ABSTRACT
On Anastasius’ death, there was again a vacancy of the throne, and after some obscure intrigues, the senate elected Justin the comes excubitorum. Justin was of peasant origin, having risen from the ranks. He was still uncultured and, it was alleged, illiterate, using a stencil to sign papers. He came from a village near Naissus, and was thus Latin-speaking and a Chalcedonian by upbringing. He promptly reversed Anastasius’ ecclesiastical policy, deposing Severus of Antioch and the other Monophysite bishops except Timothy of Alexandria, and renewing communion with the pope. Justin had no sons, but several nephews to whom he had given a good education. The ablest of them was Petrus Sabbatius, whom he had adopted and who therefore took the name of Justinianus. Justinian immediately came to the front, being appointed comes domesticorum and then magister militum praesentalis, and was generally regarded as being the virtual ruler under his uncle’s nominal sovereignty. When in 527 Justin fell seriously ill, he crowned Justinian as his colleague (4 April). Two months later (1 August) he died and Justinian succeeded.
