Volume 1

Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas.

  • Joseph Thomas
Date:
1911, ©1908
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1433/1486 (page 1415)
    Justin or Justinus I., Emperor of the East, w<4 born a peasant in Dacia in 450 a.d. At an early age be went to Constantinople, where he enlisted in the im¬ perial guards of Leo I. He distinguished himself by his military abilities, and rose in rank until he was suc¬ cessively appointed general and commander of the guards. In 518, on the death of the emperor Anasta sius, Justin was proclaimed his successor by the soldiers and the people. Through his instrumentality the Greek and Roman Churches were reconciled. He is generally regarded as a just prince. Died in 527, soon after re¬ signing the throne to his nephew Justinian. See Lb Beau, “ Histoire du Bas-Empire;” Zonaras, “History.” Justin or Justinus IL was a nephew of Justinian I., whom he succeeded as Emperor of Constantinople in 565. During his reign the Longobards under Alboin nvaded Italy, the northern part of which they wrested kom the Eastern Empire, and the Persians made several important conquests in the Asiatic provinces. In 574, perceiving his inability to govern, he resigned in favour i>f Tiberius, the captain of his guards. Died in 578. See Lb Beau, “ Histoire du Bas-Empire;” Menander, “Hia- toriarum Libri VIII.,” Paris, 1609; “ Nouvelle Biographie G^n^rale.” Jus-tS'na, [Fr. Justine, zhiis'tin',] Saint, a Chris¬ tian martyr, who is supposed to have suffered death under Diocletian, (a.d. 304.) She was the patroness of Venice and of Padua. In the latter town a church was built in her honour in the fifth century. See Mrs. Jameson, “ History of Sacred and Legendary Art.” Jus-tinT-an or Jus-tin-I-a'nus [Fr. Justinien, zhiis'te'ne-dN'] I., one of the most celebrated of the Em¬ perors of the East, and nephew of Justin I., was born in Dardania, May 11, 483 A.D. Justin at his coronation in 518 appointed Justinian his colleague, and in 527 invested him with supreme authority. Soon after ascending the throne, Justinian commenced an active persecution against the Arians, Jews, and Pagans. About 532 se¬ rious revolts occurred, in one of which the church of Saint Sophia and other buildings were destroyed by fire. This sedition, in which thirty thousand insurgents are said to have fallen, was incited by the factions of the circus, and was only quelled by the prompt resolution of Belisarius at the head of the imperial guards. Justinian showed great clemency to those of his rebellious subjects who were made prisoners. He immediately began to repair the damages of the conflagration. The magnificent church of Saint Sophia, which is one of the most remarkable edifices of any age or country, was rebuilt upon the plan furnished by the architect Anthemius. Justinian also exhibited his liberality and architectural skill in the con¬ struction of temples, convents, roads, bridges, aqueducts, and fortifications in many parts of his vast empire. But by far the greatest work of his reign was the revision of the Roman law and the publication of the Codes, Pan¬ dects, and Institutions which bear his name, and which were compiled under his supervision by the eminent jurist Tribonian. The “Codes,” consisting of twelve books, were completed in 534. The “ Digesta” or “ Pan- dectae,” embracing all that was taken from the decisions, arguments, and expositions of the civilians of Rome, were subsequently issued in fifty books. The “ Institutiones” were an abridgment of the first principles of the law for the use of students. Justinian also composed many new laws, mostly in Greek, entitled “ Constitutiones No¬ velise.” While he was thus rendering such eminent service to the world by the publication of his Codes and Pandects, his celebrated generals Belisarius and Narses carried the terror of his arms into Persia, Italy, and Africa, and made their master the sovereign of nearly all the territory over which the first Caesars had held dominion. (See Belisarius, and Narses.) Justinian gave liberal encouragement to the industrial arts, and was the first to introduce silk-worms and the manu¬ facture of silken goods into Europe. He died in 565, after a re gn of more than thirty-eight years, and was succeeded by his nephew, Justin II. Justinian, although justly censurable for his occasional intolerance, was dis¬ tinguished for his general justice and