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Byzantine Empire
Justin I – Emperor: July 10, 518 A.D. – August 1, 527 A.D.
Bronze Follis 30mm (14.92 grams) Constantinople mint: 518-527 A.D.
Reference: Sear 62
D . N . IVSTINVS PP . AVG . – Diademed draped and cuirassed bust right.
Large M between two stars; above, cross; beneath, officina letter, in exergue, CON.
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Flavius Iustinus (c. 450 – August 1, 527), known in English as Justin I, was a Byzantine Emperor (518–527), who rose through the ranks of the Byzantine army and ultimately became its emperor, in spite of the fact he was illiterate and almost 70 years old at the time of accession. His reign is significant for the founding of the Justinian Dynasty that included his eminent nephew Justinian I and for the enactment of laws that de-emphasized the influence of the old Byzantine nobility. His consort was Empress Euphemia.
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Early career
Justin was a peasant and a swineherd by occupation from the Latinophone region of Dardania, which is part of the province of Illyricum. He was born in a hamlet near Bederiana in Naissus (modern Niš, South Serbia). He was of Thraco-Roman stock, and who bore, like his companions and members of his family (Zimarchus, Dityvistus, Boraides, Bigleniza, Sabatius, etc.) a Thracian name, and who never learned to speak more than rudimentary Greek. His sister Vigilantia (b. ca 455) married Sabbatius and had three children: Vigilantia (b. ca 490), married to Dulcissimus and had Praejecta (b. ca 520), married to Artabanos (ca 515 – aft. 554), a Magister Militum of Armenian origin, and Justin II (b. ca 520); Justinian I; and a son (b. ca 485) who was the father of General Germanus Justinus.
As a teenager, he and two companions fled from a barbaric invasion, taking refuge in Constantinople Anastasius I decades later. He held the rank of comes excubitorum at one time..
Emperor
Thanks to his position commanding the only troops in the city and making gifts of money, Justin was able to secure election as emperor in 518.
Relying upon the accounts of the historian Procopius, it often has been said that Justinian ruled the empire in his uncle’s name during the reign of Justin, however, there is much evidence to the contrary. The information from the Secret History of Procopius was published posthumously. Critics of Procopius (whose work reveals a man seriously disillusioned with his rulers) have dismissed his work as a severely biased source, being vitriolic and pornographic, but without other sources, critics have been unable to discredit some of the assertions in the publication. However, contrary to the secret history, Justinian was not named as successor until less than a year before Justin’s death and he spent 3,700 pounds of gold during a celebration in 520.
In 525, Justin repealed a law that effectively prohibited a member of the senatorial class from marrying a woman from a lower class of society, including the theatre, which was considered scandalous at the time. This edict paved the way for Justinian to marry Theodora, a former mime actress, and eventually resulted in a major change to the old class distinctions at the Imperial court. She became an equal to Justinian, participating in the governance with significant influence.
Later years
Ostrogoths, and the Persians. In 526, Justin’s health began to decline and he formally named Justinian as co-emperor and, on April 1, 527 as his successor. On August 1 of that year, Justin died and was succeeded by Justinian.
Legacy
The town of Anazarbus was re-named Justinopolis in 525, in honour of Justin I.
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