| Justinian was born in 482. He ruled from 527 until his death, in
567. He became komes ton domestikon in 518 and acquired
the title of patrician. He took up the office of hypatos in 521,
which increased his prestige and power in the capital city
circles. He later became supreme officer in the imperial guard.
He was appointed co-emperor in 527 and remained the sole emperor
within the same year, after Justin's death. Thanks to his
physical endurance and few hours of sleep he was termed "the
sleepless king" in an inscription of the Saints Sergius and
Bacchus church as well as "the lord of daemons"
according to Procopios the historian. He was a domineering
person, capable of great insistence, discipline and patience in
order to achieve his goals. He was also particularly active and
industrious, good mannered, not prone to recklessness, but also
rather incredulous.
His portrait survives in a mosaic at the church of San Vitale
at Ravenna as well as on contemporary coins.
Justinian died on November 14, 565. His ambitious agenda was
imbued with the spirit of an all-powerful, restored Roman
Empire, as well as with the effort to establish Orthodoxy. Yet,
many were those who criticized his financial policy because of
the long wars his many ambitious building projects, which cost
huge amounts of money to the state. Also, new problems were felt
in the Northern and Eastern borders at the same time that
tension appeared in the Eastern provinces. Nevertheless, his
reorganization of the Empire, his legislative work, the
restoration of the Roman Empire and, last but not least, the
flourishing arts and letters were all characteristic of the
thirty-eight years of Justinian's constructive rule.
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