Justinian II (Latin: Justinus)

Justinian II (520 – October 5, 578, Constantinople) the Byzantine Emperor from 565 to 578.

In 571, an uprising against the Iranians erupted in Kartli under the leadership of Gurgen (see Gurgen's Rebellion). The rebels petitioned Justinian II to grant them imperial protection. The emperor promised them assistance, declaring that "insofar as it was possible for him, he would employ every means to secure their homeland; if he were unable to carry the war to its ultimate conclusion, he would never surrender the instigators of this rebellion and their kin—those who desired the citizenship of the Roman state."

Justinian II satisfied the request of the Eristavs [Princes] of Kartli; he bestowed the dignity of kouropalates upon their nominated candidate, who was a persona grata to the Byzantines—according to Georgian historical sources, this individual was the Eristamthavari [Presiding Prince] of Kartli, Guaram—and recognized him as the supreme authority of Kartli. This arrangement meant that the administration of Kartli during its struggle against the Iranians was headed not by a sovereign "king," but rather by an imperial representative and official investing the title of kouropalates.

Sources: Menander Protector, in: Georgica: Notices of Byzantine Writers on Georgia, published by S. Kaukhchishvili, Vol. 3, Tiflis, 1936; Juansher, The Life of Vakhtang Gorgasali, in: Kartlis Tskhovreba (The History of Georgia), published by S. Kaukhchishvili, Vol. 1, Tbilisi, 1955.

Literature: ასათიანი ვ., ბიზანტიური ცივილიზაცია, თბ., 2006; საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები, ტ. 2, თბ., 1973.

L. Maniava