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The Roman Government

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Gustavo Cantu Justinian I World History Part I Mr. Zelehoski 24 February 2017 Justinian Thesis: Having been known as the man who rose from poverty to reform the Roman government, he is surely one of the most religious, cunning, and somehow weak rulers the world has known. I. Introduction II. Claim to the throne A. Justin/Poverty 1. Poor life 2. Justin’s assistance a) Justin’s Claim to the Throne Failure b) Justinian’s later weaseling into the throne B. Military Life/Life as King 1. Military Success and training 2. Intelligence 3. Type of Ruler he was 4. Personality III. Conquests A. Military successes and battles 1. Technique a) Make an ally, fight a war, conquer someone, fight ally b) Expansion …show more content…

Justin was akin to a father to Justinian, he gave him salvation where he struggled and practically reinvigorated his will to learn and do well in the world. While Justin enabled Justinian to learn and become an amazing man, he also attempted to find his way into the seat of the throne while the rule was weak. Justin had very obviously failed seeing as he was NOT fit to be a ruler, he was not an intelligent man after all. Justinian witnessed his uncle’s failure and was able to learn from the experience and, using his position as the King’s bodyguard (Citation), intelligence and military experience, weaseled his way into the throne, and into the position of King. As the King, Justinian was powerful. He held a large blade over all others that opposed him and was the largest factor as to why many of his people had been in fear. At any moment he could have crumpled under the pressure of all the power he held in the palm of his hand, and he had, multiple times. To easily and very simply accentuate his power, he would force those who approached him to bow down on their hands and feet (Lindquist 318). Even one of his closest acquaintances, Procopius, had described him as “insincere, crafty, hypocritical, double-dealing, clever, and a perfect artist in acting out his opinion” (Macmillan Profiles 234). Many also described him as being “an absolute Monarch” and as “the Anointed of the Lord” (Lindquist 317). Despite all of this, he had also been described as “abstemious,

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