Praejecta or Praiecta was a niece to

Byzantine emperor This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, to Fall of Constantinople, its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. On ...

Justinian I Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renova ...

(r. 527–565) by blood and of his empress

Theodora Theodora is a given name of Greek origin, meaning "God's gift". Theodora may also refer to: Historical figures known as Theodora Byzantine empresses * Theodora (wife of Justinian I) ( 500 – 548), saint by the Orthodox Church * Theodora o ...

by marriage.

Biography

Praejecta was a daughter of

Vigilantia Vigilantia ( el, Βιγλεντία, born 490) was a sister of Byzantine emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565), and mother to his successor Justin II (r. 565–574). Name The name "Vigilantia" is Latin for "alertness, wakefulness". Itself deriving ...

and Dulcidio (or Dulcissimus), respectively the sister and brother-in-law of Emperor Justinian. She was also a sister of the later Byzantine emperor

Justin II Justin II ( la, Iustinus; grc-gre, Ἰουστῖνος, Ioustînos; died 5 October 578) or Justin the Younger ( la, Iustinus minor) was Eastern Roman Emperor from 565 until 578. He was the nephew of Justinian I and the husband of Sophia, the ...

(r. 565–578) and the '' patricius'' Marcellus. She was initially married to the '' patricius'' Areobindus, a senator of noble birth. In 545, as the situation in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

had gotten out of control following the death of Solomon and his replacement by his incompetent nephew Sergius, Areobindus, although having no prior military experience, was dispatched there with a small force. Areobindus was placed as joint commander with Sergius, but the two generals did not agree, with predictably disastrous results for the Byzantine imperial effort: the imperial forces were severely defeated at Thacia, although they managed to kill the rebel

Stotzas Stotzas ( Greek: Στότζας), also Stutias, Theophanes writes him Tzotzas (Τζότζας), was an East Roman (Byzantine) soldier and leader of a military rebellion in the Praetorian prefecture of Africa in the 530s. Stotzas attempted to establ ...

. Following this, Sergius was relieved and Areobindus was installed in his stead.. Soon, however, (March 546) he was murdered in a military mutiny led by Guntharic, the ''dux Numidiae''. Praejecta and her sister-in-law had been sent to safety to a fortified

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whi ...

Carthage Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the cla ...

, but when Guntharic took over the city, they were removed from there. Guntharic, who probably intended to marry Praejecta, kept her under house arrest but treated her well. After Guntharic's assassination by the

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

Artabanes Artabanes ( el, , Armenian: ''Artawan'', from Parthian ''Artawân'', '' fl.'' 538–554) was an East Roman (Byzantine) general of Armenian origin who served under Justinian I (r. 527–565). Initially a rebel against Byzantine authority, he fl ...

in May and the restoration of Byzantine imperial rule, Praejecta rewarded him with a large sum of money and became engaged to him. Once she was back at Constantinople, Artabanes followed, but Empress Theodora discovered that he was already married and forbade the union. Artabanes was enraged by this affair, and it contributed to his involvement in the failed

conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, is a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation, while keeping their agre ...

to overthrow Emperor Justinian in late 548. Praejecta was instead married off to

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

, son of Pompeius and grandson of Hypatius, a marriage which took place sometime in 546–548..

References

Citations

Sources

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External links

*{{cite web , last=Cawley , first=Charles , title= Byzantium 395–1057: Praeiecta , work= Medieval Lands , date= 14 February 2011 , access-date= 14 January 2012 , url= http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BYZANTIUM.htm#Praeiecta Justinian dynasty 6th-century Byzantine people 6th-century Byzantine women