Definition

Proper noun: * Justinian I (Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Justinianus): A Byzantine (Eastern Roman) emperor who reigned from 527 to 565 AD. He is historically significant for his ambitious project to reconquer lost western territories of the Roman Empire and, most enduringly, for his comprehensive codification of Roman law.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The reign of Justinian marked a golden age for the Byzantine Empire.
  • Historians study Justinian's legal code as a foundation for many modern legal systems.
  • The church of Hagia Sophia was built under the orders of Emperor Justinian.

Advanced Usage

• "Justinian's Code" (Corpus Juris Civilis): This refers to the monumental collection and systematization of Roman law commissioned by Justinian. It is his most famous and lasting legacy.
  • The principles outlined in Justinian's Code influenced European civil law for centuries.
• "Justinianic": An adjective used to describe something relating to the period, policies, or style of Emperor Justinian.
  • The Justinianic plague had a devastating impact on the empire's population.

Variants and Related Words

• Justinian I: The full designation, often used to distinguish him from later emperors named Justinian.
• Justinian II: A later Byzantine emperor, grandson of Heraclius, who reigned in the 7th century.

Synonyms

• Justinian the Great: An epithet acknowledging the significance and scale of his achievements.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• The Justinianic Reconquest: Refers to the military campaigns led by his general, Belisarius, to reclaim territories in North Africa, Italy, and parts of Spain.
  • The Justinianic Reconquest temporarily restored Roman control over Rome itself.
• The Nika Riots: A major revolt in Constantinople (532 AD) during Justinian's reign, which nearly toppled his rule before being brutally suppressed.
  • The Nika Riots demonstrated the volatile political climate in Constantinople.

Noun

1. Byzantine emperor who held the eastern frontier of his empire against the Persians; codified Roman law in 529; his general Belisarius regained North Africa and Spain (483-565)