Justinian I served as emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 565. Justinian is best remembered for his work as a legislator and codifier. During his reign, Justinian reorganized the government of the Byzantine Empire and enacted several reforms to increase accountability and reduce corruption.
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5 Major Accomplishments of Justinian. As the emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Justinian accomplished a great deal, over the course of a reign that extended from 527, all the way up to 565. After the Western Roman Empire collapsed under the threat of Germanic invaders, Byzantine remained intact.
In 525 he received the title of caesar and, on April 4, 527, was made coemperor with the rank of augustus. At the same time, his wife, the former actress Theodora, who exercised considerable influence over him, was crowned augusta. On Justin I’s death on August 1, 527, Justinian succeeded him as sole emperor.
What was the Code of Justinian? The Codex Justinianus, or Code of Justinian, was a legal code. It consisted of the various sets of laws and legal interpretations collected and codified by scholars under the direction of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
Early career. Justinian was a Latin-speaking Illyrian and was born of peasant stock. Justinianus was a Roman name that he took from his uncle, the emperor Justin I, to whom he owed his advancement. While still a young man, he went to Constantinople, where his uncle held high military command.
Justinian is best remembered for his work as a legislator and codifier. During his reign, Justinian reorganized the government of the Byzantine Empire and enacted several reforms to increase accountability and reduce corruption. He also sponsored the codification of laws known as the Codex Justinianus ...
Two important facets of Justinian’s foreign policy were his continuation of the age-old struggle with Persia and his attempt to regain the former Roman provinces in the West from the control of barbarian invaders.
The Codex Justinianus, or Code of Justinian, was a legal code. It consisted of the various sets of laws and legal interpretations collected and codified by scholars under the direction of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The code synthesized collections of past laws and extracts of the opinions of the great Roman jurists. It also included an elementary outline of the law and a collection of Justinian’s own new laws. The four-book code was completed in stages. Work on the first book, the Codex Constitutionum, began shortly after Justinian’s elevation in 527. The second book, the Digesta, was drawn up between 530 and 533. The third book, Institutiones, was compiled and published in 533, and the fourth book, Novellae Constitutiones Post Codicem, was completed upon Justinian’s death in 565.
It also included an elementary outline of the law and a collection of Justinian’s own new laws. The four-book code was completed in stages. Work on the first book, the Codex Constitutionum, began shortly after Justinian’s elevation in 527. The second book, the Digesta, was drawn up between 530 and 533.
The third book, Institutiones, was compiled and published in 533, and the fourth book, Novellae Constitutiones Post Codicem, was completed upon Justinian’s death in 565. Roman law: The law of Justinian. Learn more about the law of Justinian I.
He took the Roman name “Justinianus” from his uncle, Justin. It was through Justin that Justinian advanced. In the early 500s, Justin—a high-ranking military commander in Constantinople (now Istanbul)—took Justinian under his wing. He ensured that Justinian received a Classical education and military training.
Justinian was a Latin-speaking Illyrian and was born of peasant stock. Justinianus was a Roman name that he took from his uncle, the emperor Justin I, to whom he owed his advancement. While still a young man, he went to Constantinople, where his uncle held high military command. He received an excellent education, though it was said that he always spoke Greek with a bad accent. When Justin became emperor in 518, Justinian was a powerful influence in guiding the policy of his elderly and childless uncle, whose favourite nephew he was. He was legally adopted by Justin and held important offices. In 525 he received the title of caesar and, on April 4, 527, was made coemperor with the rank of augustus. At the same time, his wife, the former actress Theodora, who exercised considerable influence over him, was crowned augusta. On Justin I’s death on August 1, 527, Justinian succeeded him as sole emperor.