Book SummaryJustinian, by Peter Sarris

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Justinian

Justinian's Ascension and Succession Efforts

Justin's Surprising Accession and the Promotion of Justinian

This section details the unexpected rise of Justin I to the imperial throne and his nephew Justinian's advancement within the palace guard's hierarchy. Both men's lowly origins were key to Sarris's understanding of their ambition and political intuition.

Justin's Path From His Origins to the Throne

Sarris explains how Justin's path to Constantinople began around 470, when he left the Balkan settlement of Vederiana, accompanied by two friends. The region at the time, ravaged by Huns and other barbarians, was home to farmers and soldiers, where a sense of Roman identity had been preserved in fortified redoubts such as Vederiana. Justin set off on foot for the imperial capital, traveling the military road. Arriving in Constantinople, he and his friends were recruited to the palace guard (the scholae palatinae) owing to his impressive physique. The author notes that this was exceptional good fortune. The young Justin had reached the acme of Roman society. There he rose in the army's hierarchy, witnessing firsthand the challenges facing the Roman state, such as the Isaurian War which erupted in 491, when Justinian was a young boy, and a Persian war in the initial years of the sixth century. By 515, Justin—now in his sixties—had been appointed to command the elite excubitores regiment, the emperor's guard. This unit was tasked with guarding the emperor personally.

Justinian became emperor in 518 when Emperor Anastasius died without lining up any suitable heir. Several potential successors were available, including individuals from the Anastasian dynasty. Sarris highlights the critical influence of the Circus Parties in securing Justin's ascension as emperor. These factions were essentially fan groups for the chariot teams. They served as a link between the upper and lower classes, creating empire-wide connections. The author argues that although Justin's ascent to authority has frequently been portrayed as an unlikely accident of history, he probably sought to maximize the chance that the next emperor would be a military man sharing his pro-Chalcedonian views. He was successful in doing so, which significantly improved his nephew's political prospects.

Context

• Vederiana was located in the Balkans, a region that was strategically important but often vulnerable to invasions. The journey to Constantinople would have been arduous, involving travel through potentially hostile territories.
• Despite the chaos, Roman identity persisted in these regions, often blending with local customs. This fusion helped maintain a sense of Roman culture and governance even as the political landscape changed.
• These were small, fortified settlements or military outposts designed to protect inhabitants from invasions. They often served as centers of Roman administration and military presence, helping to maintain Roman influence in the region.
• As the capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople was a hub of political, military, and economic activity. It attracted ambitious individuals seeking fortune and status, making it a melting pot of cultures and talents.
• This elite guard unit was crucial for the protection of the emperor and played a significant role in palace politics. Commanding such a unit was a position of great trust and influence, often involving direct access to the emperor.
• Justin's appointment to this position indicates his rise through the military ranks, showcasing his ability, loyalty, and the trust he had earned from the ruling elite.
• The excubitores were distinct from the praetorian guard of earlier Roman times, reflecting the evolving nature of military and political structures in the Byzantine Empire.

Other Perspectives

• Recruitment to the palace guard might have also been influenced by the need for manpower at the time, rather than solely on the basis of individual merit or physical appearance.
• The role of the Circus Parties may be overstated, as their influence could have been one of many aspects of public support, rather than a critical or decisive factor.
• The role of chance and unforeseen circumstances in the succession process could have been significant, potentially diminishing the impact of Justin's deliberate attempts to influence the outcome.
• The absence of a suitable heir from the Anastasian dynasty might have created a power vacuum that Justinian could exploit, regardless of Justin's influence.

