The Emergence of Europe (286-843) Part XII: Nika

A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode Twelve explains that Justin, the commander of the palace guard, gained enough support from the influential racing factions to become emperor. He even ensured the smooth succession of his nephew Justinian, who soon faced dangerous riots in the capital after he cracked down on the racing factions. It appeared that Justinian might be forced to abdicate, but loyal troops had arrived in the capital, and massacred the rioters while they were gathered in the Hippodrome. The riots were used as an excuse to eliminate any rivals for the throne, leaving Justinian in firm control of the eastern Roman empire.

 

Cast of Characters:

Justin-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (518-527)

Justinian-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (527-565), nephew of Justin

Theodora-wife of Justinian

Belisarius-leading general of the Eastern Roman Empire

Narses-general of the Eastern Roman Empire

John the Cappadocian-praetorian prefect of the east, the senior official in the empire (532-541)

Hypatius-commander in the east, nephew of former emperor Anastasius I

Khosrow-shah of Persia (531-579)

 

Sources:

Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-Peter Heather

Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West 376-568-Guy Halsall

The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians-Peter Heather

The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization-Bryan Ward-Perkins

The Inheritance of Rome-A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham

Empires of Faith: The Fall of Rome to the Rise of Islam, 500-700-Peter Sarris

Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages-Dan Jones

The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather

Theodoric the Great: King of Goths, Ruler of Romans-Hans-Ulrich Wiemer, Translated by John Noel Dillon

The Franks-Edward James

Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization-Lars Brownsworth

Byzantium: The Early Centuries-John Julius Norwich

Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint-Peter Sarris

Visigothic Spain 409-711-Roger Collins

History of the Goths-Herwig Wolfram, translated by Thomas J. Dunlap

 

Image Credit

By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625