Justinian of Byzantine
Who knew that one of the best emperors of Byzantine would be born 483 A.D.? Vigilantia and Sabatius didn't, that's for sure. Born as Flavius Anicius Julianus, an only child, 'Justinian' was named after his Uncle, Justin I. When he was quite young, Justinian and his parents moved to Constinople to live near his uncle, who's reign was soon coming to an end within the decade. In 523 A.D., one of the greatest moments happened in Justinian's life. He found the love of his life, Theodora, and was wed. Theodora, like Justinian, had many gifts, and was recognized for her talents and intelligence. Towards the end of his Uncle's reign, Justinian became the Consul, then General in Chief, this happening in 521 A.D. After years of waiting, in August of 527 A.D., Justinian finally became the emperor of Byzantine, due to his Uncle, Justin I 's, death.
He was the sixth century emperor, and the only one who established an aristocracy by choosing men of humble birth as his closest advisors; for he wanted to work with honest and true people. In the second year of Justinian's reign, he did something that he was known for throughout Byzantine. Not only was he known for his military triumphs, legal work, eccesiastical polity and architectural activity, but he was also known for creating the Justinian Code. Justinian created the Justinian Code becaused he wanted to help put the world in control so that it'd be a better place to be in. The Justinian code ("Corpus Juris Civilis") was produced consisting of 4 parts; Digestae Seu Pondecta, Institutiones, Codex, and Authenticum Seu Novellae. The Justinian Code was carried out by an imperial commission under the direction of Trebonian, one of Justinian's most trusted advisors.
Two years later, in September of 531 A.D., peace was arranged with the Persians, a battling ememy, on fairly equal terms. Later another battle pursued with the Persians again. Except this time, peace with the Persians was purchased at the price of gold. It seemed that the Byzantine Empire was constantly at war. This was because Justinian was never satisfied with the size of Rome. He wanted it to be bigger, and always went into a war with the attitude that he'd win and increase the territory of Rome.
One of the biggest facts that should be known about Justinian was that he was a Christian. He firmly believed that he was the chosen instrument of God's rule, and he disregarded all opposition and refused to follow any procedures unless God agreed with them. In religious affairs, Justinian always advocated orthodoxy. Justinian was grateful for building Hagia Sophia, the empire's largest and most splendid Christian church. When Justinian took over the Empire, he bestowed good and other possessions; winning friendship and persuading people to become Christians.
Trade thrived during Justinian's reign, and Byzantine art and architecture flourished. But the empire's funds were used up by the high cost of the wars and improvements that took place under Justinian. As a result, the empire was bankrupt when he died in 565 A.D. Justinian's reign ended in 565 A.D., due to his death. The last 10 years of his reign was spent trying to fend off both the Persians and a whole host of barbarian tribes that treatened the integrity of the Empire both in Asia and in Byzantine Italy. By his death, Justinian had reconquered nearly the entire Mediterranean empire once held by Rome. During the first half of his reign, more of Justinian's successes were achieved. Due to the fact that he was young and had more and better ideas that eventually wore off as he got older. Justinian suffered a deep crisis for about 10 years of his middle years while being Emperor; including a bubonic plague that devasted the Empire and which killed about a half of the population of Constantinople.
His rule, which started out so gloriously, ended in the note that would characterize the Empire for the centuries to come. In all of the time Justinian reigned, the time period is known to be called lots of things, mainly the most "brillant period of the later empire".
