THE AGE OF JUSTINIAN AND THEODORA
CHAPTER V
THE PERSIANS AND JUSTINIAN'S FIRST WAR WITH THEM
On the death of Justin the absolute control of the
Empire became centred in the hands of Justinian.
Nine years of virtual sovereignty during the lifetime of his
uncle had familiarized him with Imperial procedure, and
nullified the influence of a bureaucracy which might aspire
to govern vicariously by taking advantage of his ignorance
of affairs. His tutors in the art of autocracy were dead or
superannuated, and his present subordinates owed their
elevation to his favour and judgment. The new Emperor
was a man of middle stature, spare rather than stout, and on
the verge of becoming bald and gray. His features were
sufficiently regular, his face was round, his complexion
florid, and he wore neither beard nor moustache.[1] Those*
- ↑ The minute description of Justinian's personal appearance is due to Procopius (Anecd., 8), and Malala (xviii, p. 425), whose descriptions seem to correspond fairly. There are several representations of Justinian, but it is doubtful whether any of them rise to actual portraiture. Those found on a large gold medal formerly in a museum at Paris (stolen 1835)
