latin greek november traditionally known great great byzantine east roman emperor reign sought revive empire greatness lost western half historical rule constitutes distinct history later roman empire reign marked ambitious partly realized restoration empire restoration activities called roman modern historiography ambition expressed partial recovery territories defunct western roman empire general swiftly conquered kingdom north_africa subsequently generals conquered kingdom restoring sicily italy rome empire half century rule reclaimed south peninsula establishing province campaigns established roman control western mediterranean increasing empire annual revenue million reign subdued people east coast black_sea roman rule aspect legacy uniform roman law corpus basis civil law modern states reign marked byzantine culture building program yielded church devastating outbreak plague early marked end age life born native speaker latin possibly roman emperor came peasant family believed origins took later indicative adoption uncle reign founded far birthplace today mother sister imperial guard emperor adopted brought constantinople ensured boy education result educated theology roman history served time details early career unknown chronicler lived reign tells appearance short fair skinned haired round faced handsome contemporary chronicler compares appearance emperor probably emperor died proclaimed new emperor significant help reign emperor close showed ambition thought functioning virtual regent long associate emperor april conclusive evidence near end reign facto ruler appointed consul later commander army east death august sole sovereign ruler showed great energy known emperor sleeps account work habits easy approach married mistress constantinople profession years junior earlier times married class uncle emperor passed law allowing social classes influential politics empire later emperors follow precedent marrying outside aristocratic class marriage caused scandal prove judge character greatest supporter talented individuals included legal adviser diplomat longtime head palace bureaucracy finance ministers managed collect taxes efficiently funding wars finally talented generals rule universally popular early reign nearly lost throne riots conspiracy emperor life dissatisfied businessmen discovered late struck plague early recovered died relatively young age possibly cancer nearly years keen interest theological matters actively participated debates christian doctrine devoted religion later years life died november left children wife given birth son years reign succeeded son sister married niece empress body specially built robbed city fourth crusade reign legislative activities achieved lasting fame judicial reforms particularly complete revision roman law previously attempted total legislature known today corpus consists early reign appointed oversee task draft imperial 2nd century onward issued april final version appeared followed compilation older legal texts textbook explaining principles law collection new laws issued reign corpus opposed rest corpus appeared greek common language corpus forms basis latin including ecclesiastical historians provides valuable insight concerns activities later collection sources laws rules expressed published proper laws imperial case law opinions interpretations code ensured survival roman law formed basis later byzantine law expressed wise western province code introduced italy conquest called pass western_europe 12th century basis european law code eventually passed eastern_europe appeared slavic editions passed russia remains influential day passed laws protect prostitutes exploitation women forced prostitution treated severely policies women charged major crimes guarded women prevent sexual abuse woman widowed returned husband major debt wife giving consent twice riots habit choosing efficient unpopular advisers nearly cost throne early reign january partisans racing factions constantinople normally divided united revolt known riots forced dismiss ministers attempted overthrow replace senator nephew late emperor crowd rioting streets considered fleeing capital eventually decided stay apparently prompting refused leave days ordered brutal suppression riots generals relates unarmed civilians killed insistence apparently judgment executed destruction taken place revolt provided opportunity tie series splendid new buildings notably architectural innovation military activities spectacular features reign recovery large stretches land basin slipped imperial control 5th century christian roman emperor considered divine duty restore ancient boundaries personally took military campaigns boasted successes laws commemorated art conquests large carried general war uncle inherited ongoing hostilities persian army defeated year saw defeat roman forces near king persia died september concluded eternal peace cost pounds gold successor having secured eastern frontier turned attention west kingdoms established territories conquest north_africa western kingdoms attacked north_africa king maintained good relations north african catholic clergy overthrown cousin imprisoned deposed king appealed fleet escorting transports landed modern modern tunisia army men number troops defeated caught completely guard september december took king fled surrendered spring taken constantinople triumph stronghold near gibraltar recovered campaign african centered established april brink collapse years amidst warfare military area completely remained peaceful enjoyed measure prosperity recovery africa cost empire pounds gold war italy phase africa struggles provided opportunity intervention young king died october imprisoned queen daughter mother island lake assassinated men invaded sicily advanced italy naples capturing