Page:The age of Justinian and Theodora (Volume 2).djvu/132

 ministry of the interior soon resolved itself into a mere organization for the invention of legislation which would conduce to the raising of money. The devices which suggested themselves from time to time as financial expedients were multifarious and of the most unrelated character. Some of these have been already alluded to, but a few others which were productive of more signal changes require particular notice. Roman Armenia was joined to the less important region of that name on the west of the Euphrates and reduced to the level of an ordinary province, with a Proconsul for its principal Rector. Consequently taxes were imposed, and the inhabitants found themselves racked for payments which they had previously escaped. In the time of Justin, Justinian added four troops to the Scholars of the Palace, and received from each new member a premium for his position in the force. Soon after his accession he disbanded them as a measure of retrenchment, but retained the purchase money. Subsequently he made a practice of ordering these carpet soldiers for active service, with the understanding that they would buy themselves off the dreaded prospect by surrendering a quota of their pay. Every opportunity was taken to consolidate trade monopolies to the advantage of the government; and this was