Page:The age of Justinian and Theodora (Volume 2).djvu/120

 *tinian, though often severe, and even reckless in punishments, was not vindictive, is shown by an incident which occurred in connection with Probus, who just escaped being involved in the insurrection. A few years previously he was accused of treasonable utterances against the Emperor, whereupon a court of inquiry was held, at which the charge was brought home to him. The finding of the judges was delivered in writing to Justinian, but he, tearing up the document in the presence of the delinquent, said, "Probus, I forgive you; pray to God that he may do likewise." Some years after the riot, John, a son of the unfortunate Pompeius, was in favour at Court, and married into the Imperial family.

By the fortuitous suppression of the Nika revolt the despotism of Justinian was established on a foundation unassailable by any popular commotion. A few thousands of barbarian mercenaries maintained in the heart of New Rome had sufficed to coerce the democracy in the capital, and to stifle the indignation of the whole Empire against a shameless and rapacious tyranny. Justinian's first care was to proclaim his victory over the the usurpers and the rabble who supported them throughout the provinces, and then to restore the bureaucracy to its former efficiency for fiscal exaction. The ministers nominated under compulsion of

on [Greek: Louppa]). In my account of the Nika I have followed Bury's chronology; Journ. of Hellen. Studies, 1897. The sources are sometimes in direct conflict, and have to be reconciled by collating them attentively.]
 * [Footnote: under an epitaph, "Here lies the Emperor of the Wolves" (see Ducange