had a brief revival, as Alexandros II took the title on securing Konstantinopolis, and designated his brother Isaakios of Persia to be Autokrator of Persia.