Justinian

APPENDIX II

THE NIKA RIOTS: A TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

The Nika Riots of 532: was there ever, in the whole of history, a more exciting and momentous set-piece? Had the revolt succeeded in toppling Justinian (as it very nearly did), subsequent history might have been very different; at the very least, Istanbul today would be without Hagia Sophia, one of the world’s sublimest buildings, and Justinian’s reform of Roman Law (the basis of the legal systems of many nations at the present day) would never have been finalized, and may well have been passed over and forgotten.

For dramatic reasons, I have gone in for some fairly radical telescoping and condensing regarding some of the incidents connected with the riots. This was to preserve, as far as possible, a sense of the urgency and tempo of the actual events, without, I hope, sacrificing essential historical truth. These changes will become apparent to any reader who cares to compare the relevant pages in the text with the timetable shown below.

While there is broad agreement as to the chronology of events relating to the riots among most authorities, some sources show minor variations between themselves. The following scenario is probably pretty accurate.

Saturday, 3 January to Tuesday, 6 January

Street disturbances (in which some people are killed) resulting from unpopular government policies, broken up by city prefect’s police. Arrests made; some of those detained charged with murder.

Thursday, 8 January

Trials of accused; seven condemned to death.

Sunday, 11 January

Two of those condemned survive bungled execution — a Green and a Blue, given sanctuary in Church of St Lawrence. Prefect posts armed guard around church to prevent rescue.

Monday, 12 January

Tension mounts in the capital; stalemate regarding the two in St Lawrence.

Tuesday, 13 January — the Ides

Hippodrome opens for races. Greens and Blues join forces to demand release of St Lawrence pair, but Justinian refuses to reply; spectators become frustrated and defiant, eventually leaving Hippodrome with shouts of ‘Nika!’ to surround Praetorium. Failing to force the Perfect to listen to their complaints, they break into the building, release prisoners, killing police who try to stop them, then set Praetorium ablaze. Mob then burns Chalke, Hagia Sophia, and other prominent buildings.

Wednesday, 14 January

Races resume in the Hippodrome. Despite Justinian agreeing to the people’s demands for the dismissal of unpopular ministers, the mob becomes more militant. Egged on by members of the upper class (senators et al. who want regime change) it goes to the house of Mundus (one of the three nephews of the emperor Anastasius, and thus a possible candidate for the throne) to try to make him emperor. Finding him absent, they burn down his house in frustration, then threaten the Palace, but the building is protected by German mercenaries under generals Belisarius and Mundus. (The loyalty of the Roman Palace Guard is, at best, uncertain.)

Thursday, 15 January

Belisarius and Mundus sally forth from the Palace to try to suppress the revolt, but can make no headway when the fighting moves to the narrow streets. They withdraw their Germans to the Palace. Stalemate ensues.

Friday and Saturday, 16 and 17 January

Mob goes on rampage, burning down many public buildings. Fearing treachery, Justinian expels from the Palace almost all the courtiers and senators — including Pompeius and Hypatius, the two other nephews of Anastasius! (This, as soon becomes clear, is a bad mistake.)

Sunday, 18 January

Justinian again appears before the people in the Hippodrome. Despite offering a general amnesty and more concessions, he is shouted down by a hostile crowd. As Justinian retreats to the Palace, the mob learns of the expulsion of Pompeius and Hypatius and forces the latter to be crowned as emperor. Reluctant at first, Hypatius accepts the role once he realizes that the mob has senatorial support. In the Palace, Justinian and a small band of faithful followers, convinced that all is lost, prepare to flee. But, perhaps rallied by a stirring exhortation from Theodora (see Appendix III), they change their minds and decide to fight back. After an attempt to ‘spring’ Hypatius from the royal box in the Hippodrome is thwarted by the Palace Guard, Belisarius and Mundus manage to lead their German troops undetected to the Hippodrome, where they launch a surprise attack on the crowd. The ensuing bloodbath and arrest of Hypatius break the spirit of the rebels.

Monday, 19 January

To prevent further rival bids for the purple, Hypatius and Pompeius are executed. This marks the end of the insurrection.