Justinian the Great
Justinian I, also known as Justinian the Great, was a 6th century AD Byzantine emperor who reigned for close to four decades. He is best known for his numerous judicial reforms that protected children, women and other vulnerable members of the society. His economic reforms drastically reduced corruption among royal officials. Aside from being a renowned legislator, the emperor also built a number of infrastructures, famous among them the Hagia Sophia, which is considered by many as the crown jewel of Byzantine architecture.
When was Justinian the Great born?
The Byzantine Emperor, originally known as Petrus Sabbatius, was born in 483 and died in 565 in present-day Turkiye. His parents were said to be peasants. And his name, Justinianus, came from his uncle, Justin, who played a significant role in the young Justinian’s life.
Much of Justinian’s early education and military training were sponsored by Justin, who was an influential military officer in Constantinople.
Reign
During his uncle Justin I’s reign, Justinian had the opportunity to observe how policies were made. Being a favorite of Justin, Justinian was named heir to the emperor and co-emperor in April 525. Upon the death of Justin I, Justinian was crowned emperor of the Byzantine Empire in August 527. At the time that he ascended the throne, he was in his mid-40s.
Emperor Justinian was particularly known for his contribution towards sound administration and the compilation of laws (Code of Justinian) of the then imperial government of Constantinople. Detail of a contemporary portrait mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy
Those laws and policies and governmental reformations were developed in the hope of making life easier and better for his people. Justinian was involved in religious affairs and found ways of resolving religious problems. The Byzantine Emperor was sometimes aggressive in his goals. There are a number of occasions where he held some religious leaders and believers against their will in the bid of achieving his aims.
In the latter part of his reign, he pulled back from administrative and legal affairs and focused more on religious issues.
What were some of his major Accomplishments?
- Justinian was able to cut down on mismanagement, corruption and misappropriation of funds and resources. During the reign of Justinian the Great, the practice of suffragia was banned. Suffragia was the practice of selling provincial governorships. He is also credited with working very hard to end a number of corrupt practices by imperial government officials.
- He empowered city official, called the defensores civitatis, whose duty was to keep the provincial governors on their toes and weed out corruption.
- He succeeded in establishing a revenue stream in the form of trade through strategic positioning of his government to foster monopoly in his government.
- He succeeded in revitalizing Hellenistic influence over major parts of his conquered kingdoms.
- He further established Byzantine reign in Italy for a number of years.
- Justinian conquered parts of North Africa, Italy and Croatia. He succeeded in regaining control of several parts of the Western Mediterranean.
The Codex Justinianus
Known in Latin as the Codex Justinianus, the legal code of Emperor Justinian came to being after the emperor tasked his legal advisors to develop a set of a laws and then codify the legal interpretations by previous Roman jurists. The Code of Justinian comprised a number of books, including the Codex Constitutionum and the Institutiones.
The Nika Revolts that almost toppled Justinian
The Nika Riot undoubtedly ended in Justinian’s advantage; he seized the opportunity to rebuild the empire. By February 23, 532, he had commissioned Anthemius of Trailes and Isidore of Miletus to supervise the reconstruction of a far magnificent and stupendous Hagia Sophia than Theodosius’. Image: Hippodrome of Constantinople
In the quest to overthrow two of his ministers in 532, there was an uprising known as the Nika Revolution which nearly led to his overthrow. Hypatius was declared emperor the next day after the revolution, but Justinian was encouraged by Theodora (his wife) and assisted by Mundus and Belisarius, the city’s generals who attacked the revolts. This led to a major bloodshed of the people and Hypatius was killed in the attack. The people were not happy with the massacre caused by Justinian. This nearly lost him his fame and throne.
Byzantine Empress Theodora – wife of Emperor Justinian the Great
Death and Succession
There were some controversies before his death on a heresy he issued on certain Christian beliefs. The issue was abandoned after his death. He was succeeded by his nephew, Justinian II in 565.
