Justinian I

• Author: Jeffrey Lehman, Shirelle Phelps

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The emperor Justinian I ruled the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire from 527 until 565. He is significant for his efforts to regain the lost provinces of the Western Roman Empire, his CODIFICATION of ROMAN LAW, and his architectural achievements.

"JUSTICE IS THE CONSTANT AND PERPETUAL WISH TO RENDER TO EVERY ONE HIS DUE."

?JUSTINIAN I

Justinian was born circa 482 in Pauresium, Illyricum (probably south of modern Ni?s, Serbia). Justinian came to the throne with the intention of reestablishing the Roman Empire as it had been before the provinces of the Western Roman Empire fell under the control of various Germanic tribes during the fifth century. To this end, he sent his armies against the Vandals in North Africa (roughly, modern Algeria and Tunisia), the Visigoths in Spain, and the Ostrogoths in Italy. The Vandals surrendered in 534, but the Visigoths and Ostrogoths proved more difficult. Justinian's forces never succeeded in capturing more than a small part of Spain and subdued Italy only after a devastating war that ended in 563 with Italy in ruins. Nonetheless,

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Justinian I.

CORBIS-BETTMANN

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