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Why did Justinian I reorganize the Byzantine imperial government?
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Justinian I
Justinian I, detail of a mosaic in the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.
Justinian I reorganized the Byzantine Empire government primarily to promote the well-being of his subjects by rooting out corruption and ensuring more accessible justice.12
His administrative reforms were driven by several key objectives:
- Improving Governance: He sought to increase accountability among provincial governors, notably by prohibiting the sale of governorships (the suffragia) in 535, which had previously encouraged officials to extort the populace to recoup their expenses.2
- Administrative Efficiency: He reorganized the provincial system, including the regrouping of provinces and the abolition of certain vicariates to improve oversight and reduce costs. He also strengthened the role of the defensores civitatis to protect cities and provide local legal recourse, reducing the need for expensive appeals to the capital.2
- Fiscal Necessity: A major driver for reorganization was the need to generate revenue for military campaigns, foreign subsidies, and extensive public works projects. Efficient tax collection, auditing, and the creation of state monopolies—such as those on silk—were essential to sustaining the state's financial demands.2