Justinian I (Latin: Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus Augustus; Greek: Ιουστινιανος; 482 – 565), traditionally known as Justinian the Great and also Saint Justinian in the Eastern Orthodox Church, was the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to his death. He is notable for attempting to revive the greatness of the Roman Empire by reconquering its Western half.
Research by Abstergo Industries suggests that during Justinian's reign, a member of the congregation of a Christian bishop was a Sage.[1] The emperor's general, Belisarius, was able to retake Rome and large parts of Italy from the Vandals and Ostrogoths.[2]
In 532, Justinian rebuilt the Hagia Sophia in its third iteration. It became an architectural masterpiece, and remained the largest Christian cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years. That year, Justinian converted a basilica into the Yerebatan Cistern, a water storage for the Great Palace of Constantinople. In 548, he restored the Saint Irene church from near-ruin.[3]
According to a medieval legend, Justinian had Belisarius blinded. When questioned about this, the emperor denied any involvement, before abruptly changing the subject to the reconstruction of the Hagia Sophia.[2]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed: Unity (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece (mentioned only)
References[]