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84 3. justin i and justinian
a plot was suspected. In 560 Justinian had to order action against factional
violence in the Hippodrome and again in 561 his nephew and successor,
Justin the curopalatus, was able to put an end to rioting and arson by the factions
in the centre of the city only with considerable difficulty. 125 The dedication
of the restored dome of St Sophia took place during the festival of
Christmas and Epiphany, a.d. 562–3; emperor and patriarch were lauded
together in Paul the Silentiary’s poem, and the people sang Psalm 23, but
the memory of the serious plot of 562, as a result of which Belisarius had
been stripped of his household and assets, was fresh in their minds. One
of those involved was Sergius, nephew of the Aetherius who was himself
to be executed for treason in the first months of the reign of Justin II. 126
Sergius was dragged from his place of sanctuary at the church of the
Theotokos at Blachernae and his information led to the arrest of two men,
one of whom was a retainer in Belisarius’ household who in turn informed
against his master. More disturbances took place in Justinian’s last year,
when both Blues and Greens engaged with imperial troops; after the
rioting had ended, members of the factions, especially the Greens, were
castrated, burned, impaled or dismembered. 127
Peace with Persia was brought during these years at a very high price.
Whereas the Romans could defeat enemies such as the Vandals and, eventually,
the Goths, the Persians were different; it had been clear for three centuries
that the military strength of the two empires was evenly balanced,
and neither side expected to inflict permanent defeat on the other. War with
Persia was the reality of early Byzantine experience, and ceased only in 628
when a powerful counter-strike by Heraclius ended the Sasanian dynasty
on the very eve of the Arab conquest. In 561–2, however, the master of
offices, Peter the Patrician, met the Persian envoys at Dara and negotiated
a peace treaty whose terms are given in full by Menander Protector. 128 Both
empires were ready to negotiate, Byzantium after recent events in Lazica
and Armenia, and Persia in the light of developments in the north
Caucasus. The peace was made for fifty years; the Persians renounced all
claim to Lazica, while the Romans agreed to pay a heavy annual tribute consisting
of 30,000 gold nomismata, payment for the first seven years to be
due immediately. Most of the detailed provisions sought to regulate border
trade and communication. The peace did not last: it made no official provision
for the treatment of the Christians of Persia, which had been a point
at issue between the two powers since the days of Constantine, this matter,
which continued to be a matter of tension, being dealt with separately.
Nevertheless, the negotiations were accompanied by great pomp and formality,
and the reception of the Persian ambassador at Constantinople a
125 Ibid. 235.26–237.1; Malal. 490.16–492.2. 126 Malal. 493.1–495.5.
127 Malal. De Insid. fr.51. 128 Fr. 6 Blockley, with notes: Stein, Bas-Empire ii.516–21.
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