Byzantine Emperor. He had one black and one blue eye, earning him the nickname "Dicorus." He was born circa AD 430, and was serving as a palace official when he was chosen as Emperor on the death of Zeno in AD 491. He owed his elevation to Zeno's widow, whom he married soon after coming to power. He earned popular support by reducing taxation, but faced a rebellion by supporters of Zeno's brother, Longinus of Cardala. He had to withstand attack by the Persians, Slavs, and Bulgarians, and was forced to build many defensive structures, including the fortress of Daras and the Anastasian Wall. He reformed the Empire's monetary system after its near collapse in the 5th century, introducing three denominations of gold and five of copper. His religious beliefs made him unpopular in the European provinces, and in AD 514, a man named Vitalian led an uprising with the support of the Huns. The rebellion was put down a year later in a naval battle won by the general Marinus. There is a legend that he chose his successor by hiding a message under a couch and having his three nephews each choose one of three seats in the room. He believed that the nephew who sat on the couch with the message would be his true heir. However, two of his nephews sat on the same couch and the one with the message remained empty. He then decided that the first person to enter his room the following day would be his successor, this was Justin, the chief of his guards, who succeeded him on his death in AD 518.
Byzantine Emperor. He had one black and one blue eye, earning him the nickname "Dicorus." He was born circa AD 430, and was serving as a palace official when he was chosen as Emperor on the death of Zeno in AD 491. He owed his elevation to Zeno's widow, whom he married soon after coming to power. He earned popular support by reducing taxation, but faced a rebellion by supporters of Zeno's brother, Longinus of Cardala. He had to withstand attack by the Persians, Slavs, and Bulgarians, and was forced to build many defensive structures, including the fortress of Daras and the Anastasian Wall. He reformed the Empire's monetary system after its near collapse in the 5th century, introducing three denominations of gold and five of copper. His religious beliefs made him unpopular in the European provinces, and in AD 514, a man named Vitalian led an uprising with the support of the Huns. The rebellion was put down a year later in a naval battle won by the general Marinus. There is a legend that he chose his successor by hiding a message under a couch and having his three nephews each choose one of three seats in the room. He believed that the nephew who sat on the couch with the message would be his true heir. However, two of his nephews sat on the same couch and the one with the message remained empty. He then decided that the first person to enter his room the following day would be his successor, this was Justin, the chief of his guards, who succeeded him on his death in AD 518.
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