Byzantine Empire Heraclian Dynasty

First Reign of Justinian II
First Reign of Justinian II ©Image Attribution forthcoming. Image belongs to the respective owner(s).
685 Jul 10

First Reign of Justinian II

İstanbul, Turkey

Justinian II was the last Byzantine emperor of the Heraclian dynasty, reigning from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711. Like Justinian I, Justinian II was an ambitious and passionate ruler who was keen to restore the Roman Empire to its former glories, but he responded brutally to any opposition to his will and lacked the finesse of his father, Constantine IV. Consequently, he generated enormous opposition to his reign, resulting in his deposition in 695 in a popular uprising. He only returned to the throne in 705 with the help of a Bulgar and Slav army. His second reign was even more despotic than the first, and it too saw his eventual overthrow in 711. He was abandoned by his army, who turned on him before killing him.

Last Updated: Thu Jan 18 2024

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