Legacy
The Scholae Palatinae were an elite military unit of the Late Roman Empire, originally formed by the emperor Constantine the Great in the early 4th century. They were composed of soldiers who had distinguished themselves in battle, and were tasked with protecting the emperor and his palace in Constantinople. Image: Emperor Justinian I and his court, from the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, depicted with the Scholae Palatinae (left) – the royal guards – with the golden neck-torques.
He became widely known for his legislative works and the construction of the Hagia Sophia, the Eastern Roman Empire church, now a mosque in modern day Turkey. Some of his coded laws are still in use in present times in civil law cases. He was nick-named “Last Roman” due to his projects and restoration activities in the 20th century.
Justinian, who succeeded his uncle Justin I in 527, is renowned for his accomplishments as a builder, particularly the construction of the Hagia Sophia, meaning “Holy Wisdom.”
Other Notable Facts
- Justinian co-reigned with his uncle for a few months before ascending the throne and honoring him by adopting his name.
- Emperor Justinian was interested in restoring the geographical lands of the ancient Roman Empire, but this proved very difficult. It was a bold and ambitious goal like most of his predecessors.
- It’s said that he ushered the Byzantine Empire into its golden age. The Byzantine culture flourished greatly during his reign. He had good work ethics and was named the Byzantine Emperor who never sleeps.
- His mother tongue was Latin, and he spoke Greek with a bad accent.
- Emperor Justinian is credited with giving the Hagia Sophia a new look following the slight destruction it suffered during the Nika Revolt of 532.
Justinian I’s Wife
Justinian I was married to Theodora. Empress Theodora, who was a former actress, wielded significant influence on not just the personal life of Justinian, but the affairs of the empire. His wife died at a very early age in the year 548. He was adopted by his uncle, Justin I. His mother was Vigilantia.
The Emperor was a Chalcedonian and a Christian. He spoke Latin and was trained in law, religion and Roman history. Justinian was from a peasant family and never bore a child of his own.
Rather than capitulate like many of Justianian’s senior advisors, Empress Theodora remained resolute and urged the emperor to respond with a decisive force in order to crush the revolt. Image: Empress Theodora. Image – Mosaic of Theodora, Justinian’s wife
What caused the Nika Revolt in 532?
It’s been stated the Nika Revolt in 532 came as a result of Justinian’s clamp down on corrupt public officials. Thanks to his wife Empress Theodora’s astuteness, the Emperor was able to crush the revolt before it could topple him.
During the Nika Riots in Constantinople, factions – known as the Greens and the Blues – went berserk and set many important buildings ablaze. The protesters were voicing their displeasure with Justinian’s austerity measures and clamp down on corruption. One of the public buildings that suffered during the Nika Revolt was the Hagia Sophia, the ‘Holy Wisdom’ cathedral.
The protesters demanded the resignation of two senior ministers – John of Cappadocia and Tribonia. The two were leading members in Justinian’s fight against corruption.
Tribonian and John of Cappadocia were perhaps the two most despised men in all of Constantinople during Justinian’s reign. Image: Tribonian – the renowned Byzantine jurist and top advisor of Emperor Justian I
The emperor caved in to demands and fired the two ministers; however, it was too little, as the protesters had become unstoppable. They even went as far as proclaiming Hypatius, the nephew of deceased emperor Anastasius, emperor.
Kind courtesy of the inspirational words from Theodora, Justinian was able to rally whatever support he had among the senators, army generals, and public officials loyal to him. He dispatched the army to seek out the usurper and his followers. Scores of opposition members were killed, including Hypatius. Justinian had successfully brought the revolt to an end, narrowly escaping his downfall.
Wars and Military Conquests
Notable military conquests by Justinian the Great
Away from the numerous judicial reforms he instituted, Justinian was determined to recapture the territories seized by the barbarian invaders. As a result, he waged war against the Vandals in northern Africa in 534. Six years later, Justinian secured a well-fought victory against the Ostrogoths in Italy.
Justinian’s Byzantine Empire fought a long and protracted war with the Goths. In the end, he was able to capture the entirety of Italy in 562.
In spite of his hard-fought efforts, he could not stop the like of the Slavs, Huns and Bulgars from pestering the northern frontiers of the Byzantine Empire.
