Justinus II
Reign
Byzantine (565 – 578)
Description
II. Emperor Justinus, full name Flavius Iustinus Iunior Augustus, ruled the Byzantine Empire from 565 until 578 after the death of his uncle Justinian I. He was born in Constantinople around 520 and died there on October 5, 578. During his reign, Justin faced many problems in the empire. The treasury was empty, the borders of the empire were threatened, the population decreased and the economy began to decline. One of the first actions of the new emperor was to settle the debts accumulated by his predecessor, followed by the restoration of the balance of the treasury, for which he was labeled greedy. In the second year of his reign, a conspiracy was formed against him, led by the senators Aetherius and Addaius, but both were executed. Justinus is known as a pious Christian, he renovated and had many churches built, as well as donated to various sanctuaries. The circumstances of his accession to the throne were also interesting. At the death of Justinian I, two Justinians could have acted as claimants to the throne. One was the son of the general Germanus, and the other was Justinus' own nephew, the son of Vigilantia's sister. In the end, the latter gained the throne, thanks in part to the support of Empress Theodora, who was the niece of Justin's wife, Sophia. The patriarch of the capital and the commander of the excubitores bodyguard were also on good terms with him, which also contributed to the acquisition of the throne. During Justin's reign, the empire faced many challenges, but he tried to stabilize the situation and strengthen the internal structure of the empire. Although his reign was not free from internal disturbances and external threats, it had a significant impact on the history of the Byzantine Empire.
Minting information
II. Emperor Justin, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 565 to 578, was the nephew and successor of Emperor Justinian I. During his reign, he made several important changes, including paying off debts and rebalancing the treasury. In the field of coinage II. During the reign of Emperor Justin, Byzantine numismatics underwent significant development. Among the coins of the time were solidis, which were made of gold, as well as bronze coins of higher value. The coins often featured the emperor's profile and various Christian symbols, such as the cross or images of saints, which reflected the religious nature of the empire.II. During Justin's reign, the design and quality of the coins also changed. The decoration of the coins became more refined, and in addition to the emperor's portrait, they often included imperial titles and symbols of power. These coins not only served as a means of payment, but also represented the imperial power and the Christian faith.