The reign of Emperor Justinian I was marked by a grand vision to restore the Roman Empire’s former glory. His military campaigns reached across the Mediterranean, led by his trusted general Belisarius. While the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, focused heavily on reclaiming North Africa and Italy, Justinian’s direct confrontation with the Visigoths was far less prominent than his battles with the Ostrogoths. Still, the idea of fighting the Visigoths stems from his broader ambition of western reconquest. Understanding when Justinian fought or attempted to challenge the Visigoths requires a look into sixth-century geopolitics, military campaigns, and diplomatic maneuvers that defined his era.
Justinian’s Ambition to Reclaim the West
Emperor Justinian I ascended to the Byzantine throne in 527 CE. One of his foremost objectives was the renovatio imperii, or the restoration of the empire. This meant regaining control over the western provinces of the former Roman Empire, including North Africa, Italy, and parts of Hispania (modern-day Spain), where the Visigoths had established a powerful kingdom.
By the early sixth century, the Visigothic Kingdom ruled most of the Iberian Peninsula. The Visigoths had settled in Gaul and later moved into Hispania following pressure from the Franks. They were considered one of the major ‘barbarian’ powers occupying what was once Roman territory. Although Justinian’s primary military engagements were with the Vandals and Ostrogoths, his regime also found limited opportunities to influence the Visigoths through both military and diplomatic pressure.
The Visigoths in Hispania
Before examining Justinian’s direct or indirect actions against the Visigoths, it’s important to understand the state of the Visigothic Kingdom during his reign:
- The Visigoths had established their capital in Toledo, Hispania.
- They ruled much of the Iberian Peninsula after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
- They were frequently engaged in conflicts with the Franks and internal power struggles.
Because of these internal and external threats, the Visigoths were often weakened and vulnerable to outside influence.
The Byzantine Invasion of Southern Hispania
Though Justinian did not declare a full-scale war against the Visigoths, he did seize a window of opportunity in the early 550s to gain a foothold in the Iberian Peninsula. This marked the most significant direct interaction between the Byzantine Empire and the Visigoths during Justinian’s reign.
When Did It Happen?
The most relevant event occurred around 552 CE, during the later years of Justinian’s rule. At that time, a civil war broke out within the Visigothic Kingdom. The Byzantine Empire supported a pretender to the Visigothic throne, Athanagild, who sought assistance in overthrowing his rival Agila I. In response to Athanagild’s appeal, Justinian sent a small expeditionary force to southern Hispania.
This force, likely commanded by Liberius or another trusted Byzantine general, successfully captured parts of the southern coast. These territories would later become known as the Byzantine province of Spania. The cities of Cartagena and Málaga were among the captured areas. Though limited in scope, this intervention showed that Justinian was willing to extend his reach into Visigothic territory whenever the political landscape allowed.
Goals Behind the Campaign
Several motivations guided Justinian’s move into Hispania:
- Exploit internal Visigothic conflicts to expand imperial influence.
- Protect Byzantine trade routes and naval interests in the western Mediterranean.
- Support Christian orthodoxy over Arian Christianity, which the Visigoths had embraced.
Justinian’s religious and political ideologies were closely tied. Spreading Chalcedonian Christianity and undermining Arianism was one of his justifications for interfering in western kingdoms like that of the Visigoths.
The Nature of the Conflict
Unlike the prolonged Gothic War in Italy, the campaign in Hispania was short and limited. Justinian did not engage in a full military invasion but rather used a calculated, opportunistic intervention. As such, it would be inaccurate to describe this as a full-fledged war between Justinian and the Visigoths. It was more a strategic occupation of key coastal regions than an outright conquest.
Aftermath and Long-Term Effects
Byzantine control over parts of southern Hispania continued for several decades after Justinian’s death in 565 CE. The province of Spania remained under Byzantine rule until it was gradually retaken by the Visigoths in the early seventh century. Although it never expanded far beyond the coastal areas, this small foothold demonstrated the reach of Justinian’s ambitions.
The Byzantines’ presence in Hispania weakened the Visigothic Kingdom temporarily, though the Visigoths eventually reasserted control under strong rulers like Leovigild and Reccared I. The campaign also contributed to Justinian’s broader image as a restorer of Roman authority, even if only symbolically in the case of Hispania.
Did Justinian Ever Personally Fight the Visigoths?
There is no historical evidence that Justinian himself ever led troops in battle, whether against the Visigoths or other foes. His role was that of a commander-in-chief who delegated campaigns to skilled generals such as Belisarius and Narses. The campaign in Hispania was likely led by generals less well known than those who fought in Africa and Italy, but it still followed Justinian’s strategic directives.
To summarize, Emperor Justinian’s confrontation with the Visigoths occurred around 552 CE, when he took advantage of a civil war in the Visigothic Kingdom to capture parts of southern Hispania. Though it was not a full-scale war, this intervention served political, religious, and military purposes. It was part of Justinian’s grand vision to reclaim the lost western provinces of the Roman Empire and assert Byzantine influence over former Roman territories.
While the focus of his military campaigns was primarily on the Vandals in North Africa and the Ostrogoths in Italy, the limited yet strategic campaign against the Visigoths in Hispania remains a noteworthy chapter in the history of Justinian’s reign. His ability to act opportunistically and use minimal resources to expand imperial influence underscores the complexity and ambition of Byzantine foreign policy in the sixth century.