CHAPTER VII

Byzantium divided between two factions:  the Blues and the Greens—­Justinian puts himself at the head of the former—­The Empire entirely upset by the quarrels between these factions—­The Blues dress their hair after the manner of the Huns—­Their general attire—­Their excesses—­Behaviour of the Greens—­Corruption of the morals of young men—­Murder committed with impunity—­Inaction on the part of the authorities—­Acts of violence committed upon both sexes—­A woman throws herself into the sea to save her virtue—­Culpability of Justinian—­His partiality for the oppressors, upon whom he bestows favours and dignities.

CHAPTER VIII

Calamities in the provinces—­Justinian’s apathy—­Waste of the public money during his reign—­Useless presents of money made to the Huns—­Extravagance in buildings on the sea-shore—­Attack upon the fortunes of private individuals—­Description of Justinian’s personal appearance—­His resemblance to Domitian—­Domitian’s wife—­Alterations in established institutions.

CHAPTER IX

The bear-keeper Acacius, Theodora’s father—­His widow loses her place in the amphitheatre of the Greens and takes another in that of the Blues—­Her daughters—­The beginning of Theodora’s career—­Her precocious immorality—­Her accomplishments—­Her debaucheries—­Her intercourse with Hecebolus, governor of Pentapolis—­Her return from the East—­Justinian, enamoured of her, wishes to marry her—­Assassination of Hypatius—­The Praefect Theodotus Colocynthius—­Punishment of malefactors—­His exile and death.

CHAPTER X

The Empress Euphemia—­Her opposition to the marriage of Justinian and Theodora—­Justin repeals the law prohibiting the marriage of a patrician with a stage-performer—­Justinian and Theodora colleagues on the throne—­Death of Justin—­Effect of the marriage—­Adulation of the senate, clergy, people, and army—­General feeling of discouragement—­Personal advantages of Theodora—­Pretended antagonism between her and Justinian—­Theodora deceives the Christians and the factions—­Consolidation of despotism.

CHAPTER XI

Legislative innovations—­Avarice and cruelty of Justinian—­Barbarian invasions provoked—­Exorbitant subsidies to the chiefs of the Huns and Chosroes King of Persia, followed by disturbances and violation of truce—­Saracens, Slavs, Antes, and other barbarous peoples—­Desolation of the provinces—­Religious persecutions and confiscation of Church property—­Montanists, Sabbatians, Arians, and Samaritans—­Pretended conversions—­Manicheans and Polytheists—­Caesarea, the author’s birthplace—­Revolt of the peasants under Julian—­Hellenism—­Law against paederasty—­Persecution of astrologers—­Continuous emigration.