Origins and early career Justinian was born in Constantinople sometime shortly after 525, the second son of
Germanus, a cousin to the
Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565). He had an elder brother,
Justin, and a sister, Justina, who married the general
John. Justinian was first appointed to military command in 550, when he, together with his brother Justin, were to accompany their father in his expedition against
Ostrogoth Italy. Germanus, however, died suddenly in autumn 550, before the army had left the Balkans, where it was assembling. After this, Justinian and John (Germanus's son-in-law) were ordered to lead the army towards
Salona (modern
Split,
Croatia), in preparation for a crossing over to Italy or an overland march to
Venetia. John remained in charge of the army until the eunuch
Narses, who was appointed as the expedition's new commander-in-chief in early 551, arrived at Salona to take up command. In early 552, Justinian was placed at the head of an expedition against the
Slavs who were raiding
Illyricum, and shortly after, was sent to assist the
Lombards against the
Gepids. His brother Justin was also a member of this army. The two brothers, however, were detained by the need to suppress a revolt in the city of
Ulpiana, and never arrived to aid the Lombards.
Career in the East Nothing is known of Justinian during the next 20 years. By 572, however, he had risen to the rank of
patricius and was placed as commander-in-chief of the forces in the northeastern sector of the Empire's frontier with Sassanid Persia (
magister militum per Armeniam). In late 574 or early 575, he was appointed as
magister militum per Orientem and overall commander of the Byzantine forces in the East. In this role, he set about training the numerous fresh troops raised by the Empire, and effected a reconciliation with the
Ghassanid ruler
al-Mundhir, restoring thus the traditional Byzantine alliance with his people. A three-year truce was soon after concluded for the
Mesopotamian front, but it did not apply to Armenia. In summer 575 or 576, Justinian failed to block the advance of the Persian army, headed by Shah
Khosrau I (r. 531–579) himself, through
Persarmenia. When the shah entered into Byzantine
Cappadocia and advanced towards
Caesarea, Justinian gathered a superior army and blocked the mountain passes leading to it. Khosrau withdrew, sacking
Sebasteia in the process. Justinian pursued Khosrau, and twice he trapped him in a pincer movement: the first time, the Persian shah and his army only escaped after abandoning their camp and their belongings to the Byzantines, while the second, the Romans were defeated at a night attack against their encampments near
Melitene due to dissension amongst the army's commanders. Then the Persians stormed Melitene and burned it down. As the Persian army was preparing to cross the
Euphrates, however, Justinian's forces caught up with them. The next day, the two armies drew up in battle formation near Melitene, but did not clash. Come nightfall, the Persians tried to cross the river in secret, but were detected and attacked by the Byzantines during the crossing. The Persians suffered heavy casualties, while the Byzantines captured great booty, including 24
war elephants which were sent to Constantinople. In the following winter, Justinian advanced deep into Persian territory, through
Media Atropatene, and wintered with his army on the southern shores of the
Caspian Sea. Nevertheless, he was unable to regain control over Persarmenia. In 576/577, the Persian general
Tamkhusro invaded Armenia, where he defeated the Byzantines under Justinian. Later, Tamkhusro and
Adarmahan launched a major raid into the Byzantine province of
Osroene. They threatened the town of
Constantina, but withdrew when they received word of the approach of the Byzantine army under Justinian. Following these reversals, later in the same year, the Byzantine regent,
Caesar Tiberius, appointed
Maurice as Justinian's successor.
Last years and court intrigues '' of Emperor Tiberius II (r. 574–582). Despite his repeated plotting to overthrow him, the emperor pardoned Justinian. Returning to the capital, according to reports preserved exclusively in Western sources, Justinian was involved in a plot with the Empress
Sophia over the succession of her husband,
Justin II (r. 565–578), whose health was rapidly deteriorating. They intended to assassinate Justin's heir, the
Caesar Tiberius (ruled as
Tiberius II in 578–582), and have Justinian ascend the throne. Tiberius, however, discovered the plot, whereupon Justinian pleaded for forgiveness and offered 1,500 pounds of
gold as a sign of contrition. Soon, however, between 579 and 581, Sophia and Justinian were plotting again. This conspiracy too was uncovered, but Justinian was again pardoned. Justinian had a daughter and a son, who is likely identifiable with
Germanus, who was married to Tiberius's daughter Charito and raised to the rank of
Caesar. Justinian died at Constantinople in 582. ==References==