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one stroke, the Italian cttizenry
accomplishes what the Ostrogoths
could not.
This "sacrificial massacre" (as
one contemporary describes it) puts
an end to the Heruli as a military
power once and for all.
Ambush!
Beaten in the field, Odoacer has
taken refuge behind the strong for–
tifications of R:avenna, north of
Rome. There he is besieged nearly
three years.
Early in 493, Odoacer finally
surrenders. Theodoric graciously
offers to rule ltaly jointly with
him.
A few days later-on March 5,
493- Theodoric invites Odoacer to
a banquet. Odoacer accepts- with
disastrous consequences.
As Odoacer enters the banquet
hall, two of Theodoric's meo sud–
denly grasp bis arms. Others bid–
den in ambush rush forward witb
drawn swords. Apparently tbey bad
not been told tbe identity of their
intended victim, for wben they see
Odoacer standing helpless before
tbem tbey are panic-stricken!
Tbe soldiers besitate. Tbeodoric
himself rushes forward to do the
job for them. With one powerful
blow of bis broadsword, Theodoric
splits Odoacer in two from bis col–
larbone to bis hip!
With this piece of treacbery,
Theodoric becomes tbe sole and
undisputed master of Rome. He
establisbes a strong Gothic king–
dom in ltaly.
Theodoric, too, has great respect
for Roman civilization, and contin–
ues the traditional Roman system
of government.
But Theodoric and bis heirs are
Arians. And for tbis reason, they,
too, will have to be uprooted.
Tbeodoric dies in Ravenna on
August 30, 526. He has no male
issue, so bis kingdom is divided
among bis grandsons. Civil war
soon breaks out in ltaly-with dire
consequences for the Ostrogothic
nation.
New Rome
Meanwhile, Constantinople is
growing in importance. As tbe
western part of tbe Roman Empire
bad gradually succumbed to the
barbarians, tbe star of tbe eastern
14
capital bad steadily risen.
Emperor Constantine had begun
building the magnificent new capi–
tal of tbe Roman Empire in A.D.
327. He had called it
Nova
Roma- "N
ew Rome."
lt
was
founded on tbe site of the ancient
Greek city of Byzantium. Before
Byzantium became New Rome, it
had occupied tbe favored location
on tbe Bosporus for more tban
1,000 years.
Witb the fall of Rome, Constan–
tinople and its emperors carry on
tbe traditions of Roman civiliza–
tion.
Emperor Zeno-wbo had made
Tbeodoric king of Italy- is fol–
lowed as emperor by Anastasius
(491-518). Anastasius is succeeded
by Justin (518-527).
Justinian and Theodora
In August 527- exactly a year
after Theodoric died heirless in
Ravenna-a new emperor comes to
the tbrone of tbe Eastern Empire.
The cbildless Justin is succeeded
by bis nepbew and protégé Justi–
nian. He will rule for nearly four
decades.
Justinian is 45 years old. He pos–
sesses great intelligence and bound–
less energy. I-ie is popularly called
"the man who never sleeps."
Beside Justinian at tbe helm of
s tate is bis beautiful wife and
empress, Theodora. Justinian had
married her four years earlier, in
523. '
Theodora is lowborn. She is a
former actress and dancer. Her
father had been a bear trainer at the
Hippodrome circus. Vicious rumor
declares ber to have once been a
prostitute. The truth of this cbarge
will be debated for centuries.
Despite her past, Theodora
becomes a queen in every sense of
the word. Her personal morals as
empress will never be called into
question. For 21 years, until her
death from cancer in 548, she will
live with Justinian as bis faitbful
spouse and adviser.
Theodora is brilliant, brave and
wise. Had sbe been otberwise, Jus–
tinian would not have beld bis
throne. And bis historie mission-a
mission, as we sball see, of tbe
bighest significance to the course of
bistory- would never have been
realized.
Justinian's career is almost
ended before it begins.
Constantinople is a sports–
minded city. lts people are divided
in tbeir allegiance to different cbar–
ioteers. Tbey are called tbe Greens
and the Blues, according to tbe
color of dress of their favorite jock–
eys.
"Conquer!"
In January 532, a disturbance
breaks out between the two fac–
tions. Tbe ringleader of each party
is punisbed.
In
response, tbe two
rival factions unite in armed revolt
against the government.
Open violence erupts as tbe
government cracks down on botb
factions. Tbe city is filled witb
tire, bloodshed and murder. Tbou–
sands are slain in the rioting. The
crowd críes out
"Nika!"
(Greek
for "Conquer!") History will tbus
record the event as the "NiRa
Riots."
Justinian's life stands in jeop–
ardy. He decides to abdicate, and
prepares to abandon bis capital by
sbip. But at the last moment he is
dissuaded by Empress Theodora.
In a bold speech, Theodora turns
tbe tide of her husband's fear. "I
will remain, and like the great meo
of old, regard my tbrone as a glo–
rious tomb," sbe declares.
Her firm stand arouses new
determination in Justinian. He
decides to stand bis ground.
Justinian dispatcbes Belisarius,
bis trusted and brilliant general, to
the Hippodrome witb 3,000 veter–
ans. The riots are decisively sup–
_pressed. In one day, Belisarius
slaugbters 30,000!
Justinian's tbrone is saved.
Had tbe Emperor been toppled,
history might have taken a mucb
different course.
Burning Ambition
Justinian is now in a position to
pursue his one burning ambition:
tbe recovery of tbe Western prov–
inces that bis predecessors had lost
to the barbarians. His dream is to
restore the Roman Empire
to its
full ancient grandeur-under bis
own scepter! Justinian sees bimself
as rigbtful ruler of the wbole
Roman world.
But Justinian realizes tbat tbere
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The PLAIN TRUTH