Historian Peter Sarris discusses the conniving and ruthless Emperor Justinian, his rise to power, surviving riots and plots in Constantinople, his significant legal reforms, military strategies, challenges faced like the Bubonic Plague, and his lasting legacy on Roman law and society.
Justinian's rule focused on rebuilding the Eastern Roman Empire through religious and legislative reforms.
Justinian's rise to power involved strategic alliances, disputed successions, and calculated eliminations of rivals.
Deep dives
Justinian's Transformation of the Eastern Roman Empire
Justinian's reign as Byzantine Emperor marked a pivotal moment where he attempted to reunite the Eastern and Western Mediterranean regions. His rule heralded attempts to revive the East Roman Empire by reclaiming lost territories and fully Christianizing Roman society. Despite facing criticism for potential overexpansion, external factors like migratory pressures, climate disruptions, and pandemics were more responsible for the later crisis in the Roman world.
Justinian's Rise from Humble Beginnings
Justinian's journey to power began humbly in war-torn provinces, where his uncle, Justin, rose from poverty to become Emperor. Justinian's ascent involved strategic alliances within the palace guard, a disputed succession for the imperial throne, and calculated maneuvers to eliminate rivals, leading to his eventual appointment as sole emperor after his uncle's death.
Justinian's Marriage to Theodora and Religious Convictions
Justinian's marriage to Theodora, a former prostitute and dancer, highlighted his eye for unconventional partnerships. Their deep Christian faith and theological discussions underscored his belief in connecting religious struggles with political stability. Theodora's influence in advocating for laws against pimps and supporting marginalized women influenced Justinian's charitable and persecutory legal reforms.
Justinian's Legal Legacy and Military Expansions
Justinian's reign was marked by significant legal reforms, including the Codex, Digest, and Institutes, which transformed Roman law and shaped legal systems across Europe for centuries. His military campaigns against the Persians and in the West, utilizing talented generals like Belisarius, saw territorial gains but were later challenged by external factors like climate disruption, plague outbreaks, and migratory pressures, impacting tax revenues and stability.
Justinian stands tall among the Byzantine rulers, as the 'sleepless emperor' whose religious fervour and legislative zeal saw him rebuild the eastern Roman empire from the ground up... until the 'four horsemen of the apocalypse' arrived and threatened it all. Peter Sarris talks to Kev Lochun about how the conniving and ruthless Justinian claimed power, how an angry sports fans nearly brought him down, and why he's best-known for having a plague named after him.
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