Justinian I (Roman emperor; 482–565)
The Byzantine emperor Justinian I (482–565) initiated the reconquest of Italy to the empire, which made Venetia a Byzantine province under the Exarchate of Ravenna.
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Did Narses invite the Lombards?
Why did the Lombards decide to invade Byzantine Italy in 568? A popular story was the Byzantine general Narses, who had just retaken Italy for the empire, invited them. Was Narses a traitor to the empire?
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The invasion of Venetia — Paul the Deacon
The Lombard invasion of Venetia in 568 — from “Historia Langobardorum” by Paul the Deacon.
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The Justinian plague — Paul the Deacon
An account of the bubonic plague in Italy — also called the Justinian plague — from “Historia Langobardorum” by Paul the Deacon.
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Translatio Marci Evangelistae Venetias (English)
This document is the earliest description of the translation of St Mark to Venice in 827–828, and also of early Venice. This is a translation by René Seindal.
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Invasions of Italy in Late Antiquity
In late Antiquity the north-east of the Italian peninsula suffered many invasions. The wars caused people to move to the safer lagoon areas, and hence to the foundation of Venice.