After the Emperor and Empress had destroyed John of Cappadocia, they
were desirous of appointing someone else to his office, and agreed to
search for a man even more vicious than he. They looked around to find
this instrument of tyranny, and examined the dispositions of all, in
order that they might the more speedily be able to ruin their subjects.
They temporarily conferred the office upon Theodotus, who, though
certainly not an honourable man, was not sufficiently wicked to satisfy
them. They continued their search in all directions, and at last by
accident found a banker named Peter, a Syrian by birth, surnamed
Barsyames. He had long sat at the copper money-changer's counter, and
had amassed large sums by his disgraceful malpractices. He was
exceedingly cunning at thieving obols, ever deceiving his customers by
the quickness of his fingers. He was very clever at filching without
ado what fell into his hands, and, when detected, he swore that it was
the fault of his hands, and made use of most impudent language in order
to conceal his guilt.
This Barsyames, having been enrolled in the praetorian guard,
behaved so outrageously that he approved himself beyond all others to
Theodora, and was selected by her to assist in carrying out those of
her nefarious schemes which required the most inventive genius. For
this reason Justinian and Theodora immediately deprived Theodotus of
the dignity bestowed upon him as the successor of the Cappadocian, and
appointed Peter in his stead, who in every respect acted in accordance
with their wishes.
He not only, without the least fear or shame, cheated the soldiers
of their pay, but offered commands and offices for sale to a greater
extent than before. Having thus degraded them, he sold them to persons
who were not ashamed to engage in this unholy traffic, giving express
permission to the purchasers to deal as they pleased with the lives and
properties of those who were subject to their authority; for Barsyames
claimed for himself and granted to anyone who had paid down the price
of a province the right of plundering and ravaging it at pleasure. It
was from the chief of the State that this traffic in lives proceeded,
and agreements were entered into for the ruin of the cities. In the
chief courts and in the public market-place the legalised brigand went
round about, who was called “collector” from his duty of collecting the
money paid for the purchase of dignities, which they exacted from the
oppressed, who had no hope of redress. Of all those who were promoted
to his service, although several were men of repute, Barsyames always
preferred such as were of depraved character.
He was not the only offender in this respect; all his predecessors
and successors were equally guilty. The “Master of Offices” did the
same, likewise the officials of the imperial treasury, and those who
had the duty of superintending the Emperor's private and personal
estate—in a word, all who held public appointments in Byzantium and
other cities. In fact, from the time that this tyrant had the
management of affairs, either he or his minister claimed the subsidies
suitable to each office, and those who served their superiors,
suffering extreme poverty, were compelled to submit to be treated as if
they were the most worthless slaves.
The greater part of the corn that had been imported to Byzantium was
kept until it rotted; but, although it was not fit for human
consumption, he forced the cities of the East to purchase it in
proportion to their importance, and he demanded payment, not at the
price paid even for the best corn, but at a far higher rate; and the
poor people, who had been forced to purchase it at an outrageously
heavy price, were compelled to throw it into the sea or the drains.
That which was sound and not yet spoilt, of which there was great
abundance in the capital, the Emperor determined to sell to those
cities which were scantily supplied. In this manner he realised twice
the amount that had formerly been obtained by the receivers of the
public tribute in the provinces. The next year the supply of corn was
not so abundant, and the transports did not bring a sufficient quantity
to supply the needs of the capital. Peter, disconcerted at the state of
affairs, conceived the idea of buying up a great quantity of corn from
Bithynia, Phrygia and Thrace. The inhabitants of those provinces were
forced to bring it down to the coasts themselves (a work of great
labour), and to convey it at considerable risk to Byzantium, where they
had to be satisfied with an absurdly low price. Their losses were so
considerable, that they would have preferred to have given the corn
gratuitously to the public granaries, and even to have paid twice as
much. This burdensome duty was called Syn=on=e, or provisioning the
capital with corn from the provinces. But, as even then the supply of
corn was not sufficient for the needs of the city, many complaints were
made to the Emperor. At the same time the soldiers, hardly any of whom
had as yet received their pay, assembled and created a great
disturbance in the city. The Emperor appeared greatly irritated against
Peter, and resolved to deprive him of his office, both for the reasons
stated and also because it was reported to him that he had amassed
extraordinary wealth, which he kept hidden away, by robbing the public
treasury; and this in fact was the case. But Theodora opposed her
husband's intention, being exceedingly enamoured of Barsyames,
apparently on account of his evil character and the remarkable cruelty
with which he treated his subjects; for, being herself exceedingly
cruel and utterly inhuman, she was anxious that the character of her
agents should be in conformity with her own. It is also said that
Theodora, against her will, had been forced by the enchantments of
Barsyames to become his friend; for this man had devoted great
attention to sorcerers and supernatural beings, admired the
Manichaeans, and was not ashamed openly to profess himself their
supporter. Although the Empress was not ignorant of this, she did not
withdraw her favour, but resolved on this account to show even greater
interest and regard for him than before, for she herself also, from her
earliest years, had associated with sorcerers and magicians, since her
character and pursuits inclined her towards them. She had great faith
in their arts, and placed the greatest confidence in them. It is even
said that she did not render Justinian susceptible to her influence so
much by her flatteries as by the irresistible power of evil spirits;
for Justinian was not sufficiently kindly, or just, or persistent in
well-doing to be superior to such secret influence, but was manifestly
dominated by a thirst for blood and riches, and fell an easy prey to
those who deceived and flattered him. In undertakings which needed the
greatest attention, he changed his plans without any reason and showed
himself as light as the dust swept before the wind. Thus none of his
kinsmen or friends had the least confidence in his stability, but, in
the execution of his purpose, his opinion perpetually changed with the
greatest rapidity. Being, as I have said, an easy object of attack for
the sorcerers, he in like manner readily fell a victim to Theodora,
who, for this reason, entertained the highest affection for Peter as
one devoted to the study of these arts.
The Emperor only succeeded with great difficulty in depriving him of
his office, and, at the pressing entreaty of Theodora, soon afterwards
appointed him chief of the treasury, and deprived John of these
functions, although he had only been invested with them a few months
previously. This John was a native of Palestine, a good and gentle man,
who did not even know how to find out the means of increasing his
private fortune, and had never done injury to a single individual. The
more decided the affection of the people for him, the less he met with
the approval of Justinian and his partner, who, as soon as they found
amongst their agents, contrary to expectation, a good and honourable
man, were quite dumbfounded, showed their indignation, and endeavoured
by every possible means to get rid of him with the least delay. Thus
Peter succeeded John as chief of the royal treasury, and was one of the
chief causes of great misery to all the inhabitants of the Empire. He
embezzled the greater part of the fund, which, in accordance with an
ancient custom, was annually distributed by the Emperor to a number of
families by way of assisting them. Part of this public money he sent to
the Emperor, and kept part for himself, whereby he acquired illgotten
wealth. Those who were thus deprived of this money lived in a pitiable
state. He did not even coin the same amount of gold as before, but
less—a thing which had never been done before. Such was the manner in
which Justinian dealt with the magistracies.