Byzantine Empire Under Emperor Justinian

Emperor Justinian

• Was the most important ruler in the Byzantine Empire
• Helped restore some of Rome’s former glory
• Implemented legal reforms (Derecoquest) to make the system more efficient
• Built impressive buildings
• Used undercover secret agents, disguised as monks, to discover how the Chinese made silk

Dominus et Deus

• Means “Lord and God”
• Phrase adopted by Emperor Justinian
• Demonstrates the centralisation of power through him, claiming all power derives from God

Procopius

• Byzantine historian
• Wrote “Secret History”

“Secret History”

• Reveals the brutality of the Byzantine autocratic system
• Emphasizes the Emperor's rule by Divine Providence

Hagia Sophia

• Holy Church of Wisdom
• Built under the reign of Justinian in Constantinople (now Istanbul)
• Constructed with allusions that look as if Jesus is floating above

“Greek Fire”

• Byzantine weapon used primarily at sea against enemy ships
• Demonstrates the Byzantine Empire’s technological advancement

Agentes In Rebus

• Translates to “People doing things”
• Justinian’s spy network
• Disguised as monks, they discovered the secret of Chinese silk production

Iconoclasm

• Disputes within Christianity regarding the use of icons
• Iconoclasts, who opposed icons, argued that they violated the 10 Commandments

The Byzantine Church’s View on Iconoclasm

• Byzantines did not support Iconoclasm
• Believed in the use of icons

Great Schism of 1054

• The separation of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church (Byzantine Church)

Pope’s Role in the Great Schism of 1054

• Pope excommunicated the five patriarchs of the Byzantine Church

Charlemagne

• King of the Franks
• Considered an ideal king
• Known as the founder of the first empire in Western Europe after the fall of Rome
• Rivaled with the Pope
• Issued Capitularies on Law to uphold Christianity above all other religions

Carolingian Minuscule

• New form of handwriting created by Charlemagne
• Standardized handwriting and ensured the preservation and transmission of knowledge

Einhard’s “Life of Charlemagne”

• Book about the life and reign of Charlemagne
• Written by one of his dedicated servants

Lateran Palace Mosaic

• Commissioned by the Pope to celebrate Charlemagne’s coronation as Holy Roman Emperor
• Shows that the power of the Pope derives from God, placing the Church above the Holy Roman Emperor

Comitatus

• Germanic war band that follows their leader
• The leader depended on their fidelity

Chief’s Duties to the Comitatus

• The chief was responsible for distributing the spoils of war to his followers
• Members of the Comitatus were rewarded for engaging in violence and warfare

Explore the significant aspects of Emperor Justinian's reign, including his legal reforms, the construction of Hagia Sophia, and his use of secret agents. Discover his centralization of power and insights from Procopius's 'Secret History' that highlight the Byzantine autocracy. Test your knowledge about this pivotal era in history.