Justinian: Byzantine Emperor, Roman General, Saint

How many transformations can an emperor manage in 83 years of life, if for two decades he shared power with his wife? Is it true that the greatness of the Hagia Sophia was so overwhelming that in the Middle Ages there were legends about an angel living inside? And could the Persian shah seriously have suggested that Justinian “adopt” his heir?

Justinian was in power for nearly forty years—from 527 to 565—during a period of enormous upheavals, devastating epidemics, and constant external political challenges. Starting his path without shine or privileges, he rose to become ruler of a colossal realm stretching from Greece to the Arabian deserts, and he set the course for the development of Byzantium for years to come. In this fresh and courageous biography by the well-known historian Peter Sarris, Justinian appears above all as a person—complex, contradictory, and not reducible to familiar clichés. He was an outstanding strategist who didn’t personally fight; an energetic administrator attentive to details; and a loving man who tied his fate to a dancer—and for more than twenty years ruled side by side with her. In an attempt to resurrect the grandeur of ancient Rome, Justinian simultaneously laid the foundations for Byzantium’s future might.

“Although many centuries separate us from Justinian, this man from the distant past remains our contemporary. The problems he faced, and some of his decisions, are surprisingly in tune with today. We’re surrounded by his legacy—in architecture inspired by his grand building, in legal traditions, in culture, and in historical memory. So, despite the ambiguity of his character, Justinian continues to speak to us even now.” (Peter Sarris)