# Abuse of Power in The Secret History

> Theme guide for The Secret History by Procopius.

The narrative shows how those in authority, from the imperial couple to appointed magistrates, exploit their positions to murder, confiscate property, and terrorize citizens without fear of accountability.

## Where it surfaces

- [How the Great General Belisarius Was Hoodwinked by His Wife, Whose Lover Became a Monk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/i-how-the-great-general-belisarius-was-hoodwinked-by-his-wife-whose-lover-became-a-monk): Antonina uses her influence over Belisarius to murder witnesses and even Constantine, demonstrating how personal power can be abused for revenge and to cover up crimes.
- [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): Belisarius prioritizes personal jealousy over military duty, withdrawing the army and abandoning strategic objectives, while Antonina uses her influence to slander her son.
- [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): Theodora tortures Photius and Belisarius's friends, violates sanctuary, and forces reconciliation.
- [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 uses her imperial authority to imprison Buzes without trial, strip Belisarius of command, and confiscate his wealth for personal revenge.
- [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): Theodora forces a young girl into a sexual liaison to secure wealth, and protects Sergius despite his crimes, showing imperial abuse.
- [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): Justin's inability to govern led to the stenciled signature system, while Justinian abused his virtual rule to kill rivals and destroy the Roman state.
- [Character and Appearance of Justinian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/viii-character-and-appearance-of-justinian): Justinian uses his authority to plunder countries, sack cities, enslave nations, confiscate property without cause, and punish based solely on accusations.
- [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): Justinian and Theodora use their authority to plunder the empire and favor the Blue faction, while Theodotus is unjustly persecuted.
- [X: How Justinian Created a New Law Permitting Him to Marry a Courtesan on Her Promise to Repent Her Past; and the Truth About the Apparent Quarrels of a Happy Pair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/x-how-justinian-created-a-new-law-permitting-him-to-marry-a-courtesan-on-her-promise-to-repent-her-past-and-the-truth-about-the-apparent-quarrels-of-a-happy-pair): Justinian uses his influence over the senile Justin to change laws and seize the throne, then exploits his position to defraud subjects.
- [XII: Proving That Justinian and Theodora Were Actually Fiends in Human Form](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xii-proving-that-justinian-and-theodora-were-actually-fiends-in-human-form): They exploit their imperial authority to seize property, ruin lives, and even fabricate legal documents, showing a complete abuse of power.
- [XIII: Deceptive Affability and Piety of a Tyrant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xiii-deceptive-affability-and-piety-of-a-tyrant): Justinian uses his authority to kill innocent people, sack cities, confiscate property, and manipulate the legal system for his own benefit.
- [XV: How an Roman Citizens Became Slaves, and a Complaining Patrician Was Ribaldly Mocked by Theodora’s Eunuchs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xv-how-an-roman-citizens-became-slaves-and-a-complaining-patrician-was-ribaldly-mocked-by-theodora-s-eunuchs): Theodora uses her position to destroy enemies, fabricate charges, and mock a patrician seeking justice, turning state matters into a jest.
- [XVI: What Happened to Those Who Fell Out of Favor with Theodora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xvi-what-happened-to-those-who-fell-out-of-favor-with-theodora): Theodora uses her influence to order murders, torture, and confiscations without trial, demonstrating unchecked imperial authority.
- [XVII: How She Saved Five Hundred Harlots from a Life of Sin, Made Away with Her Own Natural Son, and Other Curious Incidents of Her Passion for Match Making](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xvii-how-she-saved-five-hundred-harlots-from-a-life-of-sin-made-away-with-her-own-natural-son-and-other-curious-incidents-of-her-passion-for-match-making): Theodora uses her position to control marriages, punish dissent, and even murder her own son, all without accountability.
- [XX: Debasing of the Quaestorship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xx-debasing-of-the-quaestorship): Justinian uses his authority to appoint corrupt cronies, license monopolies, and encourage magistrates to compete in killing and confiscating property without trial.
- [XXII: Further Corruption in High Places](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxii-further-corruption-in-high-places): Peter Barsyames uses his position to ruin provinces, cheat soldiers, and force cities to buy rotten grain, all with imperial approval.
- [XXIII: How Landowners Were Ruined](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxiii-how-landowners-were-ruined): Justinian and officials like Barsyames and the Cappadocian exploit 'cooperative buying' and the 'impost' to extract excessive sums, ruining landowners.
- [XXV: How He Robbed His Own Officials, Merchants, Sailors, Workmen, and Everybody Else](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxv-how-he-robbed-his-own-officials-merchants-sailors-workmen-and-everybody-else): Justinian uses his imperial authority to rob officials, merchants, and artisans, manipulating laws and monopolies for personal gain.
- [XXVI: How He Spoiled the Beauty of the Cities and Plundered the Poor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxvi-how-he-spoiled-the-beauty-of-the-cities-and-plundered-the-poor): The emperor's misuse of imperial authority to enrich himself and his favorites at the expense of citizens, including the diversion of charitable grain doles, demonstrates abuse of power.
- [XXVIII: His Violation of the Laws of the Romans, and How Jews Were Fined for Eating Lamb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxviii-his-violation-of-the-laws-of-the-romans-and-how-jews-were-fined-for-eating-lamb): The emperor imposes religious restrictions on Jews and fines them for observing their own traditions.
- [XXIX: Other Incidents Revealing Him as a Liar and a Hypocrite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxix-other-incidents-revealing-him-as-a-liar-and-a-hypocrite): The Emperor seizes estates arbitrarily, changes laws retroactively, and accepts bribes to drop investigations.
- [XXX: Further Innovations of Justinian and Theodora, and a Conclusion Which Imagines the Death of an Emperor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxx-further-innovations-of-justinian-and-theodora-and-a-conclusion-which-imagines-the-death-of-an-emperor): Justinian and Theodora force prostrate homage, seize private property arbitrarily, and compel magistrates to live in the palace, demonstrating unchecked tyranny.
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/endnotes): Justinian's refusal to remove John of Cappadocia despite his cruelties, and Theodora's use of Antonina to entrap John, exemplify the abuse of imperial authority.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/themes/abuse_of_power
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/themes