Justinian I reigned as emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 565 CE. Born around 482 CE in Tauresium, a village in Illyria, his uncle Emperor Justin I was an imperial bodyguard who reached the throne on the death of Anastasius in 518 CE. Justinian is considered one of the most important late Roman and Byzantine emperors. He started a significant military campaign to retake Africa from the Vandals (in 533 to 534 CE) and Italy from the Goths (535 to 554 CE). He also ordered the rebuilding of the Hagia Sophia church (begun in 532 CE) as well as an empire-wide construction drive, resulting in new churches, monasteries, forts, water reservoirs, and bridges. His other great achievement was the completion of the legal reforms encapsulated in the Corpus Juris Civilis between 529 and 534 CE. This was the bringing together of all the Roman laws that had been issued from the time of Emperor Hadrian (117 - 138 CE) to the present. He is widely held as one of the greatest (and most controversial) late Roman/Byzantine emperors in history.
More about: Justinian IDefinition
Timeline
-
521Justinian is made Consul by his uncle Emperor Justin I.
-
525Justinian I marries Theodora, a woman from a poor background and possibly a courtesan.
-
527 - 565Reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
-
1 Apr 527Coronation of Justinian I and Theodora in the Hagia Sophia Church in Constantinople.
-
529The first part of Justinian's Code, the Codex Justinianus, is released and immediately adopted across the Byzantine Empire.
-
Jan 532The Nika Revolt lasts over a week in Constantinople during the reign of Justinian I. The disturbance caused the destruction of much of the central city area and was quashed after a significant loss of life.
-
533 - 534The Vandal War launched by Emperor Justinian I, aimed a reconquering Africa from the Vandals.
-
Dec 533The Digestum and Institutiones parts of Justinian's Code are released which supersedes all previous laws across the Byzantine Empire.
-
534Justinian of the Byzantine Empire conquers the Vandal kingdom in Africa.
-
Dec 534Justinian's Code, which is the basis of law across the Byzantine Empire, is amended and updated.
-
535 - 554The Gothic War launched by Emperor Justinian I, aimed at reconquering Italy from the Goths.
-
548Death of Empress Theodora of the Byzantine empire, probably of cancer.
-
Jul 556 - c. Jul 572Samaritan revolt beginning in Caesarea Maritima, perhaps with Jewish support. A number of churches are destroyed and there is a significant loss of life.
-
565Death of Justinian I after 38 years ruling the Roman Empire.
