The Secret History · Chapter
XXII: Further Corruption in High Places explained
After dismissing John the Cappadocian, Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora seek an even more corrupt successor.
What happens
After dismissing John the Cappadocian, Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora seek an even more corrupt successor. They appoint Theodotus temporarily, then replace him with Peter Barsyames, a Syrian banker known for thievery and sycophancy. Peter sells offices, cheats soldiers of pay, forces cities to buy rotten grain, and institutes a ruinous 'cooperative buying' system. Despite public outcry and mutinous soldiers, Theodora protects Peter due to his cruelty and alleged sorcery, even promoting him to chief treasurer after removing the honest John of Palestine. The chapter illustrates the systemic corruption and tyranny under Justinian and Theodora.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption and Tyranny
Systematic sale of offices, embezzlement of grain and soldier pay, and protection of corrupt officials by the imperial couple.
Abuse of Power
Peter Barsyames uses his position to ruin provinces, cheat soldiers, and force cities to buy rotten grain, all with imperial approval.
Suffering of the Common People
Farmers forced to transport grain at great cost, poor deprived of dole, cities forced to buy inedible grain, and soldiers unpaid.
Characters to notice
- Justinian
Easily swayed by Theodora and sorcery, complicit in corruption, removes Peter only under pressure but reinstates him.
- Theodora
Delighted by Peter's wickedness, protects him from removal, believed to use magic to control Justinian.
- Peter Barsyames
Syrian banker turned pretorian guard, appointed to high office for his thievery and cruelty, sells offices and embezzles grain funds.
- Theodotus
Briefly appointed to succeed John the Cappadocian but removed because not corrupt enough for Justinian and Theodora.
- John the Cappadocian
Previously dismissed, his successor is sought; a later John of Palestine is removed for being honest.
Key passages
“Now when the Emperor and Theodora dismissed John of Cappadocia, they wished to appoint a successor to his office, and agreed to choose a still baser rogue; so they looked everywhere for such an instrument of tyranny, examining all manner of men that they might be able to ruin their subjects the faster.”
After firing John the Cappadocian, Justinian and Theodora deliberately sought an even worse official to accelerate the ruin of their subjects.
Highlights the intentional selection of corrupt officials.
“For he claimed himself, and granted to whoever paid the price of a province, the right to destroy and ravage without restriction. This sale of human lives proceeded from the first officer of the State; and by him the contract for the ruin of cities was made.”
Peter Barsyames sold provincial governorships, giving buyers carte blanche to plunder and oppress the inhabitants.
Illustrates the commodification of governance and human suffering.
“But Theodora would not let her husband do this, for she was marvelously delighted with Barsyames, I suppose because of his wickedness and his remarkable cruelty to his subjects.”
Theodora prevented Justinian from firing Peter because she admired his cruelty and wickedness.
Shows Theodora's direct role in perpetuating corruption.