Justinian's Men: Careers and Relationships of Byzantine Army Officers, 518–610 (New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture)

This book explores the professional and social lives of thesoldiers who served in the army of the Byzantine Empire in thesixth century. More than just a fighting force, this army was thesetting in which hundreds of thousands of men forged relationshipsand manoeuvred for promotion. The officers of this force, fromfamous generals like Belisarius and Narses to lesser-known men likeBuzes and Artabanes, not only fought battles but also craftedsocial networks and cultivated their relationships with theiremperor, fellow officers, families, and subordinate soldiers.Looming in the background were differences in identity,particularly between Romans and those they identified asbarbarians. Drawing on numerical evidence and stories fromsixth-century authors who understood the military, Justinian'sMen highlights a sixth-century Byzantine army that wasvibrant, lively, and full of individuals working with and againsteach other.