# XI: How the Defender of the Faith Ruined His Subjects explained — The Secret History

> Chapter companion for The Secret History by Procopius.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

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