ABSTRACT
The new emperor, Justin gained the crown through intrigues that are not entirely clear. He was an Illyrian of fairly humble origin and limited education who had become the count of the Excubitors, the emperor's personal bodyguards. The sources for Justin's reign are limited. In On the Ceremonies of the Byzantine Court, Constantine Porphyrogenitus preserves the official account of Justin's election and coronation. Justin's first acts as emperor were to execute his two closest rivals and reverse the pro-Monophysite policies of Anastasius. In the prime of life and being a native speaker of Latin inspired by the history of Rome's great accomplishments, Justinian yearned to recover the West and restore the territorial integrity of the Empire. Justinian's empress was the beautiful, intelligent, witty, self-confident, and bold Theodora. She carried on the tradition of effective female leadership established in the eastern court by Eudoxia and Pulcheria. Justinian's legal reforms were more praiseworthy and more successful than his religious policies.
