How Emperor Justinian Expanded the Role and Influence of the Roman Papacy

Seminary N335

This paper explores the role the emperor Justinian played in expanding the role and influence of the Roman Papacy. Justinian’s two greatest achievements were his legal code and his wars—both of which became significant in advancing the influence and power of Roman Christianity. He renewed old laws and authored new ones against non-Christian religions and heretical Christians who did not conform to orthodoxy as defined by Rome. He seized churches and properties and killed those who were unwilling to submit. Justinian used the force of law and the strength of armies to convert all, willingly or unwilling, to the orthodox faith. Justinian set the legal standards for centuries of immeasurable persecutions against protestors of the Roman Papacy. His armies overthrew the Arian Vandals in North Africa and the Arian Ostrogoths in Italy to clear out Barbarian threats and establish the one Catholic faith. His untiring work was to clear the area of dissenters against the orthodox faith. Through his wars and his laws, Justinian set the stage that eventually made possible the ultimate growth in power that the Roman pontificate achieved centuries later.