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Meaning & use

Justinian

proper noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/dʒʌˈstɪniən/
US/dʒʌˈstɪniən/

Meanings

  1. proper nounproper

    The Byzantine emperor who ruled from 527 to 565 and ordered a great reform and collection of Roman law.

    Grammar: Capitalized, often Justinian I, with no article: Justinian ordered the project.

    Patterns

    • Justinian I
    • the reign of Justinian
    • the age of Justinian

    Justinian ordered the building of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.

    Under Justinian, scholars collected and organized centuries of Roman legal writing.

    Historians still debate whether Justinian was a great builder or a ruler who overreached.

  2. proper nounproper

    Justinian II, a later Byzantine emperor who was overthrown, mutilated, and then returned to power, giving him the nickname Rhinotmetos.

    Grammar: Use the numeral II to separate him from the first emperor.

    Patterns

    • Justinian II

    Justinian II lost his throne in 695 and regained it ten years later.

    Justinian II used a gold replacement for his damaged nose.

    The story of Justinian II is one of the strangest in Byzantine history.

Common combinations

Emperor Justinian
Emperor Justinian ruled for nearly forty years.
the Code of Justinian
The Code of Justinian became a foundation for European law.
Justinian I
Justinian I is known as Justinian the Great.
Plague of Justinian
The Plague of Justinian killed a large share of the population.
reign of Justinian
The reign of Justinian saw the empire reconquer parts of Italy.

Synonyms and how they differ

Justinian the Great
Justinian the Great is a title used for Justinian I, while plain Justinian can also point to the second emperor.
Justinian I
Justinian I is the precise name that separates him from Justinian II.
emperor of Byzantium
This describes the office he held, while Justinian names the person.

Word family

Justinianic adjective
relating to Justinian or to his reign
justice noun
fairness under law, from the same Latin root as the name
Byzantine adjective
relating to the eastern Roman Empire he ruled
Byzantium noun
the ancient city and empire he governed from Constantinople

Commonly confused: Justinian or Augustinian? Justinian or Justin?

Justinian vs Augustinian

Augustinian relates to Saint Augustine or religious orders following his rule, not the emperor Justinian.

Justinian vs Justin

Justin I was Justinian's uncle and an earlier emperor, so they should not be mixed up.

Practice

Which achievement is most closely linked to the emperor Justinian?

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