Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did Justinian I outlaw the sale of provincial governorships?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Justinian I
Justinian I, detail of a mosaic in the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.
In 535, Justinian I prohibited the suffragia, or the sale of provincial governorships, as part of his efforts to root out corruption and improve the well-being of his subjects.12
The emperor recognized that because new governors had to pay a heavy initial expense to purchase their offices, they frequently engaged in extortion against the provincial populaces to recoup those costs. By outlawing this practice, Justinian aimed to curb such abuses and ensure more equitable governance across the empire.1