rome december time deposed army elected new king gathered large army besieged rome february march able retake city sent general italy tensions hampered progress campaign milan taken soon recaptured razed recalled military situation turned favour romans reached capital offered title western roman emperor time envoys arriving negotiate peace leave region north gothic hands accept offer entered city reclaimed empire having recalled returned constantinople taking captured wife war recalled face renewed hostilities following revolt empire armenia late possibly motivated pleas ambassadors king broke eternal peace invaded roman territory spring sacked allowing garrison men leave city besieged went attack small strategically significant satellite kingdom near black_sea tribute towns passed way forced pay pounds gold plus pounds gold year arrived east success recalled constantinople reasons withdrawal known instigated rumours behalf general reaching court outbreak plague caused fighting year following year defeated byzantine army men unsuccessfully besieged major city parties little truce agreed southern roman persian frontier war north continued years second truce followed years peace terms agreed abandon exchange annual tribute pounds gold paid romans war italy second phase military efforts directed east situation italy took turn worse respective kings murdered especially quick gains victory major cities soon held entire peninsula sent italy late lacked sufficient troops making relieved command succeeded defeating gothic fleet ships period city rome changed hands times taken december byzantines january plundered sicily attacked greek coastlines finally dispatched force approximately men men detached sent invade southern command army reached june defeated decisively month battle slain second battle october year resistance finally broken large scale invasion defeated italy secured empire years reduce remaining gothic strongholds end war italy garrisoned army men recovery italy cost empire pounds gold campaigns addition conquests empire established presence requested assistance rebellion king dispatched force men according historian army led byzantines took cities southeastern coast founded new province checked ally king campaign marked byzantine expansion reign balkans suffered incursions slavic peoples lived north danube resorted mainly combination diplomacy system defensive works particularly dangerous invasion khan threatened constantinople repulsed aged general results ambition restore glory partly realized west brilliant early military successes followed years dragging war disaster italy long lasting effects severe thought heavy taxes administration imposed population deeply resented final victory italy conquest coast southern significantly enlarged area empire project power influence contributed empire prestige conquests proved greater italy lost invading years death newly founded province completely recovered leadership century half africa forever lost empire muslim conquests events later years reign showed constantinople safe incursions north relatively historian felt need attribute emperor failure protect capital weakness body old age efforts renew dangerously stretched resources failing account changed realities 6th century europe grand scale military successes probably contributed empire subsequent decline religious activities saw empire threatened religious currents especially adherents eastern provinces syria egypt doctrine maintains jesus christ divine nature synthesis divine human nature condemned tolerant policies source tension relationship bishops rome reversed trend confirmed doctrine openly condemning continued policy tried impose religious unity subjects forcing accept appeal parties policy proved unsuccessful satisfied near end life inclined doctrine especially form died able issue legislation empress said constant source pro court constantinople earlier years course reign genuine interest matters theology authored small number theological religious policy secular administration appeared emperor ecclesiastical policy regulated religion law beginning reign deemed proper law church belief trinity incarnation threaten appropriate penalties subsequently declared intended opportunity offense process law creed sole symbol church accorded legal force councils bishops attendance recognized church contrary emperor command emperor case patriarch reinforced ban church temporal protected purity church suppressing neglected opportunity securing rights church clergy protecting extending granted monks right inherit property private citizens right receive annual gifts imperial treasury taxes certain provinces prohibited lay monastic estates character measures contrary modern nursing father church contain donations foundations administration ecclesiastical property election rights bishops priests monastic life residential obligations clergy conduct divine service episcopal jurisdiction rebuilt cost pounds gold original site having destroyed riots new numerous octagonal dome centre visible monument constantinople religious relations rome middle 5th century onward increasingly tasks confronted emperors east ecclesiastical matters entered arena ecclesiastical shortly uncle accession end previous emperors tried alleviate theological conflicts condemned strongholds egypt syria appointment church offices reacted ties patriarch constantinople supported policies emperors later rescinded policies union constantinople rome felt entitled settle disputes papal elections favoured rival deported new found unity east west solve ongoing disputes east policies switched attempts force accept creed bishops monks egypt provinces attempts compromise win surrendering faith approach supported favoured condemnation chapters opposed tried win opposition