His regulations as to the public “posts” and “spies” will show how
much he cared for the interests of the state. The earlier Emperors, in
order to gain the most speedy information concerning the movements of
the enemy in each territory, seditions or unforeseen accidents in
individual towns, and the actions of the governors and other officials
in all parts of the Empire, and also in order that those who conveyed
the yearly tribute might do so without danger or delay, had established
a rapid service of public couriers according to the following
system:—As a day's journey for an active man, they settled eight
stages, sometimes fewer, but never less than five. There were forty
horses in each stage and a number of grooms in proportion. The couriers
who were intrusted with this duty, by making use of relays of excellent
horses, frequently covered as much ground in one day by this means as
they would otherwise have covered in ten, when carrying out the above
commissions. In addition, the landed proprietors in each country,
especially those whose estates were in the interior, reaped great
benefit from these posts; for, by selling their surplus corn and fruit
every year to the state for the support of the horses and grooms, they
gained considerable revenue. By this means the state received, without
interruption, the tribute due from each, and, in turn, reimbursed those
who furnished it, and thus everything was to the advantage of the
state. Such was the old system. But Justinian, having commenced by
suppressing the post between Chalcedon and Dakibiza, compelled the
couriers to carry all despatches from Byzantium to Helenopolis by sea.
They unwillingly obeyed; for, being obliged to embark upon small
skiffs, such as were generally used for crossing the strait, they ran
great risk of being shipwrecked, if they met with stormy weather. For,
since great speed was enjoined upon them, they were unable to wait for
a favourable opportunity for putting out to sea, when the weather was
calm. It is true that he maintained the primitive system on the road to
Persia, but for the rest of the East, as far as Egypt, he reduced the
number of posts to one, for a day's journey, and substituted a few
asses for the horses, so that the report of what was taking place in
each district only reached Byzantium with difficulty and long after the
events had occurred, when it was too late to apply any remedy; and, on
the other hand, the owners of estates found no benefit from their
products, which were either spoilt or lay idle.
The spies were organized in the following manner:—A number of men
used to be supported at the state's expense, whose business it was to
visit hostile countries, especially the court of Persia, on pretence of
business or some other excuse, and to observe accurately what was going
on; and by this means, on their return, they were able to report to the
Emperors all the secret plans of their enemies, and the former, being
warned in advance, took precautions and were never surprised. This
system had long been in vogue amongst the Medes. Chosroes, by giving
larger salaries to his spies, none of whom were born Romans, reaped
great benefit from this precaution. Justinian, having discontinued this
practice, lost considerable territory, especially the country of the
Lazes, which was taken by the enemy, since the Romans had no
information where the King and his army were. The state also formerly
kept a large number of camels, which carried the baggage on the
occasion of an expedition into an hostile country. By this means the
peasants were relieved from the necessity of carrying burdens, and the
soldiers were well supplied with necessaries. Justinian, however, did
away with nearly all the camels, so that, when the army is marching
against an enemy, everything is in an unsatisfactory condition. Such
was the care he took of the most important state institutions. It will
not be out of place to mention one of his ridiculous acts. There was at
Caesarea a lawyer named Evangelius, a person of distinction, who, by
the favour of fortune, had amassed great riches and considerable landed
estates. He afterwards purchased, for three centenars of gold, a
village on the coast named Porphyreon. When Justinian heard of this, he
immediately took it from him, only returning him a small portion of the
price he had paid for it, at the same time declaring that it was
unseemly that such a village should belong to Evangelius the lawyer.
But enough of this. It remains to speak of certain innovations
introduced by Justinian and Theodora. Formerly, when the senate had
audience of the Emperor, it paid him homage in the following
manner:—Every patrician kissed him on the right breast, and the
Emperor, having kissed him on the head, dismissed him; all the rest
bent the right knee before the Emperor and retired. As for the Empress,
it was not customary to do homage to her. But those who were admitted
to the presence of this royal pair, even those of patrician rank, were
obliged to prostrate themselves upon their face, with hands and feet
stretched out; and, after having kissed both his feet, they rose up and
withdrew. Nor did Theodora refuse this honour. She received the
ambassadors of the Persians and other barbarian nations and (a thing
which had never been done before) bestowed magnificent presents upon
them, as if she had been absolute mistress of the Empire. Formerly,
those who associated with the Emperor called him Imperator and the
Empress Imperatrix, and the other officials according to their rank.
But if anyone addressed either Justinian or Theodora without the
addition of the title Sovereign Lord or Sovereign Lady, or without
calling himself their slave, he was looked upon as ignorant and
insolent in his language, and, as if he had committed a very grave
offence and insulted those whom it least became him, he was dismissed.
Formerly, only a few were granted admission to the palace, and that
with difficulty; but, from the time of the accession of Justinian and
Theodora, the magistrates and all other persons were continually in the
palace. The reason was, that formerly the magistrates freely
administered justice and laws independently, and executed the customary
sentences at their own residences, and the subjects, seeing and hearing
that no injustice would be done to them, had little reason to trouble
the Emperor. But this pair, taking control of all business to
themselves in order that they might ruin their subjects, forced them to
humiliate themselves before them in a most servile manner. Thus the
courts of justice were empty nearly every day, and hardly a person was
to be seen in them, while in the palace there were crowds of men
pushing and abusing one another, all endeavouring to be foremost in
showing their servility. Those who were on the most intimate terms with
the Imperial pair remained the whole day and a great part of the night,
without food or sleep, until they were worn out, and this apparent good
fortune was their only reward. Others, who were free from all these
cares and anxieties, were puzzled to think what had become of the
wealth and treasures of the Empire. Some declared that it had all
fallen into the hands of the barbarians, while others asserted that the
Emperor kept it locked up in secret hiding-places of his own. When
Justinian—whether he be man or devil—shall have departed this life,
those who are then living will be able to learn the truth.