Byzantine Emperor Justinian II

Byzantine Emperor Justinian II was the last Heraclian emperor of the Byzantine Empire, ruling from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711. He was the son of Constantine IV and Anastasia, and his reign was marked by significant events, including the Battle of Sebastopolis and the Siege of Tyana. Justinian II's life and reign were closely tied to the Byzantine Senate, the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. His relationships with Pope John V, Pope John VI, and Caliph Abd al-Malik also played a crucial role in shaping his policies and decisions.

● Early Life and First Reign

Justinian II was born in Constantinople and succeeded his father, Constantine IV, at a young age, with the support of the Byzantine Army and the Byzantine Navy. During his first reign, he faced challenges from the Bulgars, led by Asparukh, and the Umayyad Caliphate, led by Caliph Abd al-Malik and Al-Walid I. He also had to deal with the Mardaites, a group of Christian Armenians who were settled in the Levant by the Byzantine Empire. Justinian II's first reign was marked by the Sixth Ecumenical Council, which was attended by Pope Agatho and Patriarch George I of Constantinople. He also established relations with the Kingdom of the Lombards, ruled by Perctarit and Cunincpert, and the Duchy of Benevento, ruled by Gisulf I of Benevento.

● Second Reign and Fall

After being overthrown in 695 by Leontius, Justinian II was exiled to Chersonesus and had his nose cut off, a practice known as rhinotomy. However, he managed to escape and find refuge with the Khazars, a Turkic people who lived in the Pontic steppe. With the help of the Khazars and the Bulgars, led by Tervel, Justinian II was able to regain the throne in 705. During his second reign, he faced opposition from the Byzantine nobility and the Byzantine clergy, led by Patriarch Callinicus I of Constantinople. He also had to deal with the Umayyad Caliphate, which was expanding its territories under the leadership of Caliph Al-Walid I and Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik. Justinian II's second reign ended with his death in 711, when he was overthrown and killed by Philippikos Bardanes, a Byzantine general who had the support of the Byzantine Army and the Byzantine Senate.

● Military Campaigns and Policies

Justinian II's military campaigns were focused on defending the Byzantine Empire against the Umayyad Caliphate and the Bulgars. He launched several campaigns against the Umayyad Caliphate, including the Battle of Sebastopolis and the Siege of Tyana. He also campaigned against the Bulgars, led by Asparukh and Tervel, and the Avars, a Turkic people who lived in the Carpathian Basin. Justinian II's military policies were influenced by his relationships with the Byzantine generals, including Leontius and Philippikos Bardanes, and the Byzantine nobility, including the Anatolic Theme and the Thracian Theme. He also established relations with the Kingdom of the Visigoths, ruled by Egica and Wittiza, and the Duchy of Aquitaine, ruled by Odo the Great.

● Administrative and Ecclesiastical Reforms

Justinian II implemented several administrative and ecclesiastical reforms during his reign, including the reorganization of the Byzantine Empire into themes and the establishment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. He also launched a campaign to suppress the Monothelite heresy, which was supported by the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Byzantine clergy. Justinian II's relationships with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church were also significant, particularly during the reign of Pope John V and Pope John VI. He established relations with the Archbishop of Ravenna, Felix, and the Bishop of Rome, Pope Gregory II. Justinian II's administrative policies were influenced by his relationships with the Byzantine bureaucracy, including the Logothete and the Sakellarios, and the Byzantine law, including the Corpus Juris Civilis.

● Legacy and Succession

Justinian II's legacy is complex and multifaceted, reflecting both his achievements and his failures. He is remembered for his military campaigns, his administrative and ecclesiastical reforms, and his relationships with the Byzantine nobility and the Byzantine clergy. However, his reign was also marked by controversy and opposition, particularly during his second reign. Justinian II was succeeded by Philippikos Bardanes, who was overthrown by Anastasius II in 711. The Byzantine Empire continued to face challenges and threats during the 8th century, including the Umayyad Caliphate and the Bulgars. Justinian II's legacy can be seen in the works of Byzantine historians, including Theophanes the Confessor and Nikephoros I of Constantinople, and in the Byzantine art and Byzantine architecture of the period, including the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Apostles.