# Anastasius — The Secret History character guide

> Anastasius in The Secret History by Procopius.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0002-the-secret-history

## Who they are

Former emperor, mentioned in context of Justinian's rise.

## In the story

### [How Theodora, Revenging Her Dear Antonina, Humiliated the Conqueror of Africa and Italy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/iv-how-theodora-revenging-her-dear-antonina-humiliated-the-conqueror-of-africa-and-italy)

Theodora's nephew, betrothed to Belisarius's daughter Joannina.

### [Ignorance of the Emperor Justin, and His Stencilled Signature, and How His Nephew Justinian Was the Virtual Ruler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/vi-ignorance-of-the-emperor-justin-and-his-stencilled-signature-and-how-his-nephew-justinian-was-the-virtual-ruler)

Emperor who succeeded Leo; appointed Justin Count of the palace guard and sent an army against the Isaurians.

### [XIX: How He Seized All the Wealth of the Romans and Threw It Away in the Sea and on the Barbarians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xix-how-he-seized-all-the-wealth-of-the-romans-and-threw-it-away-in-the-sea-and-on-the-barbarians)

The provident emperor who filled the treasuries with gold, which Justinian later exhausted.

### [XXIII: How Landowners Were Ruined](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxiii-how-landowners-were-ruined)

Contrasted favorably: he exempted captured cities from taxation for seven years, unlike Justinian's one-year remission.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/anastasius
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters