There was a Byzantine emperor named Michael VIII, Paleologus. There are many cool names among his fellow emperors: Constantine IV, Pogonatus; Justinian II, Rhinotmetus; Leo III, the Isaurian; Leo V, the Armenian (your man, Mark); not to be confused with Michael II, the Amorian, still less with Michael III, the Drunkard.

There are two surnamed Porphyrogennetus, one empress surnamed Porphyrogenneta, a Nicephorus II, Phocas (must have been in Frank Luntz’s group), Basil II, Bulgaroctonus (=Bulgar-slayer; I actually know how he got that name, it wasn’t pretty), Michael V, the Calfat (=Huckabee?), ending finally in 1453 with Constantine XI, Drageses, who has a cameo of sorts in Jean Raspail’s Camp of the Saints.