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Justinian....
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Hagai Zion church build by the emperor
Justinian
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was the Eastern Roman Emperor from AD August 1, 527 until his death.
One of the most important rulers of Late Antiquity, he is best remembered
for his reform of the law code and the military expansion of imperial
territory that was achieved during his reign, primarily through the
campaigns of Belisarius. He is also known as "The last
Roman Emperor." He
is considered a saint in the Orthodox Church, commemorated on November
14th.
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Justinian I was born in a small village called Tauresina
(Taor) in Illyricum (near Skopje), in the Balkan peninsula, probably on May
11, 483 to Vigilantia, the sister of the highly esteemed General Justin, who
rose from the ranks of the army to become emperor. His uncle Justin adopted
him and ensured the boy's education. Justinian completed the usual course of
education, occupying himself with jurisprudence and philosophy. His military
career featured rapid advancement, and a great future opened up for him
when, in 518, Justin became emperor. Justinian was appointed Consul in 521,
and later as commander of the army of the east. He was functioning as
virtual regent long before Justin made him associate emperor on April 1,
527. |
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Four months later, Justinian became the sole sovereign
upon Justin's death. His administration had world-wide impact, constituting
a distinct epoch in the history of the Byzantine Empire and the Orthodox
Church. He was a man of unusual capacity for work, and possessed a
temperate, affable, and lively character; but was also unscrupulous and
crafty when it served him. He was the last emperor to attempt to restore the
Roman Empire to the territories it enjoyed under Theodosius I. To this end
he directed his great wars and his colossal activity in building. Starting
from the premise that the existence of a commonwealth rested upon arms and
laws, he paid particular attention to legislation, and wrought a lasting
memorial for himself by codifying the Roman law. |
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In 523 he married Theodora, a former actress. Actresses
were socially akin to prostitutes prior to the reign of Justin I, and
Justinian would have in earlier times been unable to marry her. Justin had
passed a law allowing intermarriage between social classes, which, during
Justinian's reign, led to a blurring of class distinctions at the
Byzantine court. Theodora would become very influential in the politics of
the Empire, and later emperors would follow Justinian's precedent and
marry outside of the aristocratic class. |
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