# How does The Secret History develop the theme of Injustice and Lawlessness?

> The Secret History by Procopius

## Answer

The Secret History by Procopius develops Injustice and Lawlessness across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The book highlights the systematic dismantling of legal protections, where trials are rigged, laws are retroactively changed for profit, and the innocent are punished while the guilty go free.

Chosroes is accused by his own nobles of breaking his plighted word by invading in peacetime, and the Roman army suffers from Belisarius's neglect of duty.

Innocent men are tortured and exiled for their association with Photius and Belisarius.

Belisarius is condemned without proof, his property seized on false pretexts, and his life spared only through his wife's intervention.

## Evidence

- [ii-how-belated-jealousy-affected-belisarius-s-military-judgment-to-the-joy-of-the-enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/ii-how-belated-jealousy-affected-belisarius-s-military-judgment-to-the-joy-of-the-enemy.md): Chosroes is accused by his own nobles of breaking his plighted word by invading in peacetime, and the Roman army suffers from Belisarius's neglect of duty.
- [iii-showing-the-danger-of-interfering-with-a-woman-s-intrigues-especially-when-the-woman-is-the-friend-of-an-empress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/iii-showing-the-danger-of-interfering-with-a-woman-s-intrigues-especially-when-the-woman-is-the-friend-of-an-empress.md): Innocent men are tortured and exiled for their association with Photius and Belisarius.
- [iv-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.md): Belisarius is condemned without proof, his property seized on false pretexts, and his life spared only through his wife's intervention.
- [v-how-theodora-tricked-the-general-s-daughter-into-a-liaison-with-the-empress-s-nephew-and-belisarius-became-a-public-laughing-stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/v-how-theodora-tricked-the-general-s-daughter-into-a-liaison-with-the-empress-s-nephew-and-belisarius-became-a-public-laughing-stock.md): Sergius murders ambassadors under safe conduct, and Solomon kills his rescuer Pegasius, yet both escape justice through imperial favor.
- [vi-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.md): Justinian murdered Amantius on a flimsy charge and killed Vitalian despite sacred pledges, showing complete disregard for justice.
- [vii-outrages-of-the-blues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/vii-outrages-of-the-blues.md): Murders and robberies go unpunished, judges rule out of fear, and the legal system collapses under the weight of factional violence.
- [ix-and-how-theodora-most-depraved-of-all-courtesans-won-his-love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/ix-and-how-theodora-most-depraved-of-all-courtesans-won-his-love.md): The Blues commit crimes with impunity, and Theodotus is falsely accused and tortured despite his innocence.
- [xi-how-the-defender-of-the-faith-ruined-his-subjects](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xi-how-the-defender-of-the-faith-ruined-his-subjects.md): Retroactive laws against pederasty and persecution of astrologers without proper evidence or accusers.

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