Irlandos at 12:52, December 30, 2005

2005-12-30T12:52:55Z

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'''Flavius Iustinus Junior Augustus''' or '''Justin II''' (c. [[520]] - [[578]]), the [[List of Byzantine Emperors|Byzantine emperor]] from [[565]] to [[578]], was the nephew and successor of [[Justinian I]].

He availed himself of his influence as master of the palace, and as husband of Sophia, the niece of the late empress [[Theodora]], to secure a peaceful election. The first few days of his reign--when he paid his uncle's debts, administered justice in person, and proclaimed universal religious toleration--gave bright promise, but in the face of the lawless aristocracy and defiant governors of provinces he effected few subsequent reforms.

The most important event of his reign was the invasion of Italy by the Lombards, who, entering in [[568]], under Alboin, in a few years made themselves masters of nearly the entire country. Justin's attention was distracted from Italy towards the North and East frontiers. After refusing to pay the [[Eurasian Avars|Avars]] tribute, he fought several unsuccessful campaigns against them. In [[572]] his overtures to the Turks led to a war with Persia. After two disastrous campaigns, in which the Persians overran Syria, Justin bought a precarious peace by payment of a yearly tribute. The temporary fits of insanity into which he fell warned him to name a colleague. Passing over his own relatives, he raised, on the advice of Sophia, the general [[Tiberius II Constantine|Tiberius]] to be Caesar in December [[574]] and withdrew into retirement. Sophia and Tiberius ruled together as joint regents for four years, while Justin sank into growing insanity. He died in [[578]].

[[Category:520s births]]
[[Category:578 deaths]]
[[Category:Byzantine emperors]]
[[Category:Justinian Dynasty]]

Justin II - Revision history

Irlandos at 12:52, December 30, 2005