In his Secret History, Procopius portrays Justinian as a “demon emperor.” Name-calling aside, what specifically, in Procopius’ view, made Justinian a poor emperor? Is it possible to reconcile Procopius’ depiction with the political, intellectual, and military accomplishments of this emperor’s reign?
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Having red thought entire history written by Procopius as published from Loeb Classical Library, you cannot disconnect the real history and the secret history from his work. Procopius had big admiration for Belisarius, the general that won for Justinian the wars with Vandals and extended the Byzantine Empire to the highest extend. The jealousy of the Emperor toward this general caused the failure of securing Italy for the Constantinople. Procopius felt obligated to write the gossips and feeling that was within the time about Justinian because of numerous failure in his administration. Justinian is regarded as the greatest emperor of Byzantine Empire and Christian enshrine him with divine, wise, and enlighten features that were far from reality. In many cases and quite an opposite of Christian propaganda, Justinian was probably one the cruelest emperor that ever ruled this world. It is estimated that he was responsible for death of at about 20 millions people, and much of his plundering army carried a plague that killed 2/3 of population in the era of late Antiquity. He was until Chingis-Chan the most ruthless leader of the world. Procopius had hatred toward the Empress Theodora that was nothing more than former prostitute, although loyal wife; she was the most influential person behind Justinian. Many stories of her personal life and insatiable sexual appetite were over centuries applied to other eastern princesses and later on passed to Russian Tsarinas. People definitely disliked here, and during the race riot, she advised her husband to drown the uprising in blood. How you feel what is true about the Justinian is matter of beliefs in writing of Procopius. Although he was a capable ruler for his time, his policies backfired after his death and the western world developed completely different route. Was the route better? You be a judge.
Without Belisarius, Justinian would not be able to defeat the Vandals, or eliminate Ostrogoths from Italy. Justinian deliberately sabotaged the possibility of securing the Rome for Byzantine, ultimately sealed the fate of entire Western Europe into the hands of barbarity. Until that time, Italy had a chance to recover from the fall of 476, which was nothing more than passing power from imperial power to local feudal. But Italian long lasting wars destroyed 1000 years of work of roman republic and empire, reducing the diadem of the western world into desolate wasteland. There is a story (although hardly believable), that it was only point in time, there was no one living in Rome. The city, the state, and the countryside was destroyed. Byzantines officials were displeased that after sacrificing the nation wealth to conquer Rome was wasted. Eventually couple years after Justinian death, Byzantine Empire faced economical bankruptcy, and many states from Egypt to Spain felt relief from Arab army that were seem less demanding taxes as the Justinian.
Procopius Secret History
The Secret History Procopius
Procopius was probably too harsh on Justinian. Keep in mind that some really horrible things happened to humanity that were completely out of Justinian's control-- the eruption of Krakatoa blacked out the sun for a couple of years in which there were no summers. Following this climactic catastrophe came the plague. Again, you can't blame Justinian for the bubonic plage. It was probably the result of the change in weather patterns and other political changes in Africa and the Middle East.
Justinian came very close to reunifying the Roman Empire and may very well have succeeded if he hadn't been thwarted by these horrific disasters.
Procopius, being a devout Christian and unaware of climatology, naturally felt that these disasters were God's will and judgement on mankind. Naturally, he looked for moral failures in his emporer for an explanation of God's displeasure.
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I know a lot of Niegrian children with what you would call unusual names - one family have four children called Peace, Praise, Promise and Prosper - another has a daughter called Lovely, and I also knew a Princess. As this isn't uncommon there, it's not a big deal, but to Brits, they do seem weird. The one I think possibly beats them all though is a guy in my husband's office called U ***.