description Emperor Justinian I Overview
Justinian I was Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565 and ruled from Constantinople alongside the influential Empress Theodora. His armies, led by generals including Belisarius and Narses, recovered territories in North Africa, Italy, and southern Spain from successor kingdoms of the western Roman Empire. His reign also produced the Corpus Juris Civilis, a systematic compilation of Roman law, and the present Hagia Sophia.
insights Ranking position
Emperor Justinian I ranks #51 of 221 in the Monarch ranking, behind King Henry II of England, ahead of Queen Victoria.
help Emperor Justinian I FAQ
What was Justinian's Code and why did it matter?
Justinian commissioned a systematic compilation of Roman law known collectively as the Corpus Juris Civilis. Its texts later became foundational sources for civil-law traditions in continental Europe.
Did Justinian build Hagia Sophia?
Justinian ordered the present Hagia Sophia built in Constantinople after the earlier church was destroyed during the Nika riots. The new building was completed in the sixth century under the architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus.
Which territories did Justinian reconquer?
His general Belisarius defeated the Vandal kingdom in North Africa and began the invasion of Ostrogothic Italy. Narses later completed the principal Italian campaign, while Byzantine forces also gained territory in southern Spain.
How influential was Empress Theodora during Justinian's reign?
Theodora was Justinian's wife and an unusually prominent participant in imperial government. Procopius credits her with urging resistance during the Nika riots, although his accounts of the imperial couple must be read critically.
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