510-529 Eastern Emperor Justinian Builds Hagia Sofia

In this 20 year period, Justin's nephew Justinian became Eastern Emperor in 518 and he adorned Constantinople with the largest church ever built -- the fabulous Hagia Sofia (pictured).

Justinian had a long period in power, from 518 to 565. He suppressed Paganism in Athens and tried to recover the west from the Germans.

He overthrew the Vandals in Africa and established an enclave in Spain, but his efforts were in vain as the Greeks were disliked and the cost was prohibitive.

530-549 Justinian Attempts to Overthrow Goths in Rome

In my first twenty years Justinian was the eastern emperor. He was married to the Empress Theodora, (pictured), a former prostitute, who died in 548.

Famous for building the Church of Hagia Sofia in Constantinople, Justinian invaded Italy and by 540 he had moved the Ostrogoths out of Rome and Ravenna, but rather than recreating Rome's greatness he ruthlessly oppressed the Romans and enforced doctrinal orthodoxy.

His luck run out. In 542 there was an outbreak of bubonic plague and the Ostrogoths, under their new King Totila, regained rule in Italy and in 548 his beloved Theodora died.