Biography of Justinian I, Emperor of Byzantine

On August 1, 527, Justinian I became the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. An excerpt from the article:

"Emperor Justinian

Justinian was an idealist and a man of great ambition. He believed he could restore the empire to its former glory, both in terms of the territory it encompassed and the achievements made under its aegis. He wanted to reform the government, which had long suffered from corruption, and clear up the legal system, which was heavy with centuries of legislation and outmoded laws. He had great concern for religious righteousness and wanted persecutions against heretics and orthodox Christians alike to end. Justinian also appears to have had a sincere desire to improve the lot of all citizens of the empire.

When his reign as sole emperor began, Justinian had many different issues to deal with, all in the space of a few years."