Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which Byzantine emperors were of Illyrian origin?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
In the context of the history of the Byzantine Empire, three emperors who shaped its early development between 491 and 565 CE were of Illyrian origin:
While several prominent emperors of the late Roman Empire—such as Diocletian and Constantine the Great—were also of Illyrian origin, they reigned prior to the formal division of the empire and the establishment of the Byzantine era.34