The Secret History · Chapter
XI: How the Defender of the Faith Ruined His Subjects explained
Justinian, upon taking power, overturns established laws and customs, creating new offices and renaming everything after himself.
What happens
Justinian, upon taking power, overturns established laws and customs, creating new offices and renaming everything after himself. He loots the wealthy, bribes barbarians to wage war, and sets Huns against the Romans for his own gain. He persecutes religious dissenters, confiscates wealthy church properties, and forces conversions, leading to rebellion, massacre, and mass emigration. He also enacts a retroactive law against pederasty and persecutes astrologers, causing further flight from the empire.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption and Tyranny
Justinian abolishes established laws and offices, renames everything after himself, and loots the wealthy for personal gain.
Injustice and Lawlessness
Retroactive laws against pederasty and persecution of astrologers without proper evidence or accusers.
Suffering of the Common People
Massacres, forced conversions, loss of livelihoods, and mass emigration due to Justinian's policies.
Hypocrisy and Deception
Justinian claims to secure peace by bribing barbarians, but this only encourages further invasions.
Characters to notice
- Justinian
Ruins his subjects through looting, bribery of barbarians, religious persecution, and retroactive laws.
- Chosroes
Receives payments from Justinian for peace, but the truce is broken due to Justinian's actions.
- Julian
Bandit chosen as candidate for the throne by Samaritan rebels; killed in battle.
Key passages
“As soon as Justinian came into power he turned everything upside down.”
Upon becoming emperor, Justinian completely disrupted the existing order.
Opening statement of the chapter's theme.
“Of the plundering of property or the murder of men, no weariness ever overtook him.”
He never tired of stealing property or killing people.
Highlights Justinian's relentless greed and cruelty.
“Thus the Huns enslaved the Roman Empire, and were paid by the Emperor to keep on doing it.”
The Huns effectively took control of the Roman Empire, and the emperor paid them to continue their attacks.
Irony of Justinian's policy of buying off barbarians.
“The Montanists, who dwelt in Phrygia, shut themselves up in their churches, set them on fire, and ascended to glory in the flames.”
The Montanists in Phrygia locked themselves inside their churches, set them ablaze, and died as martyrs.
Describes the extreme response to religious persecution.