Justinian I

(noun)

A Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, he sought to revive the empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the historical Roman Empire and enacted important legal codes.

Related Terms

Examples of Justinian I in the following topics:

  • Architecture in the Early Byzantine Empire

    • Byzantine Emperor Justinian I launched an ambitious building program to develop holy sites to restore the glory of the Roman Empire.
    • Justinian I devoted much of his reign (527-565 CE) to reconquering Italy, North Africa, and Spain.
    • One notable structure for which Justinian was responsible was the Hagia Sophia, or Church of Holy Wisdom, built by Isidorus of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, both of whom would oversee most building projects that Justinian ordered within Constantinople.
    • During the reign of Justinian's uncle Justin I, the future emperor faced accusations of conspiring against the current emperor and was killed for it.
    • Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of Hagia Sophia in 532 CE.

  • Justinian and Theodora

    • One of Constantine's successors, Theodosius I (379-395) was the last Emperor to rule both the Eastern and Western halves of the Empire.
    • In 527 CE, Justinian I came to the throne in Constantinople.
    • Theodora was empress of the Byzantine Empire and the wife of Emperor Justinian I.
    • Some sources mention her as empress regnant with Justinian I as her co-regent.
    • Byzantine Emperor Justinian I depicted on one of the famous mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna.

  • The Justinian Code

    • Justinian I achieved lasting fame through his judicial reforms, particularly through the complete revision of all Roman law that was compiled in what is known today as the Corpus juris civilis.
    • Byzantine Emperor Justinian I achieved lasting fame through his judicial reforms, particularly through the complete revision of all Roman law, something that had not previously been attempted.
    • The total of Justinian's legislature is known today as the Corpus juris civilis.
    • The work was directed by Tribonian, an official in Justinian's court.
    • It formed the basis of later Byzantine law, as expressed in the Basilika of Basil I and Leo VI the Wise.

  • Ravenna

    • The church is of extreme importance in Byzantine art, as it is the only major church from the period of the Emperor Justinian I to survive virtually intact to the present day .
    • On the right is a mosaic depicting the East Roman Emperor Justinian I, clad in purple with a golden halo, standing next to court officials, Bishop Maximian, palatinae guards, and deacons.
    • Justinian himself stands in the middle, with soldiers on his right and clergy on his left, emphasizing that Justinian is the leader of both church and state of his empire.
    • Justinian is placed in the front middle to show his importance.
    • The mosaic of Emperor Justinian and his entourage of bishops and officials of state.

  • The Byzantine Empire

    • After the death of Theodosius I in 395, the Roman Empire was divided into an Eastern half based in Constantinople and a Western half based in Rome.
    • In an effort to recreate a unified Roman Empire, Justinian I (r. 527–565) was able to reconquer most of the Mediterranean coast, including North Africa, Rome, and southern Spain.
    • The Byzantine Empire (red) and its vassals (pink) in 555 CE during the reign of Justinian I.

  • Architecture of the Early Christian Church

    • The church of San Vitale is highly significant in Byzantine art, as it is the only major church from the period of the Eastern Emperor Justinian I to survive virtually intact to the present day.
    • While much of Italy was under the rule of the Western Emperor, Ravenna came under the rule of Justinian I in 540.

  • Ivory Carving in the Early Byzantine Empire

    • The emperor depicted, however, is usually identified as Justinian, or possibly Anastasius I or Zeno.
    • Its missing half might have depicted Justinian I, to whom the archangel would be offering the insignia.
    • With the Barberini Diptych, it is one of two important surviving sixth-century Byzantine ivories attributed to the imperial workshops of Constantinople under Justinian.
    • The top of the ivory bears a Greek inscription that translates as, "Receive this suppliant, despite his sinfulness," possibly an expression of humility on the part of Justinian.

  • Byzantium's Legacy

    • Following the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II took the title "Kaysar-i Rûm" (the Ottoman Turkish equivalent of Caesar of Rome), since he was determined to make the Ottoman Empire the heir of the Eastern Roman Empire.
    • In the field of law, Justinian I's reforms to the legal code would come to serve as the basis of not only Byzantine law but law in many European countries and continues to have a major influence on public international law to this day.

  • Mosaics in the Early Byzantine Empire

    • Important Justinian era mosaics (c. 565-66) decorated the Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai.
    • Although the mosaics were produced before Justinian I annexed Italy to the Byzantine Empire, their overall design is very similar to those produced under Byzantine rule.

  • Emperor Heracluis

    • However, only Justinian I attempted to enforce this claim with military might.
    • However, after Justinian's death, much of newly recovered Italy fell to the Lombards, and the Visigoths soon reduced the imperial holdings in Spain.
    • Thus, after the death of Justinian's successor Tiberius II, Maurice sought to restore the prestige of the Empire.
    • The Senate approved Phocas as the new Emperor and Maurice, the last emperor of the Justinian Dynasty, was murdered along with his four sons.
    • During that same year of 638, Pope Honorius I too had died.