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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 5, 30. Of the Reign of Tiberius

While these things were happening in Gaul, the emperor Justin¹ completed the eighteenth year of his reign, and the madness which had befallen him ended only with his life. After his funeral, Tiberius, the Caesar, seized the empire in which he had been long associated. According to the custom of the city, the people awaited his ceremonial appearance at the games of the Hippodrome, intending a secret attack on him in the interest of Justinian, who was the nephew of Justin; but he proceeded to the holy shrines instead. Having completed his prayers, he summoned to him the pope of the city, and entered the palace with the consuls and prefects. Then, invested with the purple, crowned with the diadem, and seated on the imperial throne, he confirmed his right to the empire amidst boundless acclamations. The conspirators who awaited him at the Hippodrome were put to shame and confusion when they learned what had been done, and went home without accomplishing their aim; for he who had placed all his hope in God had no fear of any adversaries. After three days had passed Justinian came, and throwing himself at the emperor’s feet, offered him fifteen hundred pounds of gold to obtain his pardon. The emperor, with his wonted long-suffering, raised him and bade him reside at the palace. But the empress Sophia, forgetful of her promise made to Tiberius, sought to lay a snare for him. One day, when he was gone to a country domain for thirty days, to take part in the vintage festival, after the imperial usage, she secretly called Justinian to her, and designed to raise him to the throne. Tiberius heard of it, and posted swiftly back to Constantinople, where he seized the empress, deprived her of all her treasures, and left her nothing but her daily sustenance. He also removed her servitors from her, and appointed others, including men of proved fidelity to himself, commanding that henceforth none of her former household should have access to her presence. Justinian he reprimanded, but afterwards took him into high favour, even promising his own daughter to his son, and in return demanding Justinian’s daughter for his own son; these plans, however, were not carried out.

His army warred victoriously against the Persians; and returning in triumph, he brought back vast quantities of plunder, enough, one might think, to sate the utmost avarice of man. Twenty captured elephants were brought to the emperor.

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