Emperor Wu: Did you mean...?

A portrait of Chinese emperor Gaozu, founder of the Tang Dynasty, r. 618-626 CE.

A silk scroll portrait of the Yongle Emperor (aka Chengzu or Yung Lo, r. 1403-1424 CE) who was the third ruler of the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). (National Palace Museum, Taibei)

A painted silk scroll portrait of the Jianwen Emperor (r. 1398-1402 CE), the second ruler of the Chinese Ming dynasty (1368-1644 CE).

An illustration depicting Japanese Emperor Shirakawa (r. 1073-1086 CE).

An illustration depicting Japanese Emperor Toba (r. 1107-1123 CE)

Frederick II (l. 1194-1250 CE) was the king of Sicily (r. 1198-1250 CE), Germany (r. 1215-1250 CE), Jerusalem (r. 1225-1228 CE), and also reigned supreme as the Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1220-1250 CE). He was born in Jesi in 1194 CE but spent...

Vespasian (9-79 CE) was Roman emperor from 69 to 79 CE. Despite his low birth, he worked hard to rise through the ranks of Roman politics and eventually achieved prominence as a military commander. He came to power at the end of the brief...

Elgabalus was Roman emperor from 218 to 222 CE. Having failed to keep many of his promises to the army, Roman Emperor Macrinus (217 – 218 CE) was becoming increasingly unpopular, and it would only take a little lie from a young boy's mother...

Didius Julianus was Roman emperor from March to June 193 CE. On March 28, 193 CE Roman Emperor Pertinax was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard, and like his predecessor Commodus, he left no apparent successor. Two possible claimants presented...

Constantine VII was Byzantine emperor from 945 until 959 CE. Sometimes known as Constantine Porphyrogennetos because of his birth in the purple chamber of the royal palace, he was served by various regents from 912 CE until reigning in his...