Justin II

  • Justin II (565-578 CE) was a Roman Emperor in the East who was a member of the Justinian Dynasty.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

  • NAME:
  • JUSTIN II’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
    • 14 November 565 CE to 5 October 578 CE.
  • JUSTIN II’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born in 520 CE. Died 5 October 578 CE. Aged 58.
  • PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born in Constantinople. Died in Constantinople.
  • JUSTIN II’ PREDECESSOR:
  • JUSTIN II’ SUCCESSOR:
  • HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
    • The Grand Chamberlain, Callinicus informed the Senate that Justinian I had proclaimed Justin II Heir, who was his nephew and husband of Theodora, the niece of the Dowager Empress Theodora.
  • WIVES AND CHILDREN:
    • Sophia
      • Arabia
  • DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
    • Died peacefully.
  • WHERE BURIED:
    • Unknown.
  • JUSTIN II WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
    • He suffered from fits of insanity.
    • He lost Italy.
  • EVENTS:
  • MONUMENTS:

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

  • His first act was to become a Consul in 566 CE, restoring that office, which had fallen into disuse.
  • He then proclaimed Religious Tolerance to appease the Monophysites.
  • However, the State Treasury was empty of Funds meaning he could not afford to either go to war, properly equip the army or appease warlike enemies with Tribute.

Foreign Policy

  • He was forced to end the Tribute being paid to the Avars. The Avars attacked the Lombards, who migrated into Italy in 568 CE and took over the country.
  • In 572 CE he ended Tribute being paid to the Persians. Khosrow I invaded Syria, defeated two Roman Armies and captured the Fortress of Dara. Eventually he was paid Tribute.
  • The Sogdiana, a country on the Silk Road to China, proposed a direct Trade in Silk and made a Treaty with Justin II, which displeased the Persians.

Insanity

  • Unable to maintain the State power and magnificence of his predecessor, Justin II was driven to bouts of insanity.
  • On 7th September 574 CE he adopted his General Tiberius II Constantine as his Heir and acting Adviser before retiring for the next four years due to his ill health.

Death

  • On 26th September 578 CE, he made Tiberius Emperor before dying days later, on the 5th October.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • CLASSICAL SOURCES:
    • Chronicon Paschale
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