History of Justinian II

Justinian II, known as Justinian Rhinotmetus, was a Byzantine Emperor whose dramatic and tumultuous reign spanned from 685 to 695 and then again from 705 to 711. His life and leadership were marked by ambition, aggression, and tragedy, painting the picture of a ruler who was both consequential in his achievements and notable for his dramatic reversals of fortune.

Born around 669 to Emperor Constantine IV and Empress Anastasia, Justinian II ascended to the throne as a young boy after his father’s death. His initial reign began in 685 and was characterized by military and administrative initiatives aimed at regaining lost territories and consolidating power within the empire.

Justinian II’s first acts as emperor were focused on addressing the many geopolitical threats facing the Byzantine Empire. He launched successful military campaigns against the Slavs and Bulgars in the Balkans, which enhanced the empire’s territorial integrity and placed immense pressure on hostile forces along the empire’s peripheries. His efforts in the east against the Umayyad Caliphate were noted for their alternating success and failure. Despite occasional military victories, his policies often provoked public discontent due to their expense and the heavy taxes required to fund them.

Aside from his military endeavors, Justinian II sought to strengthen the empire through significant administrative reforms. He was fiercely dedicated to maintaining imperial authority over both secular and religious matters. This was demonstrated in his assertion of religious orthodoxy and his convening of the Quinisext Council, also known as the Council in Trullo in 691-692, which aimed to address ecclesiastical discipline and enforce the canons of the Church. However, his authoritarian approach and attempts to centralize power created numerous enemies, both within the government and the elite class.

Justinian’s reign was abruptly interrupted in 695 due to a coup d’état led by the military and political factions displeased with his rule. He was deposed and subsequently mutilated—his nose was cut off, a common practice intended to make someone ineligible for the throne—and exiled to Cherson in the Crimean Peninsula. This brutal act earned him the nickname "Rhinotmetus," meaning "cut nose." Under the new emperor, Leontios, the empire entered an era of instability. However, Justinian’s exile did not spell the end of his political career.

Remarkably, Justinian II managed to reclaim the empire’s throne in 705, a decade after his deposition, with the assistance of the Bulgar khan Tervel and a group of loyal followers. His return to power was marked by vengeance against those who had wronged him, including the execution or exile of many of his political opponents and former allies who had forsaken him. His aggressive retribution won him fear but cost him popular support, deepening the atmosphere of distrust and resentment that surrounded his rule.

During his second reign, Justinian II continued his efforts to fortify the empire’s frontiers and revisit his earlier policies. Diplomatically, he managed to secure a marriage alliance with the Khazars and reasserted his authority over the rebellious regions. However, his military ventures did not bring long-lasting success, as internal strife and external threats continued to plague the empire.

Justinian’s constant focus on revenge and his harsh policies led to growing dissatisfaction. In 711, another rebellion erupted, this time led by Philippicus Bardanes, a strategos from the army based in the Opsikion theme. Encouraged by widespread resentment against Justinian’s despotic rule, Bardanes easily marshaled support to depose the emperor. Justinian II attempted to flee but was captured and executed, marking the end of his contentious reign as well as his life. His legacy was cemented as one of overreach and intermittent achievement overshadowed by an inability to foster lasting stability.

Reflecting on Justinian II's rule, his reign can be seen as an example of the precarious nature of political power and the profound consequences of authoritarian governance. His ambition to restore the might of the Byzantine Empire was undermined by his failure to secure the loyalty and trust of those he governed. His volatile career underscores a critical lesson in leadership: the necessity of balancing ambition with diplomacy and foresight.

The history of Justinian II serves as an instructive tale of the perils faced by leaders who prioritize personal vengeance and power consolidation over sustainable governance and unity. Despite his tangible successes in territorial expansion and religious policy, his narrative is marred by the severe and self-destructive measures he employed to maintain his rule and avenge his deposition. Thus, Justinian II remains a compelling but cautionary figure in the tapestry of Byzantine history, exemplifying the volatile interplay between ambition, power, and fate.