Justinian inherited two central commands near Constantinople and regional military commands in Illyricum, Thrace, and the East. He subdivided the eastern responsibility by creating a command for Armenia and Lazica, while reconquered territories later received commands for Africa, Italy, and Spain. Provincial dukes and other officers connected these higher commands to local defence, and special titles could give an individual wider authority for a particular operation. The organisation shows that strategy depended on both central access to the emperor and the practical needs of widely separated frontiers.
Chapter · 6:51-8:15
A dispersed command system for imperial frontiers
The review maps Justinian's forces across Constantinople, the eastern frontier, Africa, Italy, and Spain, showing how commands followed geography and operations.