With the sack of Antioch, the Italian conquest falling apart and the Plague, the years 540-45 were like a nightmare for Justinian. The next five years would continue to bring bad news as war continues on every front and members of the Imperial family begin to pass away.

Period: 545-550

Download: Episode 29 – The Nightmare Decade

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Church of San Vitale Apse (you can see the Imperial couple either side of the windows)

Portrait of Totila by Francesco Salviati (from Wikipedia)

With Justinian struggling with the Plague Theodora takes charge of the Empire and makes a decision with profound consequences. When Justinian does recover he is faced with an Empire collapsing around him. He has to reorganise the Empire’s finances and redirect its armies as war resumes on every front.

Period: 541-545

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Hand necrosis caused by plague (from Wikipedia)

The Plague arrives at Pelusium and spreads to Alexandria where it rages for four months. By Spring 542 the Egyptians have to begin sending out the grain fleets. They export the Plague with them and Constantinople endures a nightmare summer of death and dislocation. Out in the provinces there is psychological and spiritual torment too. We then explore where the Plague came from, what it did to the body and how it spread around the Empire.

Period: 541-543

Download: Episode 27 – The Walking Dead

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King of Kings Khosrau (drawing by Jalal Al-Din Mirza via Wikipedia)

Khosrou leads the Persian Army across the border into Syria and begins extorting money from every city he passes. The Byzantine army is nowhere to be found as the army approaches the Empire’s third largest city: Antioch. At the end of the podcast I update everyone on how the project is going and the support I need from you.

Period: 540-542

Download: Episode 26 – The Sack of Antioch

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The Basilica Cistern today (photo from ramyad.net)

We take a look at what else was going on in the Empire during the 530s including: monophysites, tax and administration, buildings, Africa and possibly a meteor strike.

Period: 532-540

Download: Episode 25 – The “Roaring” Thirties

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The First Gothic War

Belisarius is content to leave John to die in Ariminum but the Chamberlain Narses arrives and begs to differ. Conflicts over how to complete the conquest of Italy lead to disaster at Milan and a long delay in finally reaching Ravenna. Once there Justinian recalls his General. The Persians are on the move again. We debate who was to blame for what happened next and head to Cteisephon to see what Khosrou has been up to in the last decade.

Period: 538-540

Map: The First Gothic War Campaign Map

(Author: Konstantinos Plakidas,, Source Website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gothic_War_-_First_Phase,_535-540.svg)

Download: Episode 24 – The Western Emperor

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Siege of Rome map from Ancient Warfare Magazine Volume IV, Issue 3 (www.ancient-warfare.com)

When Athalaric, Prince of the Goths dies in 534 his mother has to choose whether to flee East or try to cling to power. Amalasuntha makes the wrong choice and calls in her cousin Theodahad. When he has her killed he hands Justinian the pretext for an invasion of Italy. Mundus leads the Army of Illyricum into Dalmatia and Belisarius sails to Sicily. Theodahad enters negotiations to surrender Italy in exchange for a fat pension. Could Italy be about to fall as quickly as Africa did?

Period: 534-38

Download: Episode 23 – The Siege of Rome

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The Hagia Sophia as it might appear without Turkish additions (newbyzantines.net)

We examine the Corpus Juris Civilis and the Hagia Sophia. The two achievements of Justinian’s reign which outlasted both him and the Byzantine Empire. First we look at the law code which Tribonian put together and hear about its surprising second life. Then we marvel at the construction and impact of the new Cathedral Church of Constantinople.

Period: 533-37

Other resources: If you are interested in reading parts of the Corpus Juris Civilis yourself, there is an English translation here.

Download: Episode 22 – Justinian’s Legacy

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The interior of the Hagia Sophia