Justinian's Role in Candidati Guard and Heir to Justin

Sarris explains that Justin's newly acquired authority and influence allowed him to bring relatives to the capital, including his sister's son Petrus, whom he adopted as his son and heir, naming him Justinian. It was probably at Justin's instigation that the young Justinian received an education in Latin, Greek, rhetoric, Roman history, and law, befitting someone whose work would focus on the palace. Justinian was then enlisted in the palace guard, where he progressed to join the elite corps of candidati, responsible for guarding the emperor personally. The author then details the series of events that culminated in Justin's elevation to emperor in 518, following the death of Anastasius, and Justinian's role in these dramatic developments. The author notes that while Justin's nomination as emperor came from the senators, it was made under pressure from the palace guard and Circus Factions, who probably feared that unless a successor was swiftly appointed, chaos would ensue.

Although Justin had not deliberately planned to become emperor (as the author allows), he was politically alert enough to understand that his support base consisted of military forces, the Factions from the Circus (specifically the Blues) who shared his pro-Chalcedonian views, and those senators who resented the previous emperor Anastasius' close relations with his family. Justin...

Justinian Summary Justinian's Approaches: Religious Crackdowns, Legal Reforms, and War Efforts

This section details Justinian's wide-ranging policies across the religious, judicial, and administrative domains. The author argues that the key parts of Justinian's programme for reform stemmed from his own personal convictions and interests in law and theology, although he was always willing to take advantage of circumstances that could be turned to his favour.

Handling Religion: Reinforcing Orthodox Practices and Suppressing Dissent

Sarris presents the religious policies of Justinian as a deliberate reaction to the ruler's perception that his predecessors had been too tolerant of religious nonconformity and moral laxity.

Persecution of Pagans, Heretics, and Jews Demonstrating Justinian's Christian Commitment

The author argues that, from the beginning of his rule, Justinian was determined to press ahead with the Christianisation of Roman society, purging the empire of pagans, those he regarded as sexual deviants, and those Christians whose theological beliefs departed from his own. There had been previous anti-pagan legislation. But Justinian prohibited even identifying as pagan. Those who refused to convert were to be exiled, and those who converted but who then...

Justinian Summary Justinian's Architecture and Projects for Imperial Power and Orthodoxy

This section focuses on the significance of architecture and construction projects to Justinian's reign. The author argues that the emperor's political and religious agenda was frequently conveyed and advanced by such means.

Rebuilding Constantinople After the Nika Riots

Sarris explains how, in the aftermath of the Nika riots, Justinian embraced the opportunity to transform and redefine his capital by sponsoring an ambitious plan of rebuilding that included not just new churches, but also strengthening and repairing its defensive walls, the provision of cisterns and aqueducts, and building new market colonnades, houses, and public amenities. The author argues that Justinian's approach to rebuilding his capital combined piety, opportunism, and political calculation.

Hagia Sophia: Icon of Imperial Grandeur, Religious Piety, and Byzantine Brilliance

This section details how Justinian's great church, Hagia Sophia, was built. Sarris argues that Justinian had seized on the opportunity presented by the Nika riots to replace the old basilica that they damaged with a new structure of unprecedented size and magnificence, centered on a dome. Its internal decoration embodied...

Justinian Summary Crises and Challenges Undermining Justinian's Rule and His Impact

This final section of the book considers the major challenges which beset Justinian and his empire beginning in the 540s and assesses the emperor's legacy in Byzantium and the West.

Internal and External Threats

This section details the array of problems and crises Justinian confronted throughout his reign, from the Nika riots and discontent at his policies to military uprisings, Persian wars, and pestilence.

Nika Riots Expose Discontent and Fragility of Justinian's Rule

Sarris argues that much of the discontent with Justinian's rule – which had always simmered beneath the surface – was brought to a head due to the combined impacts of plague, famine, and warfare in the 540s. Those opposed to the emperor now once more sensed that he was politically vulnerable. Plots began, and in 548, Theodora, the empress, died. The author notes that the empress's loss was a significant setback both politically and emotionally. Theodora had been Justinian's strongest defender and most trusted adviser. The sense is one of mounting isolation for the emperor as those around him began to prepare for his death and jockey for position to line themselves up as his successor. For example,...