Cover of Justinian

Justinian

An in-depth fictional look at the vicious reign of Justinian II, Emperor of the Romans in the seventh century and one of history's most brutal, desperate, and determined rulers. Justinian II assumed the throne at the youthful age of sixteen and expanded Rome's rule over the Arabs, the Slavs, and most significantly, over the priests of the Eastern Church. Headstrong and stubborn, he eventually overstepped his bounds and was overthrown by the nobles. No one may rule Rome who is not a whole man...so to ensure his powerlessness, his nose was cut off and he was exiled across the Black Sea.

Audience
adult
Length
epic · 640 pages

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it. Point at it (on a phone, tap it) for less of it instead.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

Liked Justinian? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Justinian. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Legionary Shares historical fiction, Rome, byzantium
  2. The Parthian Shares historical fiction, Rome, fiction
  3. The Bearkeeper's Daughter Shares historical fiction, fiction, byzantium
  4. The Ramage Touch Shares historical fiction, fiction

“People who read Justinian tend to reach for these next.”

  1. The Roman Empire and Its Germanic Peoples
  2. Belisarius: The Last Roman General
  3. The Holy Innocents
  4. Count Belisarius

“If you want more of the same (historical fiction), start with these.”

  1. The Belt of Gold
  2. The Eagle's Daughter
  3. Venice
  4. The Walls of Byzantium

“If it was the byzantium that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. The Emperor's Winding Sheet
  2. The Purple Shroud
  3. The High City
  4. Strategos: Born in the Borderlands

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. Babylonne
  2. Roman ritual
  3. Louis XIV and Twenty Million Frenchmen
  4. The Fatal Crown