Justinian, << juhs TIHN ee uhn, >> I (A.D. 482-565), was the Byzantine (East Roman) emperor from A.D. 527 until his death. He is famous for his law code, his buildings, and his conquests. Justinian collected Roman laws under one code, the Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law). This code, also called the Justinian Code, is the basis of the legal systems in many nations today.
Justinian was born in what is now the country of Macedonia. His uncle, Emperor Justin I, made him co-ruler in 527. Justin died a few months later, and Justinian became sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire. During Justinian’s reign, his wife, Theodora, tried to influence his policies (see Theodora ). Justinian’s rule was tyrannical. He was an orthodox Christian, and he persecuted Christian heretics (those who opposed church teachings), Jews, and pagans (non-Christians). In 529, he closed the schools of philosophy in Athens, Greece, because he felt the schools taught paganism.
In 532, people in Constantinople revolted against Justinian and burned down the central part of the city. Justinian rebuilt the city, including a new church, the famous Hagia Sophia. See Hagia Sophia . He also built aqueducts, fortresses, harbors, churches, monasteries, and public buildings all over the empire.
In 533, Justinian began a series of wars against the Vandals, Ostrogoths, and Visigoths, who had gained control of most of the West Roman Empire in the 400’s. His armies conquered North Africa, Italy, and parts of Spain. But the cost of these wars almost ruined the empire. He died on Nov. 14, 565.
