Medieval History Procopious
Essay Preview: Medieval History Procopious
Report this essay
According to Procopius, Justinian and Theodora were two fiends in human form. He made every effort to prove that Justinian the Emperor and Theodora the Empress were inhuman rulers. Just by reading the titles of the chapters shows the disgust and disappointment Procopius had upon Justinian and Theodora. I cant recall any tactics they had in governing were justified. Justinian and Theodoras ways of governing were so unrighteous Im surprised they lived as long as they did. Someone should have put a stop to their heathen ways.
Theodora was a money hungry ruler and would do anything to keep money in her hands. She tricked the generals daughter to do an unholy act by having her live with a man, her nephew, so he could deflower her, this meaning they would have t o get married and the Emperor could not forbid the event. Thus leading to Theodoras nephew inheriting the girls fathers money.
Justinians ways of ruling were unjustified. According to Procopius he liked adding fuel to the fire. Even when things were in Justinians favor he still bought confusion. The Blues and the Greens colors of rival hippodrome teams whose people differed in politics and religion. The Blues chose to follow Justinian and even so Justinian by joining the former party which had already shown favor to him, was able to bring everything into turmoil, and by his power sink the Roman Empire to his knees right before him. (35) Procopius states, then it was Justinian, fanning the flame and openly inciting the Blues to fight, made the whole Roman Empire shake on its foundation, as if an earthquake or cataclysm had stricken it. Everything everyone was uprooted: nothing was left undisturbed by him Law and order, throughout the State, overwhelmed by distraction, were turned upside down. (35) Procopius uses the metaphor as if an earthquake or cataclysm had stricken it to signify that Justinian had unmortal powers that could be used for destruction, in which he did. Procipus proves that Justinian likes disorder. Procopius clearly paints the picture to see that life as we knew it in the Roman Empire was not stable.
The title of chapter eight Character and Appearance of Justinian makes the reader aware that Procopius wants to make us more aware of Justinians physical appearance as well as his morals for ruling. Procopius compares Justinian resemblance to Vespasianss son. The one who the Romans hated much that even tearing him into little peaces did not satisfy their wrath against him, but a decree was passed bytb he senate that the name of this Emperor should never be written and that no statue of him should be preservrd. (41) This quote lets us further know how Procopius viewed the Emperor that he compares him to someone who was hated and brutally torn into pieces. Its almost as if he wiews Justinian as scum. As for his character Procopius points out that he was un-smart untruthful and a snake. For example, Procopius states: now such was Justinian in appearance; but his character was something he could not fully describe. Now what could he mean by that. I find it hard to believe that a man who is capable of writing a book cannot fully describe Justinians