Of all his military campaigns, the ones he fought against the Persians were perhaps the fiercest.
Some of the wars fought during Justinian’s reign were the wars with the Sassanid Empire from 527–562. The Byzantine ruler also waged wars in the Vandal kingdom of North Africa from 533–534 and conquered them. From 535 to around 554, he waged wars in Italy. Image: A Southwestern entrance mosaic at the Hagia Sophia showing the Virgin Mary, the Child Christ, Emperor Justinian and Emperor Constantine
Successor
He was succeeded by his nephew Justin II in 565.
Emperor Justin II (reign: 565-574) commissioned the construction of the Chrysotriklinos, an impressive audience hall adorned with intricate gold mosaics and precious stones, hence earning its nickname, “Golden Hall”.
This grand hall served as a venue for hosting dignitaries, complete with luxurious thrones and seats to emphasize power and wealth. The Chrysotriklinos served not only as a reception and ceremonial hall but also symbolized the imperial power of the emperor. It functioned as a banquet hall for foreign embassies and the conferring of dignities, as well as an assembly for important religious festivals and special events such as Easter.
Image: Gold coin of Byzantine Emperor Justin II, son and successor of Justinian the Great
Code of Justinian in 534
The Code of Justinian, completed in 534, was a major legal reform initiated by the Emperor Justinian I to ensure consistent access to justice across his empire. His goal was to create a uniform legal system that would be accessible to all citizens, regardless of their location, and to provide clarity and fairness in legal proceedings.
To achieve this, Justinian enlisted the help of his minister of justice, Tribonian, and key administrators like Peter Barsymes and John of Cappadocia. Together, they undertook a comprehensive revision and consolidation of existing Roman laws, legal writings, and imperial decrees. The resulting Codex Justinianus, or Code of Justinian, was a collection of laws that eliminated outdated or contradictory regulations and established a more streamlined legal framework.
These reforms were crucial in Justinian’s fight against corruption, as they provided a clear and authoritative reference for judges and officials, reducing opportunities for arbitrary decision-making and legal abuses. The Code also helped in centralizing imperial authority and reinforcing Justinian’s control over the vast Byzantine Empire. By standardizing legal practices, Justinian sought to create a more just and orderly society, aligning the legal system with Christian principles and ensuring the empire’s stability.
The Code of Justinian had a lasting impact, influencing the development of legal systems in Europe and laying the foundation for modern civil law traditions.
With the help of Tribonian, his minister of justice, and ministers like Peter Barsymes and John of Cappadocia, Emperor Justinian was able to successfully get his legal and administrative reforms instituted. This augured very well in his fight against corruption. Image: Excerpt from the manuscript “Codex Justiniani I-IX”. Medieval copy of the famous Code of Justinian. Copied by Franciscus Accursius in the 13th century. Preserved in the Ghent University Library in Belgium.
Conflict with the Persians
Conflict with Persia, who were under the rule of King Kavadh I. After the death of Kavadh I, Justinian secured a peace treaty, the Treaty of Eternal Peace, with the Persian king Khosrow I in 532. The Byzantines gained a number of territories from the peace deal, including the district of Lazica (what is now Colchis in Asia Minor). The decades that followed saw the Byzantines and Persians lock horns intermittently until a peace accord was struck in 557.
Did you know…?
To this day, two of Justinian era cathedrals – the SS. Sergius and Bacchus (also known as Little Hagia Sophia) and Hagia Sophia – remain in good condition in Istanbul, Turkiye. Those two Byzantine jewels, especially the latter, attract millions of enthusiastic tourists from all over the world.
Justinian the Great: Quick Facts
Justinian introduced sweeping tax reforms that augured well for the Byzantine Empire. Image: A golden medallion celebrating Emperor Justinian’s reconquest of Africa, AD 534.
Born: 483; Tauresium, Dardania
Died: November 14, 565; Constantinople (now Istanbul)
Reign: 527-565
Successor: Justin II
Predecessor: Justin I
Other names: Flavius Justinianus, or Petrus Sebbatius
Parents: Vigilantia and Sabbatius
Wife: Empress Theodora
Children: None
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