ABSTRACT
Justinian’s reign with its numerous military campaigns and the well-known bubonic plague that raged throughout the sixth century had left the Byzantine Empire, although expanded, rather weary and exhausted. Maximus the Confessor, as far as we can tell, was born into this depressed world in the capital city of Constantinople fifteen years after Justinian’s death. According to the Byzantine Annus Mundi his life spanned from 6089 until 6171 (corresponding to the more recent 580–662 ad) so that the famous lunar eclipse of 622, which proved a turning-point for the Emperor Heraclios’ first Persian campaign, also marked more or less the midpoint of Maximus’ life.
