22 Facts About Justin I

Justin I, called Justin the Thracian, was Eastern Roman emperor from 518 to 527.

Justin I's reign is significant for the founding of the Justinian dynasty that included his nephew, Justinian I, and three succeeding emperors.

Justin I endeavoured to cultivate client states on the borders of the Empire, and avoided any significant warfare until late in his reign.

Justin I was a peasant and possibly a swineherd by occupation, from the region of Dardania, part of the Prefecture of Illyricum.

Justin I was born in the hamlet Bederiana near Naissus.

Illiterate at the time of his arrival there, Justin I joined the newly formed palace guard, the excubitors.

Justin I served in various positions, campaigning against the Isaurians and the Sassanian Persians and was noticed for his bravery.

However, Justin I controlled a smaller, but higher-quality group of soldiers, and used the money to buy support for himself.

Justin I was elected as the new emperor by the council and was proclaimed emperor in the Hippodrome.

Justin I was a local saint of Chalcedon and the Council of Chalcedon had taken place in a cathedral consecrated in her name.

Justin I cemented his position by assassinating potential opponents, especially anti-Chalcedonian supporters of Anastasius.

Justin I surrounded himself with trusted advisors, the most prominent being his nephew Flavius Petrus Sabbatius, whom he adopted as his son and invested with the name Iustinianus.

Justin I endeavoured to cultivate client states on the borders of the Empire, and avoided any significant warfare until late in his reign.

Justin I was baptized as a Christian and married a Byzantine noblewoman, Valeriana.

In 524, the Sassanid emperor Kavadh I approached Justin I asking that he formally adopt his youngest son, Khosrow, in order to secure his succession over his elder, but less favoured, brothers.

Justin I was agreeable, but, aware that, being childless himself, an adopted Persian son would have a claim on the Byzantine throne, offered adoption according to barbarian custom.

Justin I's reign is noteworthy for the resolution of the Acacian schism between the eastern and western branches of the Christian church.

Justin I despatched Pope John I, Pope Hormisdas' successor, to Constantinople with firm instructions to obtain a policy reversal.

John received an exceptionally warm welcome; the population of Constantinople applauded him, Justin I laid on celebrations, prostrated himself at the Pope's feet and insisted on being re-crowned by the Pope's hands.

In either 519 or 522 Justin I abandoned the tradition of depicting pagan symbols on the reverse of his coins and seals.

The later years of the reign of Justin I were marked by increased tension with the Empire's neighbours, especially the Ostrogoths, and the Sassanids.

Justin I arranged for sufficient money to be sent to the city for both immediate relief and to start reconstruction.