The history of Turkey is full of important names, to which we have made (and will make) mention in this blog, as is the case of Atatürk, as well as different Ottoman sultans and Roman emperors. Today we focus on Emperor Justinian I, a key figure in the consecration of the Byzantine empire as the ‘heir’ of the Roman one, which is why he is often known as Justinian the Great. And the most important thing for every tourist: he deployed a huge building program of which there are still great traces in the country, as you may discover during your trip.
Some biographical touches of Justinian I
Justinian I was a Byzantine emperor who ruled from 527 to 565. That is, almost 40 years of reign, enough time to promote important projects. He succeeded his uncle, Justin I, and was succeeded in turn by his nephew, Justin II. But the most important relative in his life was his wife, Theodora, fundamental in his private life and in his political work. In fact, after her early death in 548, the rule of Justinian I lost vigor and impetus, and from then on he turned to a more pious and devout life.
At the political level, the consolidation of the eastern frontier with the Persians and the recovery of territories in the west, for example the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, stood out. Another major milestone was the codification of Roman law. But his reign was not free of disturbances, such as those of Nika, a revolt with a background of social unrest due to the rise in taxes.
Justinian I, a ‘builder’ emperor
But undoubtedly, the great legacy of Justinian I is his construction work: he conceived it as a way to cement his prestige and authority, which is why he undertook major projects, especially religious, but not only. And thanks to his ‘head architects’, Antemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, a genuinely Byzantine architectural typology emerged (later replicated by the Ottomans): the centralized basilica with a large central dome. In addition, he promoted the arts and literature; in fact, if we know his life and work well, it is thanks to the work of important historians and chroniclers of his contemporaries, such as Procopius.
Below we list some of these great projects, which you will surely be able to discover during your tour, as they are located in the main Turkish destinations:
- Hagia Sophia: a true symbol of his reign and of an entire era. Despite its later modifications to become an Ottoman mosque, it still maintains its Byzantine base. He wanted to turn it into a propagandistic symbol of his power and had materials brought from all corners of the empire: Egyptian porphyry, Greek marbles, etc. Procopius tells that, at its conclusion, Justinian I said: “Solomon, I have surpassed you”.
- Church of the Holy Apostles: another iconic temple because Justinian I promoted it for his own burial. However, little remains of it because of the construction, on the same site, of the mosque of Fatih in the fifteenth century.
- Basilica of St. John of Ephesus: temple that followed the model of Hagia Sophia, although with a more elongated plant, with Latin cross and cupolas. Built in honor of this important apostle, who died in Ephesus. Today only the remains of that temple remain, but a model in situ allows to know well how was the original temple.
- Great Palace of Constantinople: it was his residence and center of government. It was located in the heart of Constantinople, which today is the ancient peninsula of Istanbul, adjacent to the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and the Cistern Basilica, among other important spaces. Its memory and a few archaeologically recovered mosaics remain.
Therefore, it can be said that the imprint of Emperor Justinian I in today’s Turkey is very important. And surely our guides, in their explanations, will mention his reign for having contributed to the greatness of this territory.