eastern church yielded emperor demands forcibly brought constantinople besieged finally gave condemnation received west led new albeit temporal failed reach goal east remained bitter years took greater interest theological matters suppression religions religious policy reflected imperial conviction unity empire unity faith appeared obvious faith orthodox different belief subjected persecution imperial legislation effected time vigorously continue contained statutes decreed total destruction private life provisions enforced contemporary sources john tell severe men high position placed state control training school branch philosophy asia minor john reported converted peoples accepted christianity dwelling near don worship desert abolished remnants worship isis island julian bishop conducted mission attempted strengthen christianity bishop egypt civil rights jews restricted religious privileges threatened interfered internal affairs encouraged jews use constantinople emperor faced significant opposition resisted conversion christianity repeatedly insurrection persecuted rigorous prevent christians taking place close reign consistency policy meant suffered persecution experiencing exile threat capital punishment constantinople occasion strict executed emperor presence burning drowning architecture learning art literature prolific builder historian bears witness activities area patronage features famous representing completed notably originally style church burnt riots rebuilt according completely different ground plan architectural supervision according stated completion solomon thee reference 1st jewish temple new cathedral magnificent dome filled remained centre eastern christianity centuries prominent church capital poor state near end 5th century likewise rebuilt works confined churches excavations site great palace constantinople yielded high quality dating reign column topped bronze statue horseback dressed military costume erected rivalry established patrons exiled roman aristocracy like enforced building activities capital means strengthening dynasty prestige strengthened borders empire africa east construction fortifications ensured constantinople water supply construction underground prevent floods damaging strategically important border town advanced arch dam built reign large bridge built securing major military supply route east furthermore restored cities damaged earthquake war built new city near place birth called intended replace political religious centre reign partly patronage byzantine culture produced noteworthy historians including poets paul flourished hand centres learning athens famous law school lost importance reign despite passion glorious roman past practice choosing roman consul allowed lapse economy administration case predecessors empire economic health rested primarily agriculture addition long distance trade flourished reaching far north cornwall tin exchanged roman wheat empire convoys sailing alexandria provided constantinople wheat grains traffic efficient building large island storage transport constantinople tried find new routes eastern trade suffering badly wars important luxury product silk imported processed empire order protect manufacture silk products granted monopoly imperial factories order bypass persian established friendly relations wanted act trade transporting indian silk empire unable compete persian merchants india early monks succeeded smuggling eggs silk worms constantinople silk indigenous product gold silver mined balkans armenia cyprus egypt start reign inherited surplus pounds gold imperial treasury rule measures taken counter corruption provinces tax collection efficient greater administrative power given leaders provinces power taken away number abolished overall trend administrative infrastructure according brown increased tax collection destroy traditional structures provincial life weakened autonomy town councils greek towns estimated state annual revenue annual revenue increased reign cities villages east prospered struck earthquakes sacked evacuated city rebuilt slightly smaller scale despite measures empire suffered major setbacks course 6th century plague lasted empire population probably created labor rising wages lack manpower led significant increase number byzantine armies early protracted war italy wars laid heavy burden empire resources criticized government run post service limited eastern route military importance natural disasters decade god abandoned christian roman empire air sun providing day refused heat caused famine unlike time seen weakening people europe middle_east cause disasters aren precisely known collision suspected scientists spent decades mystery seven years later devastating outbreak second 14th century laid siege world killing tens millions ruler empire members court physically unaffected famine prove susceptible plague contracting surviving july eastern mediterranean earthquake triggered combined fatalities events probably exceeded felt alexandria cultural depictions section divine comedy prominently featured spirit residing sphere mercury holds ambitious souls heaven legacy elaborated portrayed defender christian faith rome empire confesses partially motivated fame duty god justice rule spite proud accomplishments introduction son mortal title contrasted immortal soul emphasize glory life contributing god glory eternal according uses criticize politics 14th century italy contrast unified italy historical sources provides primary source history reign chronicle john survive source later chronicles contributing additional details value historians bitter empress sources include histories chronicles comes victor considered saint eastern orthodox christians remembered november
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