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Justinian's conquests were lost shortly after his death, with Italy falling as early as 568 A.D.  Distraught after years of armies scouring the land, the people of Italy had no love of the Byzantines and their dream of a reunited empire and were just as thankful to be free of their influence.  Later rulers generally were content to recognize that the western empire was no more, and sought secure defensive borders more than offensive actions to take more land that came at great economic cost.

Justinian's conquests were lost shortly after his death, with Italy falling as early as 568 A.D.  Distraught after years of armies scouring the land, the people of Italy had no love of the Byzantines and their dream of a reunited empire and were just as thankful to be free of their influence.  Later rulers generally were content to recognize that the western empire was no more, and sought secure defensive borders more than offensive actions to take more land that came at great economic cost.

    

    

Justinian is a saint of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].  He was a [[Christian]] emperor who feared the effects on his empire from different religious and philosophical viewpoints.  To this end he wanted a united Christian view to serve as the backbone of the people and the empire.  Pagan and non-Christian thought was surpressed.  Justinian even backed the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|orthodox]] clergy in denouncing other [[Christians]] as heretics.  He oversaw the construction of the [[Hagia Sophia]] church in Constaninople, which was one of the most magnificent and beautiful buildings ever, until the [[Muslims]] turned it into a [[mosque]] when they conqured Constantinople in 1453, almost 1000 years after his birth.

Justinian is a saint of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].  He was a [[Christian]] emperor who feared the effects on his empire from different religious and philosophical viewpoints.  To this end he wanted a united Christian view to serve as the backbone of the people and the empire.  Pagan and non-Christian thought was suppressed.  Justinian even backed the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|orthodox]] clergy in denouncing other [[Christians]] as heretics.  He oversaw the construction of the [[Hagia Sophia]] church in Constaninople, which was one of the most magnificent and beautiful buildings ever, until the [[Muslims]] turned it into a [[mosque]] when they conquered Constantinople in 1453, almost 1000 years after his birth.

In [[Dante's Paradiso]], Justinian appears in the [[Heaven]] of [[Mercury]]. He explains two theological points regarding [[justice]], reflecting his status in [[Medieval]] thought as the archetypal just [[emperor]].

In [[Dante's Paradiso]], Justinian appears in the [[Heaven]] of [[Mercury]]. He explains two theological points regarding [[justice]], reflecting his status in [[Medieval]] thought as the archetypal just [[emperor]].