The Divine Comedy · Character
Justinian
Byzantine emperor who recounts Roman history in the Heaven of Mercury.
minor
First appearance: Canto VI
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In Canto VI: Referenced in Dante's lament as the emperor who mended the bridle of law, but whose efforts are wasted without a rider. Later, in Canto VI: Justinian's Discourse on the Roman Eagle: The Emperor Justinian…
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See Justinian in Canto VICharacter Web
10 connectionsA slice of how Justinian sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Sinners and Historical Figures
- Heavenly Guides and Saints
- Protagonist
+5 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this canto, the dramatic climax occurs when Dante, having been emboldened to ask Virgil to teach him the na…
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Justinian appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- Canto VI
- Canto VI: Justinian's Discourse on the Roman Eagle
- Canto XIX: The Eagle's Discourse on Salvation and Divine Justice
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Justinian unlock in the free preview.
See Justinian in Canto VI