JUSTIN'IAN I., FLAVIUS Across JUSTIN IA.NI'S (483-565). Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. He was born probably 11, 483, in the village of Tauresium, in 111yricum. His name was Uprauda, which he changed to Jus tinian. Although of obscure parentage, he shared the success of his maternal uncle, Justin I. (q.v.), being invited at an early age to Con stantinople, where he received a careful educa tion. When his uncle was elevated to the purple, in 518, he promoted his nephew to one position after another, and in 527, by the advice of the Senate, proclaimed him his colleague in the Empire. Justin survived the step but a few months, and Justinian was crowned as sole Emperor. His long reign is the most brilliant in the history of the later Empire. Although him self without taste or capacity for military com mand, lie had the skill to select able generals, such as Belisarius and Narses. In his first war— that with Persia—he concluded a treaty by which a long-threatened crisis was warded off tempo rarily; but the rejoicings for this terminated in a domestic revolntion. A conflict of the so-called Blue and Green factions in the circus in 532 was an outlui•st of political discontent, which went so far as to elect a rival Emperor, llypatius. Jus tinian was struck with dismay, and made prepa rations for flight; but the vigor and determina tion of his Empress, Theodora (q.v.), arrested the revolt. Belisarius, with a relentless hand, re pressed the tumult, 30,000 victims having, it is said, fallen in a single day. By the arms of Beli sarius the Vandal Kingdom of Africa was rean nexed to the Empire (533-534) ; and the same general and his successor, Narses, restored the imperial authority in Rome as well as in North ern Italy and a portion of Spain (535-554). His second war with Persia (e.540-562) was ended by Justinian's agreeing, to pay an annual tribute. The Slays and Huns were constantly attacking the Empire on the north and ravaging its terri tory, so that, in spite of his conquests, he left a weak empire to his successor. He died Novem ber 14, 565.
Justinian was a great builder of aqueducts, fortresses, churches (Saint Sophia), quays, har bors, and monasteries. These, together with the RIMS needed for his wars, involved an enormous expenditure, and the fiscal administration of Justinian. in consequence. pressed heavily on the public resources and on the people. It is. how ever, as a legislator that Justinian has gained his greatest renown. Immediately on his acces sion he appointed a committee of lawyers, with Tribonianus (q.v.) as chairman, to collect all pre vious legislative enactments which were still in force. amid to compile a code. (See ConE.) The authoritative commentaries of the jurists were next collected, digested, and published under the title of Pandects (q.v.). The code was repub
lished in 534 with the addition of Justinian's own Constitutions. The third great legal under taking was the composition of a systematic treatise on the laws for the guidance of students and lawyers. This was published a month before the Digest, under the title of histitutiones. i.e. "Institutes." It is difficult, from the character of his acts and from the nature of our sources (see Pttocomr:i) to form a just estimate of Jus tinian. There is no doubt of his ability and industry, but he was unscrupulous, vain, and easily influenced. Ile WZIS. passionately devoted to theology, and wrote hymns and controversial works. For the vexed question of his attitude toward the Church, consult Dutton, Church, of the 8i,,•th Century (New York, 1897). For his whin and life. consult : Gibbon. Decline and of the Roman Empire. ed. Bury (London, 1S9(i 1900) ; Bury, Later Roman Empire (London, 1889 ) ; Ilodgkin, Italy and Her Ineadcrs, vol. iv. (Oxford, 1880) ; Finlay, History of Grecec (Lon don, 1877).
JUTE (Keng. jail, front Skt. MO, matted hair). A fibre produced front two tropical spe cies of Tiliacc:e. the Corchorus olitorius and Cor chorus eapsularis, two plants alike in qualities, though slightly different in appearance, and sown indiscriminately. From the fibre, which is the cheapest known, are produced gunny bags, gunny cloth, and cordage ; and from the finer qualities carpets, shirting. coat-linings, etc., are made. It is extensively used for mixing with silk, cotton, flax, and woolen fabrics, hut, owing to its in feriority, such use of it is a fraud. India is the largest jute-growing country. The plants grow in most climates and on all kinds of soil, but rich alluvial lands. and lands subject to salt-water tidal influences, particularly its production. It thrives in the Gulf States, but its production in America has not been successful, owing to a lack of machinery adapted to its manufacture. It is an exhausting erop for the soil. The plant, if weeded once, requires no more attention till cutting time. Its single stalk grows to a height of 12 feet without. branches or leaves till near the top. In India the plant is cut while in flower, about three mouths after sowing. Cut close to the ground. stripped of leaves and branches, it is tied in bundles and steeped from 10 to 20 days in water, to loosen the fibre by rotting the outer bark. After steeping. the stalks are beaten till only the fibre remains. This is cleaned, dried, and made into 'drums' of 70 or SO pounds. If fur exportation. it is pressed into bales of 300 pounds and upward. Fine jute has a beautiful glossy golden appearance, and is soft and silky to the touch. Great. importance attaches to length and strength of fibre. See Plate of FIRM PLANTS, under 11 EM P.