Justinian
Emperor, Soldier, Saint
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A definitive new biography of the Byzantine emperor Justinian
Justinian is a radical reassessment of an emperor and his times. In the sixth century CE, the emperor Justinian presided over nearly four decades of remarkable change, in an era of geopolitical threats, climate change, and plague. From the eastern Roman—or Byzantine—capital of Constantinople, Justinian’s armies reconquered lost territory in Africa, Italy, and Spain. But these military exploits, historian Peter Sarris shows, were just one part of a larger program of imperial renewal. From his dramatic overhaul of Roman law, to his lavish building projects, to his fierce persecution of dissenters from Orthodox Christianity, Justinian’s vigorous statecraft—and his energetic efforts at self-glorification—not only set the course of Byzantium but also laid the foundations for the world of the Middle Ages.
Even as Justinian sought to recapture Rome’s past greatness, he paved the way for what would follow.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this comprehensive account, Cambridge University historian Sarris (Empires of Faith) examines the reign of Eastern Roman emperor Justinian (482–565). Following his adoptive father Justin's death in 527, Justinian took charge of an empire beset with troubles, including an ongoing war with Persia, military uprisings in Africa and Italy, and growing orthodoxy among Christians that led to religious animus toward non-Christians. With political and military skill, Justinian transformed the empire, cementing his legacy through legislative and judicial reforms (including severe crackdowns on non-Christians), architectural achievements such as the Hagia Sophia, territorial expansion in Africa and Europe, and the reconquering of Rome. However, beginning around 540, the empire faced a series of setbacks, among them renewed war with Persia, famine resulting from volcanic eruptions, and plague. Following this period, Justinian faced searing public criticism and the loss of several valued advisers. In the years following Justinian's reign, much of the Eastern Empire unraveled, but by the time of the Middle Ages, his memory was revered, and many medieval rulers looked to him as an example. By drawing heavily on contemporary sources and providing insightful interpretation of their veiled meanings, Sarris brings his subject's world to vivid life. The result is a clear-eyed view of a complex historical figure and his times.
