After the Emperor and Empress had destroyed John of Cappadocia, they
were desirous of appointing someone else to his office, and agreed to
search for a man even more vicious than he. They looked around to find
this instrument of tyranny, and examined the dispositions of all, in
order that they might the more speedily be able to ruin their
subjects. They temporarily conferred the office upon Theodotus, who,
though certainly not an honourable man, was not sufficiently wicked to
satisfy them. They continued their search in all directions, and at
last by accident found a banker named Peter, a Syrian by birth,
surnamed Barsyames. He had long sat at the copper money-changer's
counter, and had amassed large sums by his disgraceful malpractices.
He was exceedingly cunning at thieving obols, ever deceiving his
customers by the quickness of his fingers. He was very clever at
filching without ado what fell into his hands, and, when detected, he
swore that it was the fault of his hands, and made use of most
impudent language in order to conceal his guilt.
This Barsyames, having been enrolled in the praetorian guard, behaved
so outrageously that he approved himself beyond all others to
Theodora, and was selected by her to assist in carrying out those of
her nefarious schemes which required the most inventive genius. For
this reason Justinian and Theodora immediately deprived Theodotus of
the dignity bestowed upon him as the successor of the Cappadocian, and
appointed Peter in his stead, who in every respect acted in accordance
with their wishes.
He not only, without the least fear or shame, cheated the soldiers of
their pay, but offered commands and offices for sale to a greater
extent than before. Having thus degraded them, he sold them to persons
who were not ashamed to engage in this unholy traffic, giving express
permission to the purchasers to deal as they pleased with the lives
and properties of those who were subject to their authority; for
Barsyames claimed for himself and granted to anyone who had paid down
the price of a province the right of plundering and ravaging it at
pleasure. It was from the chief of the State that this traffic in
lives proceeded, and agreements were entered into for the ruin of the
cities. In the chief courts and in the public market-place the
legalised brigand went round about, who was called "collector" from
his duty of collecting the money paid for the purchase of dignities,
which they exacted from the oppressed, who had no hope of redress. Of
all those who were promoted to his service, although several were men
of repute, Barsyames always preferred such as were of depraved
character.
He was not the only offender in this respect; all his predecessors and
successors were equally guilty. The "Master of Offices" did the same,
likewise the officials of the imperial treasury, and those who had
the duty of superintending the Emperor's private and personal
estate--in a word, all who held public appointments in Byzantium and
other cities. In fact, from the time that this tyrant had the
management of affairs, either he or his minister claimed the subsidies
suitable to each office, and those who served their superiors,
suffering extreme poverty, were compelled to submit to be treated as
if they were the most worthless slaves.
The greater part of the corn that had been imported to Byzantium was
kept until it rotted; but, although it was not fit for human
consumption, he forced the cities of the East to purchase it in
proportion to their importance, and he demanded payment, not at the
price paid even for the best corn, but at a far higher rate; and the
poor people, who had been forced to purchase it at an outrageously
heavy price, were compelled to throw it into the sea or the drains.
That which was sound and not yet spoilt, of which there was great
abundance in the capital, the Emperor determined to sell to those
cities which were scantily supplied. In this manner he realised twice
the amount that had formerly been obtained by the receivers of the
public tribute in the provinces. The next year the supply of corn was
not so abundant, and the transports did not bring a sufficient
quantity to supply the needs of the capital. Peter, disconcerted at
the state of affairs, conceived the idea of buying up a great quantity
of corn from Bithynia, Phrygia and Thrace. The inhabitants of those
provinces were forced to bring it down to the coasts themselves (a
work of great labour), and to convey it at considerable risk to
Byzantium, where they had to be satisfied with an absurdly low price.
Their losses were so considerable, that they would have preferred to
have given the corn gratuitously to the public granaries, and even to
have paid twice as much. This burdensome duty was called Syn=on=e, or
provisioning the capital with corn from the provinces. But, as even
then the supply of corn was not sufficient for the needs of the city,
many complaints were made to the Emperor. At the same time the
soldiers, hardly any of whom had as yet received their pay, assembled
and created a great disturbance in the city. The Emperor appeared
greatly irritated against Peter, and resolved to deprive him of his
office, both for the reasons stated and also because it was reported
to him that he had amassed extraordinary wealth, which he kept hidden
away, by robbing the public treasury; and this in fact was the case.
But Theodora opposed her husband's intention, being exceedingly
enamoured of Barsyames, apparently on account of his evil character
and the remarkable cruelty with which he treated his subjects; for,
being herself exceedingly cruel and utterly inhuman, she was anxious
that the character of her agents should be in conformity with her own.
It is also said that Theodora, against her will, had been forced by
the enchantments of Barsyames to become his friend; for this man had
devoted great attention to sorcerers and supernatural beings, admired
the Manichaeans, and was not ashamed openly to profess himself their
supporter. Although the Empress was not ignorant of this, she did not
withdraw her favour, but resolved on this account to show even greater
interest and regard for him than before, for she herself also, from
her earliest years, had associated with sorcerers and magicians, since
her character and pursuits inclined her towards them. She had great
faith in their arts, and placed the greatest confidence in them. It is
even said that she did not render Justinian susceptible to her
influence so much by her flatteries as by the irresistible power of
evil spirits; for Justinian was not sufficiently kindly, or just, or
persistent in well-doing to be superior to such secret influence, but
was manifestly dominated by a thirst for blood and riches, and fell an
easy prey to those who deceived and flattered him. In undertakings
which needed the greatest attention, he changed his plans without any
reason and showed himself as light as the dust swept before the wind.
Thus none of his kinsmen or friends had the least confidence in his
stability, but, in the execution of his purpose, his opinion
perpetually changed with the greatest rapidity. Being, as I have said,
an easy object of attack for the sorcerers, he in like manner readily
fell a victim to Theodora, who, for this reason, entertained the
highest affection for Peter as one devoted to the study of these arts.
The Emperor only succeeded with great difficulty in depriving him of
his office, and, at the pressing entreaty of Theodora, soon afterwards
appointed him chief of the treasury, and deprived John of these
functions, although he had only been invested with them a few months
previously. This John was a native of Palestine, a good and gentle
man, who did not even know how to find out the means of increasing his
private fortune, and had never done injury to a single individual. The
more decided the affection of the people for him, the less he met with
the approval of Justinian and his partner, who, as soon as they found
amongst their agents, contrary to expectation, a good and honourable
man, were quite dumbfounded, showed their indignation, and endeavoured
by every possible means to get rid of him with the least delay. Thus
Peter succeeded John as chief of the royal treasury, and was one of
the chief causes of great misery to all the inhabitants of the Empire.
He embezzled the greater part of the fund, which, in accordance with
an ancient custom, was annually distributed by the Emperor to a number
of families by way of assisting them. Part of this public money he
sent to the Emperor, and kept part for himself, whereby he acquired
ill-gotten wealth. Those who were thus deprived of this money lived in
a pitiable state. He did not even coin the same amount of gold as
before, but less--a thing which had never been done before. Such was
the manner in which Justinian dealt with the magistracies.