Istanbul

For from the time when this tyrant first managed the affairs of state, in each department the ministers without any justification claimed the moneys...

22. Further corruption in high placesNow when the Emperor and Theodora dismissed John of Cappadocia, they wished to appoint a successor to his office,...

Later he contrived another unheard-of scheme. The offices which he believed to be the most powerful in Constantinople and the other large cities, he...

For this Justinian left them unpunished, awaiting the time when they should have gained immense riches; as soon as this happened, he brought some...

But the first man that this Emperor appointed to the office was Tribonian, whose actions I have fully related elsewhere. And when Tribonian departed...

Again he licensed many monopolies, as they -are called; selling the freedom of his subjects to those who were willing to undertake this reprehensible...

Some he accused of polytheism, others of heresy against the orthodox Christian faith; some of pederasty, others of love affairs with nuns, or other...

19. How he seized all the wealth of the romans and threw it awayHow he seized all wealth I will next discuss: recalling first...

So while he was Emperor, the whole earth ran red with the blood of nearly all the Romans and the barbarians. Such were the...

All of these he utterly depopulated. For those who did not die in battle perished of disease and famine, which as usual followed in...