Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) By: Justin McCarthy, Audrey Howard, Parsia Hedayat Before we talk about Justinian I
The story of Justinian I starts with his uncle, Justin. Justin was a farmer who knew Latin in Greek-owned society. Justin and Justinian, Flavias Petrus Sabbatius, moved to Byzantium. When going there, Justin joined the army and quickly had earned better and better ranks. When moving to Byzantium, he gave Flaviss Petrus Sabbatius the best education possible. Sabbatius took on his uncles name, Justinianus, or as we know him, Justinian. After the death of Anastasius, there was no one to rule. Justin was head of the imperial court and used bribe money to convince the senate to agree with his votes. Justin was now the ruler, With no education. Justinian sought out to help in uncle in peril by making peace with many people, such as prisoners of Anastasiuss' reign. Justinian was also involved with the assassination of a popular general, Vitallium. How Justinian I met Theodora
Theodora was a actor/prostitute who supported of the blue demes (chariot racing team of Constantinople). Through the political affect of demes, even highest of powers would meet the lowest of classes. When meeting, the two had fallen in love, but couldn’t get married due to a law not allowing those in government to marry actresses or prostitutes or other degrading jobs at the time. Justin's wife wouldn’t allow Justin to condemn this law. But shortly after her death, the two got married and the law was removed from the books Resurgence Under Justinian I
• Justinian Code One of the most known books written by Justinian I was Corpus Juris Civilis ( or Body of Civil Laws) and is referred to as The Code of Justinian Was issued from 529 to 533 B.C. Was used to define laws of the Eastern Roman Empire and was the structure for many modern-day laws The Rising Power of Justinian I
After the death of Justin on August 1st of 527 B.C.E., Justinian became ruler of the Byzantine empire. He quickly got to work on making a newer empire. Due to riots caused from two people who survived death by getting hung, many people turned against Justinian I because he still wanted those two people dead. He eventually had his financial advisor help him slither his way out of a riot that ended up burning many parts of Constantinople. Justinian now needed to rebuild the burned city Reconquering the West
To do so, Justinian needed to start in North Africa, which was able to stay stable and wealthy. North Africa was run by pirates, raiders and 'Kings of the Seas' after Vandals invaded in the 430s. Eventually many islands fell to Vandal powers. In 455 B.C.E., the Vandals went to war with the Romans. In 468, the Romans went to war with the Vandals and won. After this event, Rome had uneasy terms with the Vandals that Justinian wanted to resolve. Another war broke out with Vandals against the Romans, the Tripolitania and Sardinia. As the king of Vandals saw his two brothers die in battle, attempting to help, the king of Vandals lost. Justinian was able to restore Africa to the empire and restore power to Rome Finishing the Undone Job
Justinian has finally captured Africa and restored all power to the Roman Empire, but something was missing, Rome itself. Rome wasn’t part of the Roman Empire and this made Justinian mad. Justinian gets a note informing him that the empress of his ruling neighbors was dead, giving Justinian a sign to reclaim Rome. Justinian orders his loyal general, Belisarius, to sail 7,500 men to Italy and reclaim Rome. After weeks on edge, Justinian waits for a letter to inform him of success. Meanwhile, Belisarius was moving in on the many cities, but gets a letter saying the African troops were in revolt. If Belisarius didn’t go to Africa, everything they fought for would be lost and Justinian was in complete utter rage. After returning to Ital to reclaim Rome, Belisarius was left with one of two decisions. Abandon the siege he laid on Neapolis to claim Rome or keep fighting Neapolis. Belisarius couldn’t leave half way through to reclaim Rome. There also wasn’t enough men to do so. Finishing the Undone Job (cont.)
Later throughout the week, a barbarian soldier finds a pipe that could potentially fit a man and confronts this information to Belisarius. With out a second to spare, Belisarius thinks of a plan. He orders a large majority of his troops to make a distraction and stay alive. He also orders a few men to follow the barbaric soldier. While having the soldiers distract without confrontation, 5 engineers open the pipe to be larger. Belisarius makes a polite letter convincing Neapolis to surrender or face the consequences. Neapolis in ruins means onward to Rome, making Justinian joyous. With the blessing of the Pope himself, Belisarius will claim what was once rightfully Rome's. On December 10th, 533 B.C., Rome was once again owned by Romans. Finishing the Undone Job (cont.)
If Rome was going to survive in enemy territory, they would need to be defensive. After surviving throughout the harsh winter, Belisarius felt something wasn’t right. Those defending the Roman borders fled and the Ostrogoths invaded Rome. The general of the Ostrogoths shouts to fire at the 'White-Faced Bay.' If it weren't for the strength of his shield and armor, Belisarius would lay dead. Belisarius fought men after men, getting covered in blood and gore. Belisarius goes to Rome and tells the guards to advance to the gates, but the Romans didn’t recognize him due to mud and blood. The pursuing Ostrogoths advance closer, not expecting an attack and out of formation and wipe them out. Ostrogoth soldiers destroy the only running water in city boundaries through a river, leaving no food for the soldiers. When Belisarius finds a way to solve the solution, Ostrogoths counter it. But with his wit, Belisarius counters their counter. More Ostrogoths come to the city with giant machines of war pulled by oxen. Belisarius simply laughs and draws fire at some oxen. Belisarius orders men to kill the oxen. This destroyed the main assault. He destroys the remaining incoming armies and wins Rome. Finishing the Job (cont.)
The oncoming Ostrogoths may a 3- month peace treaty. Within these 3 months, Belisarius restocked on many supplies and remade an army. After an surprise attack that had failed, the Ostrogoths finally surrendered and left ruin of all their camps. As Ostrogoths retreat, Belisarius orders his men to finish the remaining Ostrogoths and make Justinian's dream finally come true. Religious Disputes
Monophysites Iconoclasm
• The belief that Jesus Definition of Iconoclasm: Two periods of time in was the only the Byzantine Empire (730-787 and 814-842) When subordinary human. No emperors imposed bans on religious images/icons more and no less No "graven images" (sculptures) of • Theodora, religious figures. Icon controversy resolved in Justinian's wife temporarily with pictures but no statues. believed in this idea Rival Parties within Empire:
• Belief Jesus was/is Iconoclasts:(against icons) vs. Iconophiles: (in favor 100% divine of icons)
Involved Byzantine Christians vs. Islamic Religion All Sources • https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/icono-cncl754.asp
Definition of iconoclastic council. https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&q=define+monophysites&oq=define+monophysites&gs_l=psy- ab.3..0i22i30k1.7235.14386.0.14640.19.19.0.0.0.0.87.1319.19.19.0....0...1.1.64.psy- ab..0.19.1316...0j0i131k1.0.TE4ffq-P9Mw
Provides the definition of Monophysite https://www.bing.com/search?q=what+is+the+justinian+code&form=EDGEAR&qs=SC&cvid=23d6c5d6697c 46c58de6ff12511cbc64&cc=US&setlang=en-US&PC=DCTS
Explanation of Justin and Justinian I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_2E0RxVHH4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGL_M1SQV5E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NpDvBX2XEI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oakBpmsJJ9Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W8wIAV1Pu4 All Sources (cont.)
• http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/justinian.html digital copy of Corpus Juris Civilis
• https://books.google.com/books?id=Ei2w5sZm3nQC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage& q&f=false Corpus Juris Civilis translated, but small font