The Roman Empire dates back to this day in 27BC, when Augustus assumed the title Princeps, to end (in the West) with Romulus Augustulus’ deposition in 476 and (in the East or Byzantine) with the defeat and death of Constantine XI by the Ottomans at Constintinople in 1453.
So, who is the hypothetical Roman Emperor today? Thankfully, Useful Charts haven’t tried to trace any of the families that wore purple during that era, as the first of those (Julio-Claudians) ceased to rule in 68. Instead, they have looked at the 2019 representatives of the countries that can be deemed to have succeeded the Empire, in either of its identities:
- Russia: represented by Andrew Romanov, deduced to be the heir to Nicholas II {pingback to 18/05}, as Russia was dubbed the “Third Rome”, ruled by Czars (derived from Caesar) and custodians of the Orthodox Church. Ivan III (the Great) also married Constantine XI’s niece Zoe.
Andrew died in 2021 and has been succeeded by his eldest son Alexis. - Spain: represented by Felipe VI, because Constantine XI’s nephew Andreas willed his titles to Ferdinand and Isabella.
- Turkey (Ottoman Empire): represented by Dundar Ali Osman, the great-grandson of Abdul Hamid II and thus the Ottoman heir.
- France: represented by Jean-Christophe Napoleon, determined as the heir to their most recent monarch Napoleon III, thus also representing Charlemagne, who took the Western Empire in 800 (as a reaction to Irene’s usurpation) {pingback to 14/07}
- Austria (Holy Roman Empire): represented by Karl von Habsburg, grandson and heir to their last Emperor Karl I.
Unlike the four previous cases (Henry VIII’s will, the Jacobites, France and Russia), Baker makes it clear from the outset that there is no simple answer, although he makes cogent arguments for one claimant.
murreyandblue 
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