humanity, as well as for his knowledge of theology, philosophy, law, poetry, and architecture, for his administrative powers, and for his exceedingly virtuous and temperate life, qualities which would have placed him in the highest rank as a monarch, even if he had not produced those Codes which have immortalized his name. See Procopius, “ HistoriasuiTemporis,” (translated by Holcroft, 1653;) Ludewig, “ Vita Justiniani,” 1731 “ Histoire de justinien,” 1856; Corvinus db Beldern? Justinianus Catholicus,” 1618 ; G. Perrin, “Vita Justn Gibbon, “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ;” Montesquieu, 44 Grandeur et Decadence des Romains,” chap. xx.; H. Vogel, “ Dis- sertatio de Justiniano,” 1672; P. Gaudenzio, “Gloria Justiniani Imperatoris vindicata,” 1639; “Nouvelle Biographie G£n4rale.” into English ISAMBERT, Justinian [Lat Justinia'nus] H., son of Constan¬ tine III., ascended the throne of Constantinople in 685. He gained important advantages over the Saracens, and compelled them to relinquish some of their conquests. Finally, his great cruelties to his subjects, and also, it is said, his intention of burning Constantinople, caused his general Leontius to depose him, to cut off his nose, and to banish him to the Crimea. He subsequently escaped from the Crimea, and married the daughter of a Turkish chief, with whose assistance, and that of the Bulgarians, he regained his crown. He put Leontius, and many others, to horrible deaths. He was preparing to execute furtfter cruelties, when he was killed in 711 by Philip- picus Bardanes, who succeeded him. See Gibbon, “ Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire;” Le Beau, “Histoire du Bas-Empire;” Zonaras, “History;” “Nouvelle Biographie G^n^rale.” Justiniani See Giustiniani. Justinianus. See Justinian. Justinien. See Justinian. Justinus. See Justin. Jus'tu-lus, (yoos'too-lfcs,) (Pietro Francesco,) « Latin poet, and secretary to Caesar Borgia, a native of Italy, lived about 1500. His poems are distinguished for their purity and elegance. Jusuf. See Yoosuf. Ju-tur'na, [Fr. Juturne, zhii'tiiRn',] a nymph or goddess of the Roman mythology, was said to be beloved by Jupiter. According to Virgil, she was a sister of Turnus. The water which the Romans used in sacrifices was mostly drawn from the fountain of Juturna. Juturne. See Juturna. Juusten or Justen, yoos'tgn, (Paul,) Bishop of Abo, in Finland, was born at Viborg. He was sent in 1569 by John III. of Sweden as an ambassador to Ivan, Czar of Russia. That monarch, on some false pretence against John, threw Juusten in prison, where he was confined for three years. Died at Abo in 1575. Juvara, yoo-vS'ra, or Ivara, e-vU'r^, (Filippo,) first architect to the Duke of Savoy, was born at Messina, in Italy, in 1685, and educated at Rome under Fontana. He constructed a palace at Messina, and several edifices in Turin. In 1724 he went to Lisbon, where he super¬ intended the building of the royal palace and other edi¬ fices, for which he received the order of knighthood and a pension of about three thousand dollars. He died in 1735,a* Madrid. Among his best works are the hunting- palace of Stupinigi, and the Birago di Borgaro palace, both in Turin. See Milizia, “Memorie degli Architetti;” QuatremAre db Quincy, “Vies des Architectes c^l&bres;” “Nouvelle Biographie G<£ndrale.” Ju'vg-nal, [Lat. Juvena'lis ; Fr. Juvenal, zhii'vi'- nSl',] or, more fully, Deg'I-mus Ju'nj-us Ju-ve-na'- lis, one of the most celebrated of the Latin satirical poets, is believed to have been born in Aquinum, a Volscian town, about a.d. 40. But few authentic facts have been preserved respecting h>s history: it is said, however, that he was the son of a wealthy freedman, and that he devoted the early part of his life to the study of rhetoric and declamation. He afterwards became a pleader in the courts of law, where he appears to have been suc¬ cessful. He was an intimate friend of the poet Martial, who mentions him in two of his epigrams. None of the productions of Juvenal were given to the public until he had passed the age of sixty years. His poems, which he then recited, gained him universal admiration. One of his earliest satires had been written against an actor named Paris, who wTas a great favourite with the emperor Domitian. It was not published until the reign of Hadrian, who, imagining that it reflected on one of his own favourites, sent Juvenal into an honourable exile