The History of Byzantium

The Eastern Roman Empire was enjoying its first spell of peace, prosperity and relative calm in many a year under the rule of Anastasius. The emperors' monophysite beliefs began to cause problems towards the end of his reign. Although Vitalian was defeated when he marched on the capital, he was not killed and remains at large. Then on the night of the 9th of July 518, Anast asius died after a 27 year reign.