The Eastern Empire in the sixth century

Abstract

Anastasius, the Roman Empire in the beginning of the sixth century, inherited, and promoted, religious divisions that were to cast a long shadow over the Christian Roman or Byzantine Empire. Accounts of the second half of Anastasius' reign indicate increasing popular unrest, ostensibly owing to the religious policy of the emperor. At the beginning of the century, the long peace with Persia, the traditional enemy of the Roman Empire, and indeed of its predecessors, came to an end. Anastasius was succeeded by Justin I, who had risen through the ranks to become Count of the Excubitors. Justinian's reign was a long one, lasting until 565, thirty-eight years in all, or forty-seven if one includes the period as the power behind Justin's throne. The 'grand design' view of Justinian's reign sees all his actions as the deliberate restoration of the ancient Roman Empire, though a Roman Empire raised to new heights of glory as a Christian Empire confessing the Orthodox faith.