REW:Conventions and standards

This page is dedicated to confirming conventions and standards in use by this wiki.

## Naming of Roman emperors

Where possible and extant, regnal numbers are used as page names. If the emperor is commonly known by an epithet (e.g. Justinian II --> Justinian Rhinotmetus, Leo IV --> Leo the Khazar) or a nickname (e.g. Maximian -> Herculius), said epithetic or dimunitive surnames should be appended to the regnal numbers (hence leading to: Justinian II Rhinotmetus, Leo IV the Khazar, Maximian Herculius). This does not apply for uncommon epithets (e.g. Justin II instead of "Justin II the Mad").

When no English name translation exists for a Roman emperor (e.g. Majorian for Maiorianus, Constantine for Constantinus, John for Ioannes), they are to be referred to by their name in **Latin**, including for Eastern emperors up until 802 CE. Under Nikephoros I and his successors of the 9th century, Latin vanished from the empire, especially with the loss of the remaining Italian holdings.

## Enumeration of Roman emperors

Co-emperors are assigned regnal numbers only if they were significantly involved in governance and exercised effective influence over state affairs. For example, Western emperor Constantius Chlorus (*caesar* 293–305) is numbered as Constantius I Chlorus. Co-emperors who only held nominal or ceremonial power (due to being underage or otherwise), such as Theodosius (r. 590–602 with Maurice), Tiberius (r. 706–711 with Justinian II) and Nicephorus (r. 769–776 with Constantine V and then under Leo IV), are not numbered.

Conflicts with later emperors are resolved wherever possible. For example, the Western co-emperors commonly enumerated as Constantine III (r. 409–411) and Constans II (r. 409–411) are listed on this wiki under the names Claudius Constantine (Not to be confused with Constantine II, whose full name was also Claudius Constantinus) and Flavius Constans.

Alternate enumerations are not uncommon among historians, who are sometimes divided on enumerations. For example, Constans II Pogonatus is enumerated as "Constans III" in several sources that identify Flavius Constans as Constans II, such as *Byzantine Coins in Central Europe between the 5th and 10th Century* (Biermann 2009), *The Crusades: Conflict Between Christendom and Islam* (Moosa 2008) and *Small Wars & Insurgencies* (Widdowson 2008).

The wiki's rule of thumb is as follows: All significant / influential and legitimate Roman emperors with shared names, whether *augustus* or *caesar*, are enumerated, and such in a way that no two emperors have the same name and regnal number (E.g. The exact names "Constantine III" and "Constans II" are only used for *one* emperor each).

This means that some less widespread enumerations may be in use on this wiki, such that not every Roman emperor's page has the same title as on, say, Wikipedia. A good example is Septimius Severus (r. 193–211), here listed as Severus I, and his namesakes Severus II (r. 305–307. Also listed as such on Wikipedia, but his enumeration is still relegated to parantheses) and Severus III (r. 461–465; Libius Severus on Wikipedia). The son of Severus I (r. 222–235) is another good example. Wikipedia lists him as Severus Alexander, but on this wiki, he is listed under the less common, but more consistent and rule-following Alexander I, accomodating for the later Eastern emperor Alexander II (r. 879–913).

There is particular disunity about the correct numbering of Constantines. This wiki enumerates the following Constantines:

* Constantine I (r. 306–337), Constantine II (r. 317–340), Constantine III Heraclius (r. 641), Constantine IV (r. 654–685), Constantine V Copronymus (r. 741–775), Constantine VI (r. 780–797), Constantine VII (r. 913–959), Constantine VIII (r. 962 – 1025 as *caesar*, 1025 – 1028 as *augustus*), Constantine IX Monomachos (r. 1024 – 1055), Constantine X Doukas (r. 1059 – 1067) and Constantine XI Dragases Palaiologos (r. 1448 – 1453).
* The following Constantines are **not** enumerated:
	+ Constantine (made *caesar* during the reign of his father, Heraclius I, as a two-year old child in 617); neglible governmental influence, rarely mentioned in sources, obscure figure, underage
	+ "Constantine III" (r. 409 – 411); usurper 407 – 409, raised to co-emperor under pressure, little influence on governance before deposition; listed as Claudius Constantine
	+ "Constantine the Bearded" (r. 641 – 668); almost universally named "Constans" in sources, listed as Constans II Pogonatus
	+ Symbatius Constantine (*caesar* 813 – 820); underage
	+ Constantine Lekapenos (r. 924 – 945 as co-emperor); no attributed acts of governance, later became a usurper
	+ Constantine Doukas (*caesar* 1074 – 1078; 1081 – 1087); underage
	+ Constantine (*caesar* 868 – 879); underage, died young
	+ Constantine Laskaris (supposed emperor 1204 – 1205); refused imperial nomination and never ruled

Unsuccessful usurpers, as illegitimate emperors, are *not* numbered. Hence, 5th century usurper against Zeno, Leontius, is not numbered, and as such, the enumeration "Leontius II", used by certain historians to refer to legitimate emperor Leontius (r. 695–698), is not in use on this wiki. Of course, this excludes legitimized emperors who achieved power through a successful usurpation (e.g. Heraclius I).