Justinian
Emperor, Soldier, Saint
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- £2.99
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
A SUNDAY TIMES, BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE AND EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF THE YEAR
'Majestic, sparkling . . . this is modern history writing at its finest' Peter Frankopan
'Superb and gripping' Simon Sebag Montefiore
'Effortlessly erudite' Rory Stewart
'Masterful' Anita Anand
'Wonderful' William Dalrymple
The definitive story of the Roman Emperor who shaped modern times.
This groundbreaking biography gives us an intimate insight into Justinian, a man who, from the humblest beginnings, rose to become ruler of much of the known world and achieved an almost god-like status. An emperor who infused even the most mundane tasks with spiritual significance. A gifted administrator obsessed with detail. A middle-aged lover who fell for a dancing girl, ruling with Empress Theodora by his side for over twenty years. A brilliant military strategist who was never on the frontline. The challenges he faced - climate change, battles over culture and identity, the first recorded global pandemic - and many of the solutions he found still resonate with us today. His legacy remains all around us. In this tour de force, Sarris shows us that in all his complexity and contradictions Justinian was, in many ways, a very modern emperor.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this comprehensive account, Cambridge University historian Sarris (Empires of Faith) examines the reign of Eastern Roman emperor Justinian (482–565). Following his adoptive father Justin's death in 527, Justinian took charge of an empire beset with troubles, including an ongoing war with Persia, military uprisings in Africa and Italy, and growing orthodoxy among Christians that led to religious animus toward non-Christians. With political and military skill, Justinian transformed the empire, cementing his legacy through legislative and judicial reforms (including severe crackdowns on non-Christians), architectural achievements such as the Hagia Sophia, territorial expansion in Africa and Europe, and the reconquering of Rome. However, beginning around 540, the empire faced a series of setbacks, among them renewed war with Persia, famine resulting from volcanic eruptions, and plague. Following this period, Justinian faced searing public criticism and the loss of several valued advisers. In the years following Justinian's reign, much of the Eastern Empire unraveled, but by the time of the Middle Ages, his memory was revered, and many medieval rulers looked to him as an example. By drawing heavily on contemporary sources and providing insightful interpretation of their veiled meanings, Sarris brings his subject's world to vivid life. The result is a clear-eyed view of a complex historical figure